Bahia Balandra, Isla Del Carmen
Wind blew hard all of Tuesday and pushed up a swell from the north. We left Puerto Escondido in the first hours of the new day and made our way to the secure and protected anchorage of Balandra Bay. Our expedition leader had chosen a place with numerous options for adventures. The landing beach was a beige crescent of sand dotted with pieces of coral, interesting fish bones, and a turtle shell. Mangroves lined both sides, and a salt flat full of crab holes and iodine bush stretched out to a palo blanco-filled canyon. Carlos Navarro, one of our eager naturalists, led the first group out on a hike to try and find desert bighorn sheep that have been introduced to this island. They aren't easy to find. As he was waiting for all his hikers to arrive, he scanned the area with binoculars and found three females or young males standing as silhouettes on a ridge. Wow, what a find! Everyone on the beach had a chance to see them look at us as we looked at them. The birding was good too and included a brilliantly colored northern cardinal, numerous verdins, flycatchers, ladderback and gila woodpeckers, and white-winged doves to mention a few.
Lee Moll was turning over rocks on the return from her hike when she found the beautiful night snake pictured above. This one was about a foot long but some may grow as large as two feet. This nocturnal predator was getting a good day's sleep when its roof was removed. It injects venom from enlarged teeth in the back of its upper jaw into lizards, snakes, and other small animals but is harmless to humans. Many of us admired the beautiful brown markings around the head and neck.
The afternoon was spent doing just about anything one wanted. Some took long naps while others slipped below the surface into clear gulf water. Colorful schools of king angelfish dominated the dull background. The ferocious disposition and eager looking gape of a large moray eel was captivating. Kayaks glided along, lapped by small wind-driven waves giving their paddlers solitude. A few people reentered the canyon for exploring on their own, and beachcombers wandered the shoreline.
The evening featured a barbecue on the beach, star gazing, smores, and the sounds of a guitar in the background. One of the best parts of the gathering was conversations with new found friends. Now as I type this report, the sound rolling out from the lounge is gentle, frequent laughter mixed with the burble of many voices. It is a happy sound, the sound of people having a good time.
Wind blew hard all of Tuesday and pushed up a swell from the north. We left Puerto Escondido in the first hours of the new day and made our way to the secure and protected anchorage of Balandra Bay. Our expedition leader had chosen a place with numerous options for adventures. The landing beach was a beige crescent of sand dotted with pieces of coral, interesting fish bones, and a turtle shell. Mangroves lined both sides, and a salt flat full of crab holes and iodine bush stretched out to a palo blanco-filled canyon. Carlos Navarro, one of our eager naturalists, led the first group out on a hike to try and find desert bighorn sheep that have been introduced to this island. They aren't easy to find. As he was waiting for all his hikers to arrive, he scanned the area with binoculars and found three females or young males standing as silhouettes on a ridge. Wow, what a find! Everyone on the beach had a chance to see them look at us as we looked at them. The birding was good too and included a brilliantly colored northern cardinal, numerous verdins, flycatchers, ladderback and gila woodpeckers, and white-winged doves to mention a few.
Lee Moll was turning over rocks on the return from her hike when she found the beautiful night snake pictured above. This one was about a foot long but some may grow as large as two feet. This nocturnal predator was getting a good day's sleep when its roof was removed. It injects venom from enlarged teeth in the back of its upper jaw into lizards, snakes, and other small animals but is harmless to humans. Many of us admired the beautiful brown markings around the head and neck.
The afternoon was spent doing just about anything one wanted. Some took long naps while others slipped below the surface into clear gulf water. Colorful schools of king angelfish dominated the dull background. The ferocious disposition and eager looking gape of a large moray eel was captivating. Kayaks glided along, lapped by small wind-driven waves giving their paddlers solitude. A few people reentered the canyon for exploring on their own, and beachcombers wandered the shoreline.
The evening featured a barbecue on the beach, star gazing, smores, and the sounds of a guitar in the background. One of the best parts of the gathering was conversations with new found friends. Now as I type this report, the sound rolling out from the lounge is gentle, frequent laughter mixed with the burble of many voices. It is a happy sound, the sound of people having a good time.
