This photograph was taken as we hiked along the shoreline of the north end of Santiago Island at Puerto Egas (James Bay). The Lava Heron, Butorides striata sundevalli, has had its taxonomic status changed periodically through the years. It has been regarded as a separate species unique to the Galapagos, while at other times, it has been considered a member of the Striated complex. Currently, sundevalli is considered a distinct island subspecies. Some of the individuals shown may be striata/sundevalli intergrades. It was a warm afternoon with temperatures in the 70's and partly cloudy skies.