We Came, We Saw, We Left~

Last year there were too many boats on anchor for us to tuck in and go ashore at Isla Isabela, the frigate bird observatory and rookery. After traveling all night, we arrived to find only two sailboats anchored, but in the very best spots... Bill cogitated a while and then decided to chance anchoring outside of them in 40+ feet of water. We ate breakfast and watched the waves break on a rock outcropping some 200 feet away, then decided to make a quick run to the island! There is a small fishing village there, but we did not see families- only men and boys, so it is probably a seasonal camp. We anchored the dinghy and walked over to the area where a grove of trees stood and hundreds of birds were either courting, resting, nesting, or flying about. These are NOT small birds: their wingspan is 6-7 feet! They seemed amazingly oblivious to us as we nosed around and took photos. The males have a bright red 'waddle' they can inflate, apparently to impress the females! Some were building nests, fighting over available material, while others sat on nests already formed at 5-6 feet above ground in the lush green trees. Frigate birds are often seen flying high above the water, but they rarely come down to rest on the water or on the boat, so this was a real treat, looking eyeball to eyeball with these gorgeous creatures!! AFTER the battery died we saw two small iguanas. Unfortunately, we were unaware that the blue-footed booby lives on the other side of the island... in too much of a hurry.