MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS

A highlight of the vacation was a sea kayak trip at the Sian Ka'an Biosphere, a large protected area on the southern coast of the Yucutan. We kayaked to the aptly named Bird Island, a small mangrove island no larger than 25 meters in diameter. We were first struck by the large number of Magnificent Frigatebirds. They nest there, and we got a good view of a male with its red gular pouch inflated as well as a mostly-white immature. These birds are quite striking when flying, with their forked tails and angled pointed wings.