Bona, Otoque & Iguana Islands
We spent our day in the Gulf of Panama. This is a large body of water on the Pacific side of the Isthmus. In the morning we had a zodiac tour around the small island of Bona. Draped in tropical dry forest, surrounded by waters made rich by upwelling currents, this island is a haven for thousands of sea birds. We saw magnificent frigate birds, brown pelicans, brown boobies and blue-footed boobies filling the skies and crowding the trees and rocky shores.
It is a joy to observe these birds in flight. On land the brown pelican and its distant relative, the blue-footed booby, can seem like awkward, comical creatures. The booby derives it name from the Spanish word for clown, in reference to its clown-like manner of walking. But in the air, in their element, these birds become perfectly graceful. A group of pelicans, gliding in perfect formation, just inches above the surface of the water is amazing to behold. A booby in flight is quick and streamlined and an expert diver.
Through the early afternoon we navigated across the Gulf of Panama. Since we began our expedition in the Panama Canal, this was our first opportunity to experience navigation on the Sea Voyager across open water. We had perfect weather and quiet seas; a peaceful first leg of our journey toward Costa Rica.
Later in the afternoon we went ashore on Iguana Island. This small island has gorgeous white beaches and coconut palms. It is also home to thousands of hermit crabs. They shuffle over the sand and through the leaf litter, each wearing its unique shell like a carefully chosen outfit.
For many, the highlight of this island was a busy colony of magnificent frigate birds. Here we saw frigates at every stage of their life-cycle, from puffy, white chicks to sleek, black adults, busily searching for mates. Frigates can be difficult birds to like. Their lifestyle is based on klepto-parasitism, meaning they live by stealing food from other birds. But they can also be very charming, and the word magnificent describes them well. With a seven-foot wingspan and a distinctive silhouette, they are impossible to miss, cruising across a blue sky.
Above Isla Iguana hundreds of magnificent frigate birds were gliding serenely as the sun went down.
We spent our day in the Gulf of Panama. This is a large body of water on the Pacific side of the Isthmus. In the morning we had a zodiac tour around the small island of Bona. Draped in tropical dry forest, surrounded by waters made rich by upwelling currents, this island is a haven for thousands of sea birds. We saw magnificent frigate birds, brown pelicans, brown boobies and blue-footed boobies filling the skies and crowding the trees and rocky shores.
It is a joy to observe these birds in flight. On land the brown pelican and its distant relative, the blue-footed booby, can seem like awkward, comical creatures. The booby derives it name from the Spanish word for clown, in reference to its clown-like manner of walking. But in the air, in their element, these birds become perfectly graceful. A group of pelicans, gliding in perfect formation, just inches above the surface of the water is amazing to behold. A booby in flight is quick and streamlined and an expert diver.
Through the early afternoon we navigated across the Gulf of Panama. Since we began our expedition in the Panama Canal, this was our first opportunity to experience navigation on the Sea Voyager across open water. We had perfect weather and quiet seas; a peaceful first leg of our journey toward Costa Rica.
Later in the afternoon we went ashore on Iguana Island. This small island has gorgeous white beaches and coconut palms. It is also home to thousands of hermit crabs. They shuffle over the sand and through the leaf litter, each wearing its unique shell like a carefully chosen outfit.
For many, the highlight of this island was a busy colony of magnificent frigate birds. Here we saw frigates at every stage of their life-cycle, from puffy, white chicks to sleek, black adults, busily searching for mates. Frigates can be difficult birds to like. Their lifestyle is based on klepto-parasitism, meaning they live by stealing food from other birds. But they can also be very charming, and the word magnificent describes them well. With a seven-foot wingspan and a distinctive silhouette, they are impossible to miss, cruising across a blue sky.
Above Isla Iguana hundreds of magnificent frigate birds were gliding serenely as the sun went down.
