Nopolo and Islas Los Islotes
Hello all,
Happy Easter to you all! What a glorious day with clear skies and calm seas.
Today we started our day at Nopolo village with a pre-breakfast walk. Everyone enjoyed the Xantus hummingbirds and several other species of birds. After we left Nopolo, we immediately started seeing whales–Brydes, fins and humpback–in a very short period. We also common and bottlenose dolphin. There were manta rays everywhere.
After lunch we visited Los Islotes. Everyone went on a skiff ride around the island to see blue-footed boobies and sea lions, to name a few species. After the skiff ride all the people who wanted to snorkel with the sea lions got in the water. The visibility was great and the water was warm. There were lots of “snorkel screams” from those enjoying the sea lions.
Upon leaving Los Islotes we came across jumping smooth tailed mobulas which was unexpected and everyone got a kick out of the rays.
Happy Easter to you all! What a glorious day with clear skies and calm seas.
Today we started our day at Nopolo village with a pre-breakfast walk. Everyone enjoyed the Xantus hummingbirds and several other species of birds. After we left Nopolo, we immediately started seeing whales–Brydes, fins and humpback–in a very short period. We also common and bottlenose dolphin. There were manta rays everywhere.
After lunch we visited Los Islotes. Everyone went on a skiff ride around the island to see blue-footed boobies and sea lions, to name a few species. After the skiff ride all the people who wanted to snorkel with the sea lions got in the water. The visibility was great and the water was warm. There were lots of “snorkel screams” from those enjoying the sea lions.
Upon leaving Los Islotes we came across jumping smooth tailed mobulas which was unexpected and everyone got a kick out of the rays.
We ended our day with common dolphin and a great sunset.
What a great trip with wonderful weather and great people!
This is our last trip of the 2010 natural history season and it was a great season with lots and lots of whales. I personally don’t want it to end and wished I was going back to Baja right away. We look forward to next year already, while we enjoy some great memories from this year.
Capt Art
Isla Monserrate and Las Galeras
Dear whalewatchers:
We had a day that might qualify for one of Searcher’s greatest days on the Sea of Cortez!
This morning we awoke at Isla Monserrate to a calm placid ocean. We started watching for whales and it didn’t take long for the boys on the roof to find us several whales right away. First we spent some time with a fin whale cow and calf pair and there were other fin whales in the area.
Soon after we spent some time with a minke whale and as it turns out, it was the same minke whale as last trip. This minke is crazy curious about Searcher and it spent at least 1.5 hours around the boat, making passes under the bow, along the side and coming up right beneath us. The clear water afforded everyone unparalled views of this small cetacean, one we don’t often see on these trips. All of the passengers and crew were running from side to side for a good photo. She (yes, we were able to determine its gender as she twirled on her belly next to the boat) appeared to make eye contact with all of us and make relaxed surfacings next to the boat.
Next the fin whale cow and calf made a curious encounter with Searcher. First the calf spent time surfacing very close to us, then the mother and baby made a few passes together. Again with the clear water, we could see every field mark and get a great perspective on sizes of these animals since they were so close.
Having these giant cetaceans come so close to us was unforgettable for all aboard.
Then we encountered several herds of active common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and several kinds of seabirds such as Cravieri’s murrelets, least and black storm petrels, terns and gulls, and loads of manta rays jumping and flipping.
After lunchtime we had either a snorkel or a Krazy Koastal Kruise at Las Galeras to see sea lions, pelicans, frigates, boobies, and lots of other birds.
For our late afternoon, we found a Bryde’s whale to add to our baleen species list as well. Then at sunset, we found a herd of pilot whales that we watched until it got dark.
Ending a very special day in Baja,
Capt Art
We had a day that might qualify for one of Searcher’s greatest days on the Sea of Cortez!
This morning we awoke at Isla Monserrate to a calm placid ocean. We started watching for whales and it didn’t take long for the boys on the roof to find us several whales right away. First we spent some time with a fin whale cow and calf pair and there were other fin whales in the area.
