2-24-01 Isla Espanola

On the beach are sea lions, crabs, pelicans, iguanas, and very friendly mockingbirds. The mockingbirds are looking for water. Pelicans fly and dive amongst the swimmers. After an hour and a half or so, we go for our last snorkeling trip around Turtle Island - which does in fact look like a turtle - king angel fish, trumpet fish, sea stars, and many others. The fins that are too small and the waves at one end of the rock a little frustrate me. This is probably the clearest water that we've snorkeled in and it's best right when we start.

Dry Landing at Punta Suarez 

Female Marine Iguana [7,6] 135mm 1/60 f16 More Iguanas [7,12] 135mm f22 Swallow Tailed gull and Chick [7,16]

Our last walk is along the top of lava cliffs where masked boobies nest. We see lots of chicks, including one dead one and one that Raul saw being born last week. We also see a Swallow Tailed Gull Chick. The iguanas here are in full color and there are lots of babies. Sea Lions abound. We also see mocking birds and frigates. 

Two Juveniles [7,20] 50mm f32 Blowhole [7,23] 60mm 1/60 f22 Tropic Bird [7,25] 135mm f22

The bird watchers are very excited to see a tropicbird. This is the mating and nesting area for albatrosses but it is the wrong season. A big blowhole where the incoming water pushes into a crevice makes an impressive plume - but it isn't life.

Lava Lizard [7,26] 135mm f16 Sea Lions [7,29] 80mm 1/60 f22 Jetty [7,30] f22

Back on board, we head north for Isla San Cristobal. Dolphins appear in the distance and then ride the bow wave in a large pack. They are literally right over the side of the boat.

Iguana [7,31] 135mm 1/60 f16