Amortajada, Isla San Jose/Half-moon Bay, Isla San Francisco
We awoke to calm seas and a beautiful sunrise off the southwest corner of Isla San José. The moon set in the west as the sun illuminated the striking layers of volcanic ash that make up the Sierra de la Giganta (Mountains of the Giantess) in this part of the Baja California Peninsula.
Brown pelicans were diving in front of the beach when we came ashore, often taking flight together and then circling back around over a school of fish. Kayakers explored the peaceful and mysterious mangrove channels. A diversity of cacti and other desert vegetation greeted the hikers. One group made it up to an abandoned silver mine.
Back on board, Adrian gave an interesting presentation about island biogeography, explaining the distribution of flora and fauna on islands. Only certain organisms can get to the islands and become established. With time and isolation, some will evolve into new species.
Just as the presentation concluded, we were surprised by the appearance of a blue whale – the largest creature to have ever dwelled on the planet! We saw the tall spout at a distance and approached to observe the mottled steely-blue patterns on its body before it gracefully brought its massive flukes out of the water and vanished from our sight.
More whale-watching was on the menu after lunch. In the south end of the San José Channel, we came upon Bryde’s and fin whales lunge feeding, probably on small krill-like organisms. It is amazing that the world’s largest animals feed on some of the world’s smallest critters.
Later in the afternoon, we continued southward to Isla San Francisco where we went ashore in beautiful Half-moon Bay to hike and to look for critters under the rocks at low tide. Many interesting and colorful organisms, such as brittle and sun stars, sea cucumbers, urchins, crabs, worms, and sea slugs, were discovered and marveled at. The day was capped with a beach barbecue, featuring scrumptious pork ribs and dorado fish, complemented by roasted vegetables and potatoes, coleslaw, fruit, and blondies for desert.
We have already been “Among the Great Whales” on only the second day of this week-long expedition with the same title. We look forward to whatever else lies in store for us.
We awoke to calm seas and a beautiful sunrise off the southwest corner of Isla San José. The moon set in the west as the sun illuminated the striking layers of volcanic ash that make up the Sierra de la Giganta (Mountains of the Giantess) in this part of the Baja California Peninsula.
Brown pelicans were diving in front of the beach when we came ashore, often taking flight together and then circling back around over a school of fish. Kayakers explored the peaceful and mysterious mangrove channels. A diversity of cacti and other desert vegetation greeted the hikers. One group made it up to an abandoned silver mine.
Back on board, Adrian gave an interesting presentation about island biogeography, explaining the distribution of flora and fauna on islands. Only certain organisms can get to the islands and become established. With time and isolation, some will evolve into new species.
Just as the presentation concluded, we were surprised by the appearance of a blue whale – the largest creature to have ever dwelled on the planet! We saw the tall spout at a distance and approached to observe the mottled steely-blue patterns on its body before it gracefully brought its massive flukes out of the water and vanished from our sight.
More whale-watching was on the menu after lunch. In the south end of the San José Channel, we came upon Bryde’s and fin whales lunge feeding, probably on small krill-like organisms. It is amazing that the world’s largest animals feed on some of the world’s smallest critters.
Later in the afternoon, we continued southward to Isla San Francisco where we went ashore in beautiful Half-moon Bay to hike and to look for critters under the rocks at low tide. Many interesting and colorful organisms, such as brittle and sun stars, sea cucumbers, urchins, crabs, worms, and sea slugs, were discovered and marveled at. The day was capped with a beach barbecue, featuring scrumptious pork ribs and dorado fish, complemented by roasted vegetables and potatoes, coleslaw, fruit, and blondies for desert.
We have already been “Among the Great Whales” on only the second day of this week-long expedition with the same title. We look forward to whatever else lies in store for us.
