Farrallones Island and the Panama Canal
After sailing during the night, we arrived to the Farrallones Islands when the sun was giving its first rays. The Farrallones are a group of islands in the Gulf of Panama, and there are three islands that form this group. They are Otoque, Bona and Estiva. During the colonial times, they were used by pirates when they were planning their attack on the Spanish galleons. We experienced part of the upwelling zone in this area. The trade winds blow the surface waters allowing the cold water to rise carrying lots of nutrients creating great feeding frenzies among the sea bird colonies that live around these islands.
As soon as we anchored, we prepared our gear to explore these islands with the Zodiacs. It is the breeding season for the frigate birds and the brown pelicans. We could see the frigates harassing the pelicans and trying to take from them not only the food they had caught but also their material to make their nest. This is known as kleptoparasitism. Several male frigate birds were displaying their red gular pouch, trying to call the attention of the females that were soaring close to the area. Other sea birds that live among these islands are the blue footed boobies. We also saw several chicks of brown boobies and frigate birds also. For sure we could understand why all these birds had decided to hang around this paradise; plenty of food and good shelter.
It was a wonderful morning cruising between these islands. Back on board we weighed anchor and sailed towards Flamingo Signal, our anchorage area before going through the Panama Canal. Here we waited anxiously for our designated Pilot. At his arrival, we prepared our cameras, because we were going through one of the greatest wonders of the world, the Panama Canal. It could not have been a better way to finish another day of this fantastic trip!
After sailing during the night, we arrived to the Farrallones Islands when the sun was giving its first rays. The Farrallones are a group of islands in the Gulf of Panama, and there are three islands that form this group. They are Otoque, Bona and Estiva. During the colonial times, they were used by pirates when they were planning their attack on the Spanish galleons. We experienced part of the upwelling zone in this area. The trade winds blow the surface waters allowing the cold water to rise carrying lots of nutrients creating great feeding frenzies among the sea bird colonies that live around these islands.
As soon as we anchored, we prepared our gear to explore these islands with the Zodiacs. It is the breeding season for the frigate birds and the brown pelicans. We could see the frigates harassing the pelicans and trying to take from them not only the food they had caught but also their material to make their nest. This is known as kleptoparasitism. Several male frigate birds were displaying their red gular pouch, trying to call the attention of the females that were soaring close to the area. Other sea birds that live among these islands are the blue footed boobies. We also saw several chicks of brown boobies and frigate birds also. For sure we could understand why all these birds had decided to hang around this paradise; plenty of food and good shelter.
It was a wonderful morning cruising between these islands. Back on board we weighed anchor and sailed towards Flamingo Signal, our anchorage area before going through the Panama Canal. Here we waited anxiously for our designated Pilot. At his arrival, we prepared our cameras, because we were going through one of the greatest wonders of the world, the Panama Canal. It could not have been a better way to finish another day of this fantastic trip!
