Otoque and Bona Islands, Bay of Panama
The bright sun welcomed us to one of the major nesting areas of seabirds in Panama. Colonies of boobies, pelicans and frigatebirds were soaring and having a feast. For us, it was breakfast time and as soon as we charged our batteries, we grabbed our gear, cameras, binoculars, and the good will to explore around the island.
After loading the Zodiacs we departed to one of the islands. The pelicans were plunge-diving to catch what the upwelling was offering them. The boobies didn’t wait too much to follow the example of the pelicans while some of the frigatebirds were swooping to snatch their prey; others were choosing their victims to arras. It was a spectacular show of feeding frenzies. Big fishes chasing the smaller anchovies or sardines made them swim to the surface where the seabirds were just waiting.
We could appreciate many male pelicans with their breeding plumage. Some male frigatebirds had their bare red gular area inflated as a sexual display trying to call the attention of the cameras. Baby boobies with their white feathers, were popping their heads out of their nest asking for food to their parents. These two islands offer seabirds a good sanctuary for their nest away from pesticide contamination that is usually responsible for the reducing number of such seabirds.
After our Zodiac cruises we returned to the ship to change our gear to try kayaking and snorkeling. We couldn’t spend too much time on these activities because a few nautical miles had to be covered before reaching our next destination. A couple of Bryde’s whales and pantropical spotted dolphins escorted us for a few nautical miles giving us a farewell to the islands of Otoque and Bona. What a way to finish our second day on the wild side of Panama and Costa Rica trip.
The bright sun welcomed us to one of the major nesting areas of seabirds in Panama. Colonies of boobies, pelicans and frigatebirds were soaring and having a feast. For us, it was breakfast time and as soon as we charged our batteries, we grabbed our gear, cameras, binoculars, and the good will to explore around the island.
After loading the Zodiacs we departed to one of the islands. The pelicans were plunge-diving to catch what the upwelling was offering them. The boobies didn’t wait too much to follow the example of the pelicans while some of the frigatebirds were swooping to snatch their prey; others were choosing their victims to arras. It was a spectacular show of feeding frenzies. Big fishes chasing the smaller anchovies or sardines made them swim to the surface where the seabirds were just waiting.
We could appreciate many male pelicans with their breeding plumage. Some male frigatebirds had their bare red gular area inflated as a sexual display trying to call the attention of the cameras. Baby boobies with their white feathers, were popping their heads out of their nest asking for food to their parents. These two islands offer seabirds a good sanctuary for their nest away from pesticide contamination that is usually responsible for the reducing number of such seabirds.
After our Zodiac cruises we returned to the ship to change our gear to try kayaking and snorkeling. We couldn’t spend too much time on these activities because a few nautical miles had to be covered before reaching our next destination. A couple of Bryde’s whales and pantropical spotted dolphins escorted us for a few nautical miles giving us a farewell to the islands of Otoque and Bona. What a way to finish our second day on the wild side of Panama and Costa Rica trip.