Soon after we spent some time with a minke whale and as it turns out, it was the same minke whale as last trip. This minke is crazy curious about Searcher and it spent at least 1.5 hours around the boat, making passes under the bow, along the side and coming up right beneath us. The clear water afforded everyone unparalled views of this small cetacean, one we don’t often see on these trips. All of the passengers and crew were running from side to side for a good photo. She (yes, we were able to determine its gender as she twirled on her belly next to the boat) appeared to make eye contact with all of us and make relaxed surfacings next to the boat.
Next the fin whale cow and calf made a curious encounter with Searcher. First the calf spent time surfacing very close to us, then the mother and baby made a few passes together. Again with the clear water, we could see every field mark and get a great perspective on sizes of these animals since they were so close.
Having these giant cetaceans come so close to us was unforgettable for all aboard.
Then we encountered several herds of active common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and several kinds of seabirds such as Cravieri’s murrelets, least and black storm petrels, terns and gulls, and loads of manta rays jumping and flipping.
After lunchtime we had either a snorkel or a Krazy Koastal Kruise at Las Galeras to see sea lions, pelicans, frigates, boobies, and lots of other birds.
For our late afternoon, we found a Bryde’s whale to add to our baleen species list as well. Then at sunset, we found a herd of pilot whales that we watched until it got dark.
Ending a very special day in Baja,
Capt Art
Isla Santa Catalina
Dear whalewatchers:
We woke in a calm anchorage at Isla Santa Catalina and had an early birding walk through an arroyo before breakfast.
The cardon cactus and barrel cactus areas were alive with birds like northern cardinals, verdin, ash-throated flycatchers, white-winged doves, kestrel, ravens, turkey vultures, and more. We also spotted one small rattleless rattlesnake and several emerald-tailed lizards. After breakfast, people went back to walk a bit further up this scenic canyon.
Then it was time for a snorkel in the coves around Elephant Rock and from the beach at the arroyo.
After lunch we headed out into a windy channel to get better weather closer to the peninsula. We ended up in “fin whale alley.” All total, we found eight fin whales and a couple of blue whales. We had excellent views of the fin whale field marks such as a white chevron on the back and white lower right jaw. At sunset we were seeing whale blows in the distance in every direction. We are heading for an anchorage at Isla Monserrate tonight.
Hoping for continued great whalewatching in this part of the Sea of Cortez tomorrow,
Capt Art
We woke in a calm anchorage at Isla Santa Catalina and had an early birding walk through an arroyo before breakfast.
The cardon cactus and barrel cactus areas were alive with birds like northern cardinals, verdin, ash-throated flycatchers, white-winged doves, kestrel, ravens, turkey vultures, and more. We also spotted one small rattleless rattlesnake and several emerald-tailed lizards. After breakfast, people went back to walk a bit further up this scenic canyon.
Then it was time for a snorkel in the coves around Elephant Rock and from the beach at the arroyo.
After lunch we headed out into a windy channel to get better weather closer to the peninsula. We ended up in “fin whale alley.” All total, we found eight fin whales and a couple of blue whales. We had excellent views of the fin whale field marks such as a white chevron on the back and white lower right jaw. At sunset we were seeing whale blows in the distance in every direction. We are heading for an anchorage at Isla Monserrate tonight.
Hoping for continued great whalewatching in this part of the Sea of Cortez tomorrow,
Capt Art
Isla San Jose
Dear whalewatchers:
Today we woke to the sunrise on the red sandstone cliffs at Punta Colorado at Isla San Jose. After breakfast, we had a nice arroyo walk through desert plants and interesting geology, and found some blooming shrubs, birds and reptiles.
Then a snorkel session cooled everyone off. We found nice fishes and some people got to try their hand at snorkeling in a large cove with many underwater boulders for the fish to congregate around.
We headed off to look for whales and it wasn’t long before we found two pairs of blue whale cows and calves. We watched these animals for over two hours. They were very relaxed and afforded some great looks at this giant cetacean species–nice to see the youngsters.
Then we made our way north past Isla Santa Cruz and encountered a large group of pilot whales. There were several large bulls, a few calves, and we spent some time at sunset watching and listening to them swim closely past the boat until sunset.
We were seeing some red-billed tropicbirds, storm petrels, blue-footed boobies and yellow-footed gulls throughout our travels today.
We’ll anchor at Isla Santa Catalina tonight and have plans for some more hiking, snorkeling, and whalewatching tomorrow.
Capt Art
