Kayaks, mangroves and creatures

Kayaking through mangrove channel

Yesterday we kayaked through the rich mangrove swamps near Tranquilo Bay, in the Bocas del Toro archipelago off Panama's northern coast.  The mangroves in the lagoons are red mangroves while some white and black mangroves root farther back from the salt water.  The red mangroves have lots of yellow leaves amidst their deep, shiny green leaves.  These are the "sacrificial" leaves that collect the excess salt taken in from the seawater in which the mangroves root.  They die from the salt and drop into the water.

tangle of mangrove roots

Small clams cling to the roots under the water and eventually die, adding to the pile of shells below.  As you glide along in your kayak, it is astonishing to hear clacking noises from the swamp, the sound of clams clicking their shells  together.  The water is very clear.  One lagoon has hundreds of thousands of "upside down" jellyfish that lie on the bottom, allowing algae to grow on their tentacles.  They look like large white rocks and pack a nasty sting if you touch them.

Spotted butterfly

On a walk later, we found the beautiful and poisonous and very tiny red frog, which disappeared under a log before I could photograph him.  Some of the butterflies have clear wings that look just like gently veined leaves while others are spotted like the one on the left or multi-colored to match their favorite flowers.  Deep in the rain forest, the birds are in the midst of their mating rituals.  Hummingbirds fight in mid-air.  Manakins clear areas of the forest floor to show off their dancing techniques for the females nearby, announcing their display by literally clapping their wings so loudly that you wonder if they'll break.

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