Our birding trip through the lagoons near La Manzanilla yielded more laughs than birds. For Rachel and Gloria, who had never made the trip before, the hour and a half long trip down the mangrove swamps yielded more surprises than I had counted on. Click on the below photos to read the story as well as the photos:
After initial problems stepping into the muck to get into the boat, all started out smoothly enough.
The channel was wide,
Plenty of crocs were in evidence, but their swift emergences and disappearances didn’t afford much of a photo opportunity.
and more,
and a few more.
Due to extrememly high water levels, the banks were verdant
All was calm
and serene…..until
and caused this kingfisher to reel in shock?
What brought Gloria from her perch
and set Rachel to reeling with laughter?
With Gloria and Rachel in La Manzanilla, Mexico
Could it possibly have been due to a series of impossibly low mangrove limbs that because of the high water were only inches above the top edge of our boat? Yes, indeed, we went under at least four trees like this that extended completely across the channel, as well as a low-hanging footbridge. And then got to repeat the experience on the way back. For now, trips through the mangroves are definitely not for sissies. We earned our gin and tonics that night!!! (Look again, now. All of those low-lying trunks of trees pictured were ones we had to fit under!
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 