At Isla Isabela exploring the bird life
Sowell Family's Travels on Gijima
Skipper: Tim Sowell Admiral Tracy Crew Sean & Alex
Sat 27 Feb 2010 00:35
come to life as a small island (the radar had shown it) and we were 3 miles
off Isla Isabela a bird sanctuary for frigate birds and others (21:50.865
105:52.747W). We dropped anchor in what is known as the east anchorage
behind these large twisted stone pillars of islands, in about 20 feet on
sand (I dove the anchor as this place has a reputation for eating anchors on
rock bottom). As I dived an spotted Eagle Ray glided over my newly laid
chain, on the way in we had seen whales. The frigate birds circled us in
their 100s and we dropped the dinghy and went ashore at the fish camp to
explore. The fish camp is on a very small sheltered cove and the pangas come
over from San Blas (40 miles away), and have a little "shanty" type set of
cottages on the beach, they were bringing in catches of red snapper. We went
up some paths baths behind and showed the boys the frigate birds who are
nesting in the trees, many baby chics white a fluffy where in the nests,
Alex and Sean loved this, as we walked in amongst them. You see the odd mail
who seams to own a tree with a number females, you can tell the male with
the red balloon on it it's chest which they blow up to show man hood.
We did some snorkeling and Tracy and I took turns to climb some of the peaks
to look down on the crater lake, and surrounding bays and the boys ran
around collecting items, and snorkeling with the fish in the shallows.
On the return to the boat I dived the boat cleaning the hull, but as I had a
hot shower on the after swim platform (something I love washing down in the
sun in warm freshwater out in the open), about 200 feet away up came a
whales and started the slap the water with it's tail. Sean and Alex had seen
it earlier blowing and surfacing, this whale seams to be just settled in on
this side of the island, and what a grand view as I showered (you could not
pay for this).
The anchorage is not bad we by ourselves it is exposed but not to the
current weather, it is rolly so we will be here one night before going, but
it is worth the visit.