Bona and Otoque Islands, Gulf of Panama
We had calm sailing with following seas around “Punta Mala” much to our enjoyment and good night’s rest. By morning, we were on approach to these small islands in the Gulf of Panama, and saw spotted dolphins, rays jumping, sea snakes swimming and green turtles floating. The tiny wedge-rumped storm petrel (endemic to the Galápagos Islands) we found on board last night had left. The clouds were thin above us, and rays of sunlight shone through, though rain clouds could be seen to the south.
After breakfast, the Zodiacs took off to cruise the shorelines of Bona, Estiva and Otoque Islands in search of sea birds, which were found in abundance. Blue-footed boobies, brown boobies with chicks, magnificent frigate birds with inflated gular pouches stood out in vibrant red against the lush green foliage of the tropical vegetation. Kleptoparasitism was the name of the game in this neighborhood and both boobies and frigates flew elaborate aerial maneuvers to a dance of millions of years in the making. The most extraordinary situation appeared when a peregrine falcon perched nearby for the entire world to see (and photograph). It was later seen attacking many of the much larger birds flying in the area, specifically an adult booby was seen to be hit on the head by the falcon, but to no avail.
Back at the ship, the kayaks were brought out for some quiet paddling, and later on when the heat became heavy, many swimmers took advantage of the swim platform off our stern for a refreshing dip before lunch and sailing on towards the excitement of the shipping activity around the Panama Canal.
Our long-awaited lockage into the Miraflores locks took place after dinner under stars peeking out from between the clouds, and the glorious Bridge of the Americas was lit up like a birthday cake.
We had calm sailing with following seas around “Punta Mala” much to our enjoyment and good night’s rest. By morning, we were on approach to these small islands in the Gulf of Panama, and saw spotted dolphins, rays jumping, sea snakes swimming and green turtles floating. The tiny wedge-rumped storm petrel (endemic to the Galápagos Islands) we found on board last night had left. The clouds were thin above us, and rays of sunlight shone through, though rain clouds could be seen to the south.
After breakfast, the Zodiacs took off to cruise the shorelines of Bona, Estiva and Otoque Islands in search of sea birds, which were found in abundance. Blue-footed boobies, brown boobies with chicks, magnificent frigate birds with inflated gular pouches stood out in vibrant red against the lush green foliage of the tropical vegetation. Kleptoparasitism was the name of the game in this neighborhood and both boobies and frigates flew elaborate aerial maneuvers to a dance of millions of years in the making. The most extraordinary situation appeared when a peregrine falcon perched nearby for the entire world to see (and photograph). It was later seen attacking many of the much larger birds flying in the area, specifically an adult booby was seen to be hit on the head by the falcon, but to no avail.
Back at the ship, the kayaks were brought out for some quiet paddling, and later on when the heat became heavy, many swimmers took advantage of the swim platform off our stern for a refreshing dip before lunch and sailing on towards the excitement of the shipping activity around the Panama Canal.
Our long-awaited lockage into the Miraflores locks took place after dinner under stars peeking out from between the clouds, and the glorious Bridge of the Americas was lit up like a birthday cake.
