Trip Reports

Hello whalewatchers:
We had a great day at Islas San Benito. The weather was great with clear skies and a brisk wind, but warm out of the wind.  Albatross Alley kept producing after my first report. At one point we had 17 albatrosses in our wake–incredible!. Out total before arriving at the island was 40 birds–28 black-footed and 12 laysan albatross. What a start to our day!
At the island, we had a skiff ride to view Guadalupe fur seals and then we landed on the island. There were fewer fur seals but more elephant seals, with more females returning to molt. The island is very dry still this spring. At the top of the island there is a group of about 12 horned larks that hiker enjoyed.
Everyone had a good day and now we are traveling south to Laguna San Ignacio.
More tomorrow,
Capt Art

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

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

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