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Phil Habegger and
Katie, my cousin, who joined us for a couple of weeks. This was
their second visit, so they must like it! |
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Phil likes to fish
and I felt bad last year when he caught a lovely barracuda within
seconds of getting a line out. I'd made him put it back as the water
was too shallow and the risk of ciguatera poisoning too great. This
time we caught a couple of 'barries' too, but also... |
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...a lovely tuna. |
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Here's Katie
bringing home the catch. |
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There's something
about Barbuda that creates beautiful colours in the sky and sea.
Probably the shallow water and fine white sand which is exported in
vast quantities. Here is Zingano in a perfect Caribbean setting. |
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There are only
1500 people who live in Barbuda and not many tourists. And there is
17 miles of beach like this. No wonder you hardly see a soul - the
walker here was another yachtie we'd given a lift to, now going back
to his boat. |
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Codrington, the
main town, is little more than a village with neat little houses and
an air of peace and calm. |
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This isn't the
sea, but a view of the huge inland lagoon on which Codrington sits.
A little spit of sand separates it from the sea, and you can carry
your dinghy over if it's a light one. |
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The frigate bird
colony is one of Barbuda's claims to fame. It's one of the largest
in the world and you can visit the fringes of it with a licensed
guide. |
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Although the
mating season was nearly over we were lucky enough to see the male
frigate birds doing their displays, puffing up their red throats
into these huge balloons. No wonder the girls fall for it! |
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In a reversal from
human stereotypes it is the males who sit on the nest and the
females who hunt. It is said frigates can quickly sink if they land
on the water. They catch their fish by scooping them up from the
surface or by
harrying other birds who drop their prey. This need for supreme
aerial dexterity is perhaps why the
young take eight months to develop before they can leave the nest. |
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Dawn breaks over
Barbuda. |
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What I call a "Cuming"
sky, after Fred the painter. |
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Whales! As we
returned from Barbuda I saw what looked like a breaking reef where
none should be. Rapidly checking my navigation I next thought it was
a big tuna kill, then we realised these were whales. We pottered
over to say hallo and found ourselves within spouting distance of
three minkes, about 25 to 40 feet long (it's hard to estimate). There
were a cow, bull and calf. Knowing that yachts have been attacked by
whales for getting too close to their calves we backed away, only to
have then curiously swimming closer! It was a lovely encounter and
the first time we have seen whales in these waters. |
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Deep Bay viewed
from the old fort which commands it. Zingano is in the foreground. |
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This little chap
was quietly hiding under a leaf, but got snapped up by my camera. |
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Another whale? No.
On closer investigation this turned out to be a dramatic blowhole
rock in Five Islands bay. It made a surprisingly large blow
considering there was very little swell - obviously just enough to
make it work without flooding it. |
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Another sunset pic?
Yes! This is good "green flash" country and we've seen quite a few
now though they are very hard to capture on camera. This promised to be a green flashing sunset, but in the end if
slunk away without a wink. There's always a next time... |
