Isla Isabel

[armando_m]

In a couple of days I'm off to an Island 40 miles from shore, on the pacific ocean, it is a national park, there are plenty of fragates, bobbie birds, iguanas, and opportunities to snorkel. Maybe some whale watching ...

The Island has about 50 permanent inhabitants, a fishing village, they gladly cook fresh fish for the visitors

I'll be there with a group of photographers, we'll be camping for a couple of nights

I'll bring along the D300 with:
3 batteries
a few cf cards
70-300 zoom - mostly for bif shots
18-200 zoom - general purpose walking around, the birds nest on the cliffs which are reachable by foot and it's easy to get really close to the nests
11-16 zoom - landscapes along with the nd filter, hopefully some night shots of the stars
35mm prime - low light shots
tripod

Also I'll see if I can borrow an under water p&s camera

here is a map with the location of the island

[Shyanni]

Sounds like a wonderful trip, Armando! I hope you have good weather and see lots of interesting wildlife. I look forward to seeing some of your favorite shots when you get back. Stay safe and enjoy!

[armando_m]

I'm back

Fantastic place, there are thousands of birds, mostly of two species

I'll be sharing shots as I have time,I brought back a large number of shots, in the mean time, here is sample

Booby bird

[Shyanni]

I love the low angle here, Armando!

[armando_m]

a few more ...

Mom and chick, they nest on the ground , one has to be careful not to step to close , or if the nest is empty step on eggs.

On the island there is biologists camp, studying the birds & marine life, they mentioned they have studies of booby birds individuals dating back 25 years and they are still alive, so they do not know the life span of this bird species, also mentioned was they being loyal to the same couple about 8 years
2.


Sunset with booby bird nests on the ground, this is on top of a hill, once again the path ascending the hill can be interrupted by nests, making us go around them, often through vegetation with aggressive thorns
3.


Sunday ... on the way back we found a large group of dolphins, that was such a great experience ! (my lens got some splashed water drops) There were so many it was hard to know where to shoot, at times I just held the camera without looking through the viewfinder in continuous shooting mode, grabbed a few worth keeping
4.


5. Another adult with their little one, one can not tell if they are male or female until they squack (??) , the female have a loud duck like sound, and the males have a subtle whistle , sometimes they will get very intense even if you are a few meters away, others just stare and do not care much even when they are at hand reach

to be continued ...

[ksbryan0]

Outstanding captures, Armando. Looks like a fantastic trip.

[Shyanni]

Great shots, Armando! I love the ones that show parent with chick.
I think many birds live a lot longer than we realize. I read that a chickadee in captivity lived for 26 years. Birds seem so small and fragile, we tend to figure they only lasting a few years. And a lot of them probably do die early, preyed upon or succumbing to the hardships of living wild, or the dangers of living near humans. But the lucky ones may live a lot longer than we realize. They say parrots live for 50 years or more.

[armando_m]

Thanks Shyanni and Bryan for taking the time to comment, much appreciated

more shots ...

6. small white bird, hope some can help ID
seem faster and more agile than the larger frigates or boobie birds, they are in much smaller numbers, this one I was able to capture from the boat it as we got closer to a reef , one lucky shot, and heavily cropped, they nest on the vertical walls of the reefs


7. BIF


8. BIF


9. Frigates, the one landing most be feeding a little one


10. crashing surf


still more to come ...

[ksbryan0]

I love the energy in your crashing surf! Also, your focus was spot on in the images taken from the boat...well done!

[armando_m]

Thanks again Bryan

Seems I found the white bird to be a Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus)

[armando_m]

another one form the shore
11.

[paulnj]

Great shots here.

[Shyanni]

The shot of the crashing surf is very dramatic -- I love it! Good flight shots too.

[BarrieB]

OmG! thats so beautiful.. I want to go there someday!

[hotnickles96]

Love these photo's