I just hope no-one is awake and sees me as I try to climb out of the top bunk during the night to go for a pee for it must be a horrific sight as I am not the most agile person but needs must and I have no time for delicate disembarkation. When I need to go, I need to go fast.

It was another early morning start to comb the beach and search for wildlife. I never have made a sunrise yet but I will have to make a special effort as my days here are dwindling.

I never tire of the view when I reach the top of wooden steps, I get quite excited to explore the beach below.

I never turn left anymore, I always head in the same direction – straight down to the crashing waves (they’re always crashing on the shore, I’ve never seen a calm wake) then turn in the right to walk along the shoreline towards the canal and suspension bridge. This is where there is an abundance of wildlife because of the pickings from the canal.

There’s always little creatures, some more strange than others, washed up on the beach from the night before and this morning was no different.

Passing the cormorants feasting on the catfish in the canal, I walked to the bridge to watch the kingfishers plunge into the water coming up with little minnows and the wading egret frantically run up and down waters edge picking off the little fish that unfortunately came within his stricking distance.

Hopefully I have many lovely photos in my Fuji camera of the creatures that live along and on the river and will add them when I get home and review my posts.

Today’s project was to walk along the riverbank in search of the otters I had seen the other day. It was a steep climb to the top of the bank which would mean I would have a clear view as the river as it came round the bend upstream and I could follow it all the way to the sea.

As I was up above the horizon line I’d have to be careful not to let them see me so I scanned well ahead with my binoculars before advancing.

Bingo, three otters, a mother and her two kits frolicking in the water and they hadn’t seen me, I was in luck. They stayed in the same spot and I sat for a while watching their antics. I think I had found their holt as the mother left them there when she went off fishing – a wonderful start to the day!

As always when I’m engrossed in watching nature, time just disappears and I have to head back to where the canal enters the sea as today is day 2 of catching the wild turtles. The task was starting at 7am and I was already late!!

I could see Alejandro, Flor and 4 volunteers organising the net as I headed back to join them. This was a new net. Alejandro was sure that the holes in yesterday’s net were too large letting the turtles through so he decided to switch.

There were so many little heads popping up for air and I knew it was going to be a successful day. Alejandro swam across the river and held the net taught and Joseph had the other end beside the volunteers.

Within 10 mins the net began to vibrate and we knew we had our first capture. As before we had to be quick as there was a chance it would be injured in the struggle to set itself free of the worst case, it would drown. Thankfully neither happened and and it was safely on shore

I was nominated to be the photographer for the day and I only hoped they knew that just because I had a beautiful new shiny Fiji camera it wasn’t a sure thing that I was competent in how to use it 📷

Four other turtles were captured in quick succession and we packed up to head back to put them into boxes.

Gary and I cleaned out the variety of river turtles that had been handed in by the general public who had become bored with the constant care. Unfortunately they could not be released back into the surrounding rivers are they were not indigenous to the area. Where there was more time, they would be taken to the conservation area 10km away and put into a specially built pond – what a life for the poor souls. These animal traffickers have got a lot to answer to.

Marcy and Lucile were leaving this afternoon which left the camp quiet. This had been the lowest numbers since I arrived just over a week ago.

Early evening was probably one of the most emotional moments on this project. We took 5 turtles back to the beach to release them.

Although only two of them were in-patients, it was quite a spectacular scene to watch as they made their way back to the rolling sea. Without any hesitation, they swam out to the ocean took one last breath and dipped beneath the waves – we never saw them again!

This was my only English speaking companion’s last evening and a cause to open up my last bottle of wine. It was a lovely night and I knew it would the last time I would probably have a long conversation with anyone. It would be difficult when he left because I miss out so much on the general chitchat of the group, but it was my fault – I was in a Spanish speaking country and had only made a minimal attempt to learn the language.

Gary very generously invited me to dinner at his rented apartment in Punto del Diablo on my day off so I decided Tuesday would be the day. I would save all my conversation till then!

Nite 😘