October 1st

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Up at the crack of dawn just about to go birding yet again up near La Cabana!! Oh well. We enjoyed some time at the various Salinas – or salty wet areas – and the ocean front up by Arashi Beach. We actually spied a Southern lapwing, which is quite rare. There we met some fellow birding enthusiasts, David and Karen Light from New Jersey. And they were so interested in seeing Shoco that we ended up offering to drive them over to the open place near the windsurfing area. They had already walked down from the lighthouse, and had no car. Of course the pair of burrowing owls popped up and put on a fine show. Just for fun I took a picture of David and Karen looking. We also ALL witnessed a fly over of the illusive fork-tailed flycatcher, so even though David still did not get a photo, we are claiming it!!! Life list now up to 554, with 5 new ones from this trip.

We then dropped our new friends off at the Butterfly Farm and some day they might come to Magee Marsh and see us again.

We stopped at La Cabana for a little shopping and had to wait inside for about 5 minutes because it absolutely bucketed down.

Then it cleared up and we stopped at the markets for some essential souvenirs, plus some places downtown, and then got to Zee Rover to meet up with Linda Schwengle for noon. As usual she didn’t want to eat there, so we drove to O’Neils in San Nicolas, where we have always gone with her. Linda and I had curried goat – very tender – and David had yet another whole red snapper, this time steamed in a lovely garlic sauce.

We also bought 2 kilos of grouper fresh off the boat at Zee Rover. This was probably only because of Linda’s negotiating skills, as all would have gone to the restaurants. $24 for this.

We returned home for a quick turn around and headed off to Mangel Halto. Could it possibly be as clear as it was the other day? YES. And again because there was hardly any current, we messed around near the entrance for a long time. That wasn’t where the action was, however. As we neared the reef we saw 2 more large green moray eels and an octopus!!! It was quite camouflaged, and as we were photographing it, the 3^rd moray came into view so we started filming that, and darned if that octopus didn’t skedaddle. The sky was threatening out at sea all afternoon, but it never came this way, and it was just another gorgeous experience, though quite wavy, and some of our movies had to be rejected, lest they make you all seasick. I posted the photo entitled sky while snorkeling, but fortunately that was just at the end. It wasn't the brightest day, but I personally think that's why the eels were out and about, preparing to hunt at night.

Dinner was pan fried grouper steaks cooked in Aruban hot ginger Sauce broccoli, and ½ sweet potato.

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