Urvina Bay & Punta Moreno
Abundance! That word would summarize the status of the trail at Urvina Bay on central Isabela Island. Despite the abundance, the plants of the dry forest are still not green. Nonetheless it is possible to notice a large increment in the numbers of painted locusts which at this time have become an indicator species; in other words, given their large numbers, we certainly know there are some changes in the weather that favors their proliferation.
Along the coastal walk were large accumulations of red mangrove embryos that have been carried in by the tides, waiting to root up to form a new grove. It is just a matter of time before this area begins to show a different appearance due to the constant arrival of living entities brought by the ocean. In this same environment we found numerous finches and yellow warblers feeding on little arthropods exposed at low tide. During the whole hike, mockingbirds reminded us of their presence with beautiful musical compositions. Finally we couldn’t help but notice the many lava lizards that were waiting for a chance to catch an unaware locust, while the land iguanas ambled all along the trail making good use of the warmth of the day.
Satisfied but still expectant, we got ready for the afternoon adventure at Punta Moreno where we would experience a serious lava hike. During this expedition on the immense lava field that goes in between Cerro Azul and Sierra Negra volcanoes, the walkers found several lagoon birds in the ponds that have opened by the subsidence of massive chunks of lava. These depressions are filled with water coming from the ocean and while passing through the lava, have gotten filtered becoming nowadays brackish. Pintail ducks, black necked stilts, and blue winged teals are some of the regular inhabitants of these micro climates, and we enjoyed seeing them all.
Another group went Zodiac riding instead of walking and, while exploring the little coves that surround this area, were among the mangroves. Their contact with nature was in the shape of cormorants and rays. Something that really caught the group’s attention was a striated heron sitting on a nest with two eggs on it. The nest was cleverly inserted among the branches of a red mangrove tree, very secure. This experience overwhelmed and sensitized us in a deep way.
We had great opportunities today. I hope that our experience today will somehow help to change our vision of the world.
Abundance! That word would summarize the status of the trail at Urvina Bay on central Isabela Island. Despite the abundance, the plants of the dry forest are still not green. Nonetheless it is possible to notice a large increment in the numbers of painted locusts which at this time have become an indicator species; in other words, given their large numbers, we certainly know there are some changes in the weather that favors their proliferation.
Along the coastal walk were large accumulations of red mangrove embryos that have been carried in by the tides, waiting to root up to form a new grove. It is just a matter of time before this area begins to show a different appearance due to the constant arrival of living entities brought by the ocean. In this same environment we found numerous finches and yellow warblers feeding on little arthropods exposed at low tide. During the whole hike, mockingbirds reminded us of their presence with beautiful musical compositions. Finally we couldn’t help but notice the many lava lizards that were waiting for a chance to catch an unaware locust, while the land iguanas ambled all along the trail making good use of the warmth of the day.
Satisfied but still expectant, we got ready for the afternoon adventure at Punta Moreno where we would experience a serious lava hike. During this expedition on the immense lava field that goes in between Cerro Azul and Sierra Negra volcanoes, the walkers found several lagoon birds in the ponds that have opened by the subsidence of massive chunks of lava. These depressions are filled with water coming from the ocean and while passing through the lava, have gotten filtered becoming nowadays brackish. Pintail ducks, black necked stilts, and blue winged teals are some of the regular inhabitants of these micro climates, and we enjoyed seeing them all.
Another group went Zodiac riding instead of walking and, while exploring the little coves that surround this area, were among the mangroves. Their contact with nature was in the shape of cormorants and rays. Something that really caught the group’s attention was a striated heron sitting on a nest with two eggs on it. The nest was cleverly inserted among the branches of a red mangrove tree, very secure. This experience overwhelmed and sensitized us in a deep way.
We had great opportunities today. I hope that our experience today will somehow help to change our vision of the world.
