Cozumel Friday

Headed north on the island today for birds. Although there was not a huge variety of species, this was the most amazing rookery I have ever visited.

The innkeeper at Casa Viento arranged a bird tour to a mangrove swamp. Although close to the populated areas of Cozumel, the swamp is accessible only by water, and we saw nobody all day. We went in a small boat, and Alberto, the captain, poled the boat most of the way. It was such a super way to go birding -- the quiet transportation did not scare the birds, so they allowed us to get really, really close. (See ibis below, really, really close.)

The rookery was incredible. The picture above is about right for density, but and the rookery was huge, with several large areas of intense nesting. Among the nesting birds we saw were: white ibis, glossy ibis, tri-colored heron, snowy egret, reddish heron, little blue heron. We also saw an ancient, huge osprey nest, green herons, Mangrove warblers, white crowned pigeons, royal and least terns....

Did I mention that we got really, really close? The little guys to the left are snowy egrets. They were adorable.

Finished the day with our second fabulous meal in Cozumel, then a nice, long stroll through town. Last picture is of the gazebo in the plaza.