Estiva, Otoque and Iguana Islands
Today we started our early expedition before sunrise. As we were navigating in our Zodiacs to Estiva Island, the also early magnificent frigate birds and brown pelicans were already projecting their silhouettes against the full moon light.
Minutes later, in the opposite site, an extreme-orange sun was starting to take a look to us, right from the horizon. The contrast of shades in reds and purples painted the sky, where literally hundreds of sea birds were starting their activity.
These islands in the Bay of Panama are located 20 miles off shore and are the perfect site for brown boobies and blue-footed boobies to nest, as well as brown pelicans and magnificent frigate birds, since there are almost no predators for their nestlings.
As we approached the island, we entered in a short cave to take a look at a group of bats, possibly the first land mammal colonizers in the archipelago. Out again, some brown pelicans where still sitting on the tree tops. Blue-footed boobies where also resting over the contrasting guano-whitened rock edges.
The Otoque Island is largely colonized by magnificent frigate birds and brown boobies. Both species are nesting right now, which made it a suitable moment for photo lovers to get good shots of the red-pouched frigate males showing-off to females, as well as white down-feathered chicks of brown boobies.
Afterward, back in the Sea Voyager, we continued our navigation for few hours to Iguana Island. This is a protected zone, 9 miles away from main land on the way to Costa Rica. Around 3 pm, the Zodiacs brought the first groups, who were ready for scouting the back of the island in order to find a magnificent frigate bird colony.
In the meantime, others were wetlanding in a flour-like white sand beach. Ready for snorkeling in the turquoise warm waters, schools of fish and even a hawksbill turtle welcomed the new comers. Back in the Sea Voyager, the day ended with cocktail hour and a beautiful sunset, on our way to our next stop, Coiba Island tomorrow.
Today we started our early expedition before sunrise. As we were navigating in our Zodiacs to Estiva Island, the also early magnificent frigate birds and brown pelicans were already projecting their silhouettes against the full moon light.
Minutes later, in the opposite site, an extreme-orange sun was starting to take a look to us, right from the horizon. The contrast of shades in reds and purples painted the sky, where literally hundreds of sea birds were starting their activity.
These islands in the Bay of Panama are located 20 miles off shore and are the perfect site for brown boobies and blue-footed boobies to nest, as well as brown pelicans and magnificent frigate birds, since there are almost no predators for their nestlings.
As we approached the island, we entered in a short cave to take a look at a group of bats, possibly the first land mammal colonizers in the archipelago. Out again, some brown pelicans where still sitting on the tree tops. Blue-footed boobies where also resting over the contrasting guano-whitened rock edges.
The Otoque Island is largely colonized by magnificent frigate birds and brown boobies. Both species are nesting right now, which made it a suitable moment for photo lovers to get good shots of the red-pouched frigate males showing-off to females, as well as white down-feathered chicks of brown boobies.
Afterward, back in the Sea Voyager, we continued our navigation for few hours to Iguana Island. This is a protected zone, 9 miles away from main land on the way to Costa Rica. Around 3 pm, the Zodiacs brought the first groups, who were ready for scouting the back of the island in order to find a magnificent frigate bird colony.
In the meantime, others were wetlanding in a flour-like white sand beach. Ready for snorkeling in the turquoise warm waters, schools of fish and even a hawksbill turtle welcomed the new comers. Back in the Sea Voyager, the day ended with cocktail hour and a beautiful sunset, on our way to our next stop, Coiba Island tomorrow.
