Hello whalewatchers: We enjoyed excellent whalewatching today! We observed lots and lots of humpback whales all day. We followed several groups of multiple whales and had great viewing, including lots of fluke shots, which is always a crowd pleaser. There was plenty of breaching, including cows and calves. I think everyone had fun today–I know I did. Today’s photo is of one of our passengers and a group of humpbacks.
Team Searcher
Hello whalewatchers: We had an incredible humpback whale show this afternoon with two whales breaching , flipper flapping, tail lobbing and more. There were other whales in the area but these two whales were great. It will be hard to beat tomorrow around the Gorda Banks, but we’ll try.
In addition to the humpbacks we saw loads of common dolphin and sea birds. All the action this afternoon was just south of Mag Bay. We hadood conditions with light winds and seas. We are looking forward to tomorrow.
Today’s photo is of a humpback whale on the surface. Note the white pectoral flippers.
Team Searcher
Hello whalewatchers: We had a visitor before daylight this morning–a gray whale cow with her calf hung out at Searcher for over an hour and most everyone got to see them. It was like the Searcher was a big panga. It is always nice when this occurs, the view from the deck is great. You can see the entire whale which can be difficult from the pangas.
It turns out that the first panga trip had a close encounter with these whales as the calf had some of the Searcher‘s bottom paint on it’s nose. the pangas had a great session.
Everyone had a great morning and they are right back out there after lunch in great conditions–just light winds from the southwest and clear skies.
Last night we had lights out with the generator off for 30 minutes. It was a little windy but the skies were clear and the star gazing was great.
Team Searcher
Hello whalewatchers: Our first day in Laguna San Ignacio was great with good conditions, light winds out of the north for the majority of the day and clear skies. There are lots of whales here with the cow and calf numbers higher than 2 weeks ago. The latest census had 151 cows with calves! Numbers like this haven’t been seen since 1987, according to Steven Swartz.
Everyone had a great day with good whalewatching in the pangas. Today’s photo is a panga and a breaching calf next to it close to Searcher.
Team Searcher
Hello whalewatchers: Today at Islas San Benito we had clear skies and breezy conditions all day. The island is still in bloom with lots of flowers. There is a change happening with the northern elephant seals with a lot of the females leaving. Their pups need to fend for themselves now. It doesn’t seem fair to only have your mom for a few months and then it’s up to them but that is how it goes for elephant seal pups. There are still several males on the beach.
The group got to see all four pinnipeds hauled out in one spot which is rare: elephant seal, CA sea lion, harbor seal and Guadalupe fur seal. There are ospreys on the nest now so some good photo opportunities there. Everyone had a good walk and enjoyed the island. We are grateful we are headed south with the wind.
Team Searcher
Hello whalewatchers: We started our trip with a rare San Diego rain storm! In some rolling seas, we mortored to Ensenada to clear Mexican customs. Then we went to Islas Todos Santos in better weather for a look at some pinnipeds, comorants, brown pelicans and oystercatchers. The island is very green with the recent rains.
We saw plenty of gray whales heading north, and some groups of whales were exhibiting mating behaviors. Everyone had a good look at gray whales today. As for pelagic birds, we found some black-vented shearwaters, Cassins auklets, Scripps murrelets and northern fulmars.
All in all it was a good day with much better weather than last night.
Team Searcher
Hello whalewatchers: We woke up to a great sunset and flat calm seas, then organized a great trip into the mangroves at Isla San Jose. We found more dolphins on the way to Los Islotes for a snorkel session with sea lions. Everyone enjoyed the fun snorkeling with them. We headed offshore for a final look at a whale and added a new species with two Bryde’s whales. What a great trip for sightings and weather!
Team Searcher
I received a phone call today with the news of loads of blue whales! They left anchor near Isla Carmen this morning and found lots of blue whales. All is well still and I am sure to get another quick call on Tuesday evening.
Hello whalewatchers: We had a wonderful sunrise at Punta Colorado to start the day, then a nice walk and a snorkel session. There are lots of flowers in the arroyo. Then we headed north in the San Jose channel in Sea of Cortez. We came across a large herd of long-beaked common dolphin and a big group of pilot whales. There were also lots of black storm petrels. The highlight was as we arrived at Isla Santa Catalina we had bottlenose dolphin in the bioluminecence riding the bow. It is very hard to describe, but it is very dark and a torpedo with a trail behind approaching the boat from 200 yards away. It truly is one of the best things we see on these trips. Click here: http://youtu.be/AfWxnE5lUQQ?list=UUtoQBhyrjFCsrxIME7FFE2w
Team Searcher
Hello whalewatchers: We are enjoying one of the best days watching humpback whales in a few years! You can look in any direction today and see a whale on the surface. And at one point you could see a whale breaching in any direction. We’ve witnessed all the classic behaviors almost all day including tail-lobbing, flipper-flapping, adults breaching and calves breaching. It was remarkable! Here’s a sample: http://youtu.be/oAk7QKlpD4w?list=UUtoQBhyrjFCsrxIME7FFE2w
