Isla Ildefonso and Peninsula
A ribbon of yellowish-orange light defined the morning’s horizon. Clouds were overhead. Sun worshipers on the bow were soon distracted by about 500 long-beaked common dolphins. They moved slowly along with gentle arcing leaps. Several times the entire group suddenly shifted into high speed activity, leaving a trail of white water behind. The effect of hundreds of racing dolphins churning the water to a froth was gripping. They formed a broad front as they moved. All the dolphins were participants in this coordinated frenzy. Soon they slowed and again returned to their less energetic surfacing. Presumably they were chasing, manipulating, and then feeding on large schools of fish. It is a behavior that would be fascinating to unravel. There were also widely scattered bottlenose dolphins nearby and a fin whale.
We spent the morning exploring Isla Ildefonso by poking into tiny bays with our Zodiacs and photographing just about anything that moved. This ragged piece of black basalt looks like it was ripped out and discarded here -- hostile real estate, that’s for sure, but perfect for seabirds. Blue-footed and brown boobies nest on the flat areas or on cliffs. The white, downy chick in today’s photo is a brown booby being inspected by mom. Pelicans flew overhead carrying nesting material to the upper parts of the island. Their nests were built upon the ground or on small unfortunate shrubs. Several of the Zodiacs were passed by four small groups of bottlenose dolphins on their way north.
Gull Rock is the name we give to a beautiful canyon near Punta Pulpito. Later in the day, kayakers paddled along the shoreline, and hikers wound their way up through a steep-walled canyon of volcanic rock. The sides were formed by numerous processes, fractured by faults and finally cut through by erosion where we walked. Those on the longer hike scrambled around giant boulders in an area where the canyon became so narrow you could touch both sides at the same time. Other walkers enjoyed the plants, lizards, and ambiance of this spectacular place. The time went incredibly fast, and hikers soon descended from the mountains in time for our barbeque dinner on shore. The sky had wispy pink clouds as we devoured the fare. The full moon rose, and its light danced on the water and played across the beach. A revealing element emerged. Our shipmates were not only loving much of what Baja California has to offer, but they were also enjoying each other. Half of the chairs on the beach had been turned to face inward toward companions. Songs and stories were plentiful. It doesn’t get much better than sharing an adventure like this in a beautiful place with new friends.
A ribbon of yellowish-orange light defined the morning’s horizon. Clouds were overhead. Sun worshipers on the bow were soon distracted by about 500 long-beaked common dolphins. They moved slowly along with gentle arcing leaps. Several times the entire group suddenly shifted into high speed activity, leaving a trail of white water behind. The effect of hundreds of racing dolphins churning the water to a froth was gripping. They formed a broad front as they moved. All the dolphins were participants in this coordinated frenzy. Soon they slowed and again returned to their less energetic surfacing. Presumably they were chasing, manipulating, and then feeding on large schools of fish. It is a behavior that would be fascinating to unravel. There were also widely scattered bottlenose dolphins nearby and a fin whale.
We spent the morning exploring Isla Ildefonso by poking into tiny bays with our Zodiacs and photographing just about anything that moved. This ragged piece of black basalt looks like it was ripped out and discarded here -- hostile real estate, that’s for sure, but perfect for seabirds. Blue-footed and brown boobies nest on the flat areas or on cliffs. The white, downy chick in today’s photo is a brown booby being inspected by mom. Pelicans flew overhead carrying nesting material to the upper parts of the island. Their nests were built upon the ground or on small unfortunate shrubs. Several of the Zodiacs were passed by four small groups of bottlenose dolphins on their way north.
Gull Rock is the name we give to a beautiful canyon near Punta Pulpito. Later in the day, kayakers paddled along the shoreline, and hikers wound their way up through a steep-walled canyon of volcanic rock. The sides were formed by numerous processes, fractured by faults and finally cut through by erosion where we walked. Those on the longer hike scrambled around giant boulders in an area where the canyon became so narrow you could touch both sides at the same time. Other walkers enjoyed the plants, lizards, and ambiance of this spectacular place. The time went incredibly fast, and hikers soon descended from the mountains in time for our barbeque dinner on shore. The sky had wispy pink clouds as we devoured the fare. The full moon rose, and its light danced on the water and played across the beach. A revealing element emerged. Our shipmates were not only loving much of what Baja California has to offer, but they were also enjoying each other. Half of the chairs on the beach had been turned to face inward toward companions. Songs and stories were plentiful. It doesn’t get much better than sharing an adventure like this in a beautiful place with new friends.
