Halfmoon Cay and Lighthouse Reef
After a spectacular sunrise a group of bottle-nosed dolphins joined us as we headed toward the eastern most island of the Belize Barrier reefs, Halfmoon Cay. A big shipwreck on one side of the island reminded us of colonial times. Then, many ships ended up like this one, when brave people were coming to the New World without even knowing where they were going.
Weather conditions were perfect this morning, sunny with calm seas. We savored the tones of green, blue and turquoise in the water as we approached the beach.
Half Moon Cay, Belize’s first National Monument, is home to a breeding colony of approximately 4,000 red-footed boobies, as well as other marine birds. The boobies of Half Moon Key are mainly the white color phase. Elsewhere in the Caribbean they are normally brown or gray. Red-footed boobies are strong fliers and well adapted for soaring over open ocean and diving from great heights for fish or squid. Unlike other boobies, (nine worldwide), which simply lay their eggs on the ground, red-footed boobies nest in trees or low bushes. The observation platform allowed us to get very close to the birds. It was nice to see the chicks begging for food as their parents came in from the ocean.
After lunch we moved to the other side of the reef and as we were having lunch, Bernardo, one of the Zodiac drivers, told us about a bird that landed at the stern. It was a palm warbler, one of millions of neotropical migrants that are traveling to their breeding grounds in North America. From South and Central America they fly 550 miles non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico. It’s not an easy task for a tiny bird! Our warbler stayed with us for the rest of the afternoon and took off at sunset to continue its incredible journey. This was a glimpse at an astonishing event rarely appreciated because most of it takes place at night. It reminds us the importance of preserving both nesting and wintering grounds for species that know no political boundaries.
After a spectacular sunrise a group of bottle-nosed dolphins joined us as we headed toward the eastern most island of the Belize Barrier reefs, Halfmoon Cay. A big shipwreck on one side of the island reminded us of colonial times. Then, many ships ended up like this one, when brave people were coming to the New World without even knowing where they were going.
Weather conditions were perfect this morning, sunny with calm seas. We savored the tones of green, blue and turquoise in the water as we approached the beach.
Half Moon Cay, Belize’s first National Monument, is home to a breeding colony of approximately 4,000 red-footed boobies, as well as other marine birds. The boobies of Half Moon Key are mainly the white color phase. Elsewhere in the Caribbean they are normally brown or gray. Red-footed boobies are strong fliers and well adapted for soaring over open ocean and diving from great heights for fish or squid. Unlike other boobies, (nine worldwide), which simply lay their eggs on the ground, red-footed boobies nest in trees or low bushes. The observation platform allowed us to get very close to the birds. It was nice to see the chicks begging for food as their parents came in from the ocean.
After lunch we moved to the other side of the reef and as we were having lunch, Bernardo, one of the Zodiac drivers, told us about a bird that landed at the stern. It was a palm warbler, one of millions of neotropical migrants that are traveling to their breeding grounds in North America. From South and Central America they fly 550 miles non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico. It’s not an easy task for a tiny bird! Our warbler stayed with us for the rest of the afternoon and took off at sunset to continue its incredible journey. This was a glimpse at an astonishing event rarely appreciated because most of it takes place at night. It reminds us the importance of preserving both nesting and wintering grounds for species that know no political boundaries.
