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Nopolo and Islas Los Islotes
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Nopolo and Islas Los Islotes

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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.

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

2020-07-15T16:35:28-07:00April 4th, 2010|Trip Reports, Videos|

Isla Monserrate and Las Galeras
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Isla Monserrate and Las Galeras

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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

2020-07-15T16:35:28-07:00April 3rd, 2010|Trip Reports|

Isla Santa Catalina
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Isla Santa Catalina

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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

2010-09-03T19:03:48-07:00April 2nd, 2010|Trip Reports|

Isla San Jose
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Isla San Jose

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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

2010-09-04T18:05:15-07:00April 1st, 2010|Trip Reports|

Offshore Cabo San Lucas

Dear whalewatchers:
We started this morning in the area of Gorda Banks, watching for humpback whales. The weather was calm and we saw scattered humpbacks after daylight around Cabo. They were mostly just single whales until we got closer to the Gorda Bank area. We started seeing doubles and triples and then we came across a big group. We followed a group of 9-11 humpback whales who were obviously surfacing together, interacting, and showing all the surface behaviors that humpbacks are famous for–breaching, tail lobbing, flipper flapping, and fluking together. It was a phenomenal show and everyone got loads of photos of air-borne humpback whales.
Our last activity for the day was either a snorkel session or a desert walk for birds and butterflies. The snorkeling was excellent with a large variety of fish and 73-degree water. The land folks found some Baja desert birds to watch.
Looking forward to another day in the Sea of Cortez tomorrow,
Capt Art

2010-09-03T18:05:15-07:00March 31st, 2010|Trip Reports|

Offshore Bahia Magdalena

Dear whalewatchers:
We had amazing weather all day today–calm conditions and clear blue water. That allowed us to find many green sea turtles, balls of krill and bait fish underwater, and great views of large whales as they swam very close to the boat.
We started today with a few common dolphin not a big concentration but a steady flow of dolphin all day.
Later we found two different cow-calf pairs of humpback whales. Their white pectoral flippers and mottled flukes were easy to track.
A very cooperative and relaxed blue whale was a highlight of the day. We started watching this blue whale as it lunged with every breath and swam quickly. However, soon it slowed its speed and swam just underwater very close to the boat. Its breathing was slow and its behavior was calm. This means we had just an amazing view of the entire animal over and over again. I think everyone who wanted it got a nice photo of this blue whale. We believe this was a young animal as it was just about 60-feet long.
We moved into a deep water area and didn’t see much until we laid a slick of fish oil and popcorn. This drew in about a dozen black storm petrels.
The weather looks good for tomorrow as we round the tip of Baja. Looking forward to humpback whales in the morning.
Capt Art and Celia

2020-07-15T16:35:28-07:00March 30th, 2010|Trip Reports|

Laguna San Ignacio: day 2

Hello all,
Today was a picture perfect day in the lagoon. The weather was phenomenal with light winds and sunny skies. We started our day with an early morning trip to the mangroves. It was great bird watching with several herons, egrets, shorebirds, geese and more. With no wind after that trip, we sent the pangas out to watch whales. Everyone had close encounters with cows and calves, and several whales were within 25 feet of the panga. With the weather being the way it was it just doesn’t get much better.
After lunch we did it again with two more trips in great weather and lots of whales close by. At the end of the day most everyone had touched a whale and were very happy.
Once again the magic of Laguna San Ignacio has touched another group of whale enthusiasts. There is no way to describe fully how this place effects people in just a few words. You have to be there. It is always a bit sad for us to leave the lagoon and know it was the last time for 2010. It was a great year with lots of whales and lots of happy people.
Heading south to look for different whales tomorrow,
Capt Art

2010-09-03T17:53:23-07:00March 29th, 2010|Trip Reports|

Laguna San Ignacio: day 1

Hello all,
Today we arrived at Laguna San Ignacio for the last time this year. The weather is great and it looks like it will be a great day. There are several mother and calf gray whales in the lagoon this time and they are making everyone happy.
We got everyone out in the pangas for one trip in the morning, then had a break for lunch, then two trips in the afternoon. Most of the group had a close encounter with a gray whale at some point today and to see the glow on peoples’ faces when they return to the boat is really great. Lots of photos and stories about the up-close views of gray whales.
We saw bottlenose dolphin on the way in today and lots of bird life–such as jaegers, pelicans, terns, gulls. I think everyone had a great day and we’re ending with a nice sunset anchored in a calm lagoon.
More tomorrow,
Capt Art
p.s. Garry and Candice send a big “saludo” to Dawn…they have big,salt-encrusted grins on their faces due to the gray whales today!

2010-09-03T17:52:14-07:00March 28th, 2010|Trip Reports|

Islas San Benito

Hello all,
Today we spent the day at West San Benitos. The group enjoyed a skiff ride to view Guadalupe fur seals on the way to the beach.There was a good amount animals.
There has been a change on the beach with the elephant seals. There were no adult males and the females are returning to molt. The weaners are thinner and there are more weaners in the water practicing their swimming skills.
There were a few osprey on nests and it seems there are fewer pairs this year. Some of the nests that usually have pairs on them didn’t. We are not sure why but it is noteworthy.
The weather is great with sunny skies and cool temperatures. The wind has died and we are hoping to see a large whale this afternoon.
We are headed to Laguna San Ignacio this afternoon. Looking forward to returning to the lagoon.
More tomorrow,
Capt Art

2010-09-03T17:50:32-07:00March 27th, 2010|Trip Reports|

Ensenada and Islas Todos Santos

Hello all,
Today was our first day and after a quick visit to Ensenada, we went to Isla Todos Santos. The island is green and yellow with all the Coreopsis blooming. We saw all the usual suspects on the island, sea lions, harbor seals and elephant seals. Oystercatchers, gulls, pelicans, commorants and a single peregrin falcon. We headed south and saw lots of bird life. For something different this trip we saw lots of Bonapartes gulls with some in breeding plumage.
We saw a good size herd of short-beaked common dolphin and we spent some time with them,everyone enjoyed seeing our first cetacean.There were a few Pacific white-sided dolphin mixed in as well.
We did not see any northbound gray whales. We expected to see a few as we normally do, but not today.
Later we chummed some fish oil and popcorn, and we saw black footed and laysan albatross along with several shearwaters and northern fulmars. It was a good day of sightings. The weather was windy but sunny skies.
Looking forward to tomorrow
Capt Art

2010-09-03T17:49:29-07:00March 26th, 2010|Trip Reports|

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