Tour #6 Life offshore Ensenada April 9

Hello whalewatchers,
Today was our first day of our last trip this season and what a day we had! It all started with a quick stop at Islas Todo Santos for a view of three different pinnipeds, pelagic comorant, oystercatchers, perregrin falcon, nesting brown pelicans, and the island was in full bloom with the yellow flowers (Encelia) covering half the island.
Travelling south we saw a group of short-beaked common dolphin. several alcids, migrating common loons, migrating brandt geese, sooty shearwaters, red phalaropes, and black-footed albatross. That was before lunch.

During lunch we spotted multiple spouts in the distance and when we arrived in the area, we were amazed at the life there. There were three different species of baleen whales including three blue whales , two of them were a cow and calf pair. The single whale fluked mulitple times and had a very distinct tail fluke–it was very pretty. The cow also was a fluker and a much darker animal, and the calf was a normal light grayish color.  There were also two fin whales and two humpback whales (that did some breaching, tail lobbing and flipper flapping while we were viewing the blue whales). Sadly we are on a schedule and had to break off and continue south.
What a great start to our trip!
More tomorow from Islas San Benitos,
Capt Art

2011-04-09T19:55:36-07:00April 9th, 2011|Trip Reports|

What a terrible day…

…to welcome our Tour #6 participants to San Diego! It was anything but “sunny” as an unusually cold storm front moved through our region. (Colder here than in England, where many of them travelled from!)

But I believe they have all forgotten about the chilly temperatures and off and on rain showers by now because they are surrounded by two humpback whales, two fin whales, two blue whales, and a growing list of seabirds (including common loons, black-footed albatross, rhino auklets), all under a blue and sunny sky,  as they head south, deeper and deeper into Baja California and away from civilization.

Stay tuned for more details on this day!

Thank you to Lee Morgan for the use of his photo of a blue whale off the bow.

2011-04-09T13:51:57-07:00April 9th, 2011|Trip Reports|

San Diegans!

Come learn more about the very endangered “gulf of california” porpoise, called the vaquita, on Sunday April 10 at 6 p.m. We’ll be showing the 40-minute film about conservation efforts and the outlook for this species–only 250 of them survive. Email me for all the details. Event is free, though a $5 donation to ProPeninsula is suggested.

2011-04-05T13:30:59-07:00April 5th, 2011|News|

Tour #5 Last day in Baja April 4

Hello whalewatchers,
We enjoyed another beautiful day in the Sea of Cortez, with calm seas and no wind. This is weather we dream about. We made a quick visit to Nopolo for a pre-breakfast walk and the endemic Xantus hummingbird showed well. We headed south towards Los Islotes .
After a skiff ride to look at the sea lions and birds with the highlight being the courting blue-footed boobies, the snorkellers went in. The visibilty was the best we’ve seen in quite some time with clear water and lots of fish.
After leaving there we came across a big group of bottlenose dolphin. This group wanted to perform, with several animals leaping in the wake as  high as 20 feet in the air. It was impressive! We saw one more humpback whale and a great sunset to end a great trip.
See you all next trip,
Capt Art

2020-07-15T16:35:22-07:00April 5th, 2011|Trip Reports|

Tour #5 Agua Verde fin whales and more April 3

Hello whalewatchers,
Today was another remarkable day. Our weather and wildlife sightings were great again. With sunny skies and calm seas, it doesn’t get better than this. We saw a few more fin whales and 10 humpbacks, some of them giving us great fluke shots when they dove. We did something different today as well. We followed a large group of bottlenose dolphin, at least 100 animals, for over an hour as they cruised by the coast in fairly shallow water. We had a great time with them, observing their actions and photographing.
This morning we had a great stay at Bahia Agua Verde. There was a good walk in the morning and a great snorkel afterwardsl. We also had a Krazy Koastal Kruise with Kapt Kenny to Roca Solitair–the place in the attached photo.
More tomorrow,
Capt Art

2011-04-04T06:36:09-07:00April 4th, 2011|Trip Reports|

Tour #5 Santa Catalina and a whaley day April 2

Hello whalewatchers,
Today was a glorious day at Isla Santa Catalina. We went ashore a little earlier because of the heat. The temperatures are in the mid 80’s mid-day, so earlier was better. The island is changing a little from previous trips. With the warmer temps the lizards are more active and there were lots around. Also the cardon cactus are in the process of blooming with lots of buds and a few flowers.
The snorkelling was excellent with great visibility and 70 degree water. Kapt Kenny’s Krazy Koastal Kruise had a good trip with a few bottlenose dolphin sighted.
We left at noon to look for whales and what an afternoon we had! We saw at least 15 fin whales, three different groups of common dolphin with at least 1000 animals in each group, a small group of bottlenose dolphin, and one blue whale.
There was also lots of birdlife with pelicans, boobies, murrelets, grebes and gulls.
The seas were calm and so it made for a wonderful day out looking for whales.
More tomorrow from Bahia Agua Verde,
Capt Art

2011-04-03T08:48:56-07:00April 3rd, 2011|Trip Reports|

Tour #5 Classic Sea of Cortez day April 1

Hello whalewatchers,

We’ve enjoyed a classic day in the Sea Of Cortez today with calm, hot conditions and loads of wildlife. It all started with a beautiful sunrise at Punta Colorado, Isla San Jose. Then we offered a skiff ride along the coast, a hike up the arroyo and then a snorkel–all before lunch.

We went looking for whales and found some feeding fin whales along with a big group of common dolphins., then a lonley humpback whale which we don’t normally see this far north in the gulf.
Then a red-billed tropicbird, plenty of black storm petrels and a few Craverri’s murrelets.
A great day and lots of fun for everyone.
More tomorow from Isla Santa Catalina,
Capt Art

2011-04-01T21:12:49-07:00April 1st, 2011|Trip Reports|

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