Bahia San Gabriel-Isla Espiritu Santo

Our last night out, we anchored at Bahia San Gabriel on Isla Espiritu Santo. Six other boats were there with us, five of us in the shallow southern corner. Immediately after setting the anchor, Wayne, Betty and I jumped in the dinghy and drove over to the strip of mangrove that separates the bay from an old, abandoned pearl farm. The tijeretas, or frigate birds, have a rookery here, and they are in nesting mode. We watched as the males brought grasses to the females who, nestled in the mangrove branches, took the grass and added it to the nest growing beneath them.

I cut the motor as we approached the rookery and rowed along the strip of mangrove so Wayne and Betty could get some good photos. Beneath us in the water, we saw a small stingray scoot off, a bullseye puffer leisurely swim by, a gulf sunstar attached to the rocks, and hundreds of minnow-sized fish dart away.

Sunsets remain awesome!