South-Water Cay, Bay Islands, Honduras
These ruddy turnstones are likely headed north to their breeding grounds in Alaska or northern Canada. Wintering as far south as Tierra del Fuego, these brightly patterned (at least, in their summer plumage) sandpipers have one of the longest annual migrations in the bird world. Aptly named, turnstones often forage by using their beaks to turn over stones and shells along the shoreline in search of snails, worms and other invertebrates. Like most of their close relatives, turnstone young are precocial - that is, they can walk around and feed themselves shortly after they emerge from the egg. They still receive close parental care, although mothers leave for the long southbound migration before the fathers and young.
The Bay Islands have an anomalous history. Although they are part of a Spanish speaking country, the language most often spoken is English, though certainly with its own flair. This dates back to the days of pirates such as Henry Morgan who used these isolated specks of land to hide out, repair and provision their ships. These buccaneers made a living by preying on Spanish vessels transporting riches from the New World back to the Old.
After being treated to a spectacular early morning tropical downpour, the Sea Voyager positioned to South-Water Cay where we enjoyed snorkeling and diving and a chance to walk among coconut palms and tropical almond trees. Snorkelers saw a wonderful variety of fish, corals and other creatures. Azure vase sponges and a hawksbill turtle were among the divers’ highlights. The evening found us strolling around Utila, a friendly town on an island of the same name.
These ruddy turnstones are likely headed north to their breeding grounds in Alaska or northern Canada. Wintering as far south as Tierra del Fuego, these brightly patterned (at least, in their summer plumage) sandpipers have one of the longest annual migrations in the bird world. Aptly named, turnstones often forage by using their beaks to turn over stones and shells along the shoreline in search of snails, worms and other invertebrates. Like most of their close relatives, turnstone young are precocial - that is, they can walk around and feed themselves shortly after they emerge from the egg. They still receive close parental care, although mothers leave for the long southbound migration before the fathers and young.
The Bay Islands have an anomalous history. Although they are part of a Spanish speaking country, the language most often spoken is English, though certainly with its own flair. This dates back to the days of pirates such as Henry Morgan who used these isolated specks of land to hide out, repair and provision their ships. These buccaneers made a living by preying on Spanish vessels transporting riches from the New World back to the Old.
After being treated to a spectacular early morning tropical downpour, the Sea Voyager positioned to South-Water Cay where we enjoyed snorkeling and diving and a chance to walk among coconut palms and tropical almond trees. Snorkelers saw a wonderful variety of fish, corals and other creatures. Azure vase sponges and a hawksbill turtle were among the divers’ highlights. The evening found us strolling around Utila, a friendly town on an island of the same name.
