The next stop along the way was Isla Isabela. It is a natural preserve for Frigate and Booby birds. Jacques Cousteau fell in love with the birds and sea life 30 years ago and made a movie here. It was simply wonderful! However, anchoring was another story! It's a dicey spot to get into due to rock and coral shoals and there is a specific path to take to the shallower water for anchoring, we planned out everything beautifully, but just as Kevin is up on the bow getting the anchor ready I see a whale very close off to starboard! It happens to be a mother and her calf right in the middle of the path to our anchoring spot!! What a start! so off course we go, praying the rocks are far away and that the boat doesn't come between the mother whale and her baby - not good!!
Well, we are here to tell the tale, so it all worked out well and we dropped the hook in the midst of a fantastic snorkeling spot!! The only boat in the anchorage for that night! The next day we took a hike on the island to see the birds nesting and mating. They are literally arms length away!
There are birds everywhere and chicks too. At the bottom are the Frigates in short trees like a lime tree, these are big birds and don't mind you wandering around the nesting areas. The males have a bright red spot on their necks which they blow up like a heart shaped balloon to attract a mate! It's quite a sight and sound to.
At the top of the cliff we climbed we found the blue footed booby birds and the brown booby's which have lime green feet. They are more than happy to have their pictures taken and even come to see you and pose!! The males walk around proudly lifting their blue or green feet to attract a female. It's like watching a kid with his new rubber boots on!
What a great spot! When you look out to see you can see all the Humpback whales spouting and jumping and showing off their stuff. Fabulous to see it all. Later we went snorkeling right off the boat and saw all kinds of fish and coral. The boys were very busy adding them all to the "fish journal" and coloring it all. We hated to leave the National Geographic scene, but a storm off the coast of California was changing the wind and wave patterns for the worst and so off to San Blas we went.
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