Urbina Bay and Punta Moreno, Southern Isabela Island
What a nice surprise we have been given by the National Park Service! We were asked not to go to Sierra Negra volcano and instead were sent to these sites that are not in our regular itinerary. Urbina Bay is a very special place that was uplifted as much as 15 feet, in 1954. Over the last 50 years the whole area has been covered with dry zone vegetation such as palo santo trees and salt bushes. However is still possible to find huge white coral heads on the trail!
This morning we had several special sightings. We found at least a dozen very large and colorful land iguanas. There were abundant mockingbirds singing from the tops of every bush and tree. We also found a number of feeding hermit crabs and once we reach the beach for a welcome swim, we had the company of a penguin. While searching along the rocky shoreline some of us were rewarded by finding a very special and difficult to see four eyed blenny.
It has been a bountiful morning and back on board, after a shower, a delicious lunch, and a short siesta, we were ready for the adventure at Punta Moreno. This is another site we do not regularly visit.
Everywhere we looked, we saw lava. Cactus and other pioneer plants were scattered here and there on the black broken lava flows. Halfway along the trail we came upon a small brackish water pond that harbored a good number of birds: flamingos, common gallinules, black necked stilts and pintail ducks. Frigatebirds were bathing in this pond, briefly touching down to wash off the excess salt. Only 500 feet further and we found another lagoon. This one, full of salty water and surrounded by mangroves, held a big school of mullets.
Those who chose to take the panga rides found cormorants, many sea turtles, golden rays, huge marine iguanas, penguins and sea lions along the shore. We had lovely late afternoon light and wisps of clouds in the blue sky: it could not have been a prettier day! Once again, we have been able to experience the wonders of nature in a seeminbly inhospitable but extremely attractive place.
What a nice surprise we have been given by the National Park Service! We were asked not to go to Sierra Negra volcano and instead were sent to these sites that are not in our regular itinerary. Urbina Bay is a very special place that was uplifted as much as 15 feet, in 1954. Over the last 50 years the whole area has been covered with dry zone vegetation such as palo santo trees and salt bushes. However is still possible to find huge white coral heads on the trail!
This morning we had several special sightings. We found at least a dozen very large and colorful land iguanas. There were abundant mockingbirds singing from the tops of every bush and tree. We also found a number of feeding hermit crabs and once we reach the beach for a welcome swim, we had the company of a penguin. While searching along the rocky shoreline some of us were rewarded by finding a very special and difficult to see four eyed blenny.
It has been a bountiful morning and back on board, after a shower, a delicious lunch, and a short siesta, we were ready for the adventure at Punta Moreno. This is another site we do not regularly visit.
Everywhere we looked, we saw lava. Cactus and other pioneer plants were scattered here and there on the black broken lava flows. Halfway along the trail we came upon a small brackish water pond that harbored a good number of birds: flamingos, common gallinules, black necked stilts and pintail ducks. Frigatebirds were bathing in this pond, briefly touching down to wash off the excess salt. Only 500 feet further and we found another lagoon. This one, full of salty water and surrounded by mangroves, held a big school of mullets.
Those who chose to take the panga rides found cormorants, many sea turtles, golden rays, huge marine iguanas, penguins and sea lions along the shore. We had lovely late afternoon light and wisps of clouds in the blue sky: it could not have been a prettier day! Once again, we have been able to experience the wonders of nature in a seeminbly inhospitable but extremely attractive place.
