Bona and Otoque Island
Upon an early morning arrival to this special pearl on the Gulf of Panama an orange colored sunrise over a partially cloudy sky found us in the lounge of the Sea Voyager enjoying a cup of coffee before our departure to explore this sanctuary of marine birds known as Otoque and Bona Islands.
In this gulf the upwelling allows the cold waters from below to make it to the exterior especially when the prevailing winds blow the hot waters from the surface.
These nutrient rich waters create an amazing number of sea birds to congregate around these islands. The Zodiacs were ready to take us on an exploration in two outings in the morning. Some male magnificent frigatebirds were displaying their inflated red pouches to any female that seemed interested, others on the opposite already with a mate were stealing nesting material for their own. Some brown pelicans and brown boobies were witnessing these manners but also were participants of their own kind of courtship actions.
By late morning some of our guests decided to go on a kayak on Otoque’s protected bay, while others went to the beach to explore, swim and enjoyed the waves breaking in the rocky formations near our station at the beach.
After having everybody aboard we start with our longest navigation of the week heading southwest with the company at times of pantropical spotted dolphins and around Peninsula of Azuero with a nice sunset drawing similar colors at sea just like we started this day.
Upon an early morning arrival to this special pearl on the Gulf of Panama an orange colored sunrise over a partially cloudy sky found us in the lounge of the Sea Voyager enjoying a cup of coffee before our departure to explore this sanctuary of marine birds known as Otoque and Bona Islands.
In this gulf the upwelling allows the cold waters from below to make it to the exterior especially when the prevailing winds blow the hot waters from the surface.
These nutrient rich waters create an amazing number of sea birds to congregate around these islands. The Zodiacs were ready to take us on an exploration in two outings in the morning. Some male magnificent frigatebirds were displaying their inflated red pouches to any female that seemed interested, others on the opposite already with a mate were stealing nesting material for their own. Some brown pelicans and brown boobies were witnessing these manners but also were participants of their own kind of courtship actions.
By late morning some of our guests decided to go on a kayak on Otoque’s protected bay, while others went to the beach to explore, swim and enjoyed the waves breaking in the rocky formations near our station at the beach.
After having everybody aboard we start with our longest navigation of the week heading southwest with the company at times of pantropical spotted dolphins and around Peninsula of Azuero with a nice sunset drawing similar colors at sea just like we started this day.
