Ensenada Grande, Isla Partida & Los Islotes
Today was a day of independence. Animals we had typically seen in groups of like species were seen independently or in the company of other animals. A motley group of birds found seclusion in Ensenada Grande, a cove on the western side of Isla Partida, our morning’s destination. With tremendous speed and agility, an entertaining double crested cormorant swam after small schooling fish near the shoreline. Also partaking in the convenience of this fishing spot, a reddish egret patiently stood atop a large volcanic rock at the edge of the bay. Soon one of the Gulf’s endemics, a yellow-footed gull, joined the egret on the rock, thus completing the quaint menagerie of birds.
This being our last day, we felt a degree of independence as well. One of the morning activities was hiking up a beautiful arroyo. Many of us spent a little more time than usual breathing in the earthy fragrances of the desert plants and taking note of how striking the blue of the morning glory flowers are as cast against the grays, rusty reds and dusty browns and greens of this very dry land. Amplified against the arroyo’s vertical walls, the calls of canyon wrens could also be heard trailing off into the distance. Though all five senses were satisfied while hiking, the heat of the day beckoned us to return to the cool, aqua marine waters of the bay.
Kayaking allowed us to experience this wondrous place in sweet solitude. Taking advantage of calm waters, many ventured in and out of small inlets within the cove. Here we saw how these volcanic rocks along the shoreline had been sculpted over time. Wave action eroded much of their interiors leaving them very rounded. The more resistant exterior remained intact except for the many holes where it, too, had been worn away. In which case, this outer rock looked like a lacy material draped over the softer rounded rocks. Gazing down into the clear water, we also saw many fish, sea stars and cucumbers. Perhaps the most interesting was a lone sea horse. As many of us were getting ready to leave the beach, this treasure, a rarely seen fish closely related to the reef cornet fish, was seen bobbing up and down with the waves along the beach.
Afternoon found us at the northern tip of Isla Partida, at a grouping of two small islets known as Los Islotes. The barking of the sea lions reminded us that, “Yes, today is the day we get to swim with sea lions!” And indeed, that is what we did. While snorkeling, sea lions swam toward us at great speeds and then veered off in all different directions. Often times, it appeared as if they were showing off, reminding us that their swimming abilities are far superior than ours. Fish of all kinds could also be found nearer the bottom.
Though this sense of freedom pervaded the day, a definite feeling of togetherness is what was felt during our evening activities. In watching a photo presentation by Naturalist, Sharon Grainger, we were not only reminded of the beauty of Baja California, we also felt a true connection with our fellow travelers. This was truly a phenomenal trip!
Today was a day of independence. Animals we had typically seen in groups of like species were seen independently or in the company of other animals. A motley group of birds found seclusion in Ensenada Grande, a cove on the western side of Isla Partida, our morning’s destination. With tremendous speed and agility, an entertaining double crested cormorant swam after small schooling fish near the shoreline. Also partaking in the convenience of this fishing spot, a reddish egret patiently stood atop a large volcanic rock at the edge of the bay. Soon one of the Gulf’s endemics, a yellow-footed gull, joined the egret on the rock, thus completing the quaint menagerie of birds.
This being our last day, we felt a degree of independence as well. One of the morning activities was hiking up a beautiful arroyo. Many of us spent a little more time than usual breathing in the earthy fragrances of the desert plants and taking note of how striking the blue of the morning glory flowers are as cast against the grays, rusty reds and dusty browns and greens of this very dry land. Amplified against the arroyo’s vertical walls, the calls of canyon wrens could also be heard trailing off into the distance. Though all five senses were satisfied while hiking, the heat of the day beckoned us to return to the cool, aqua marine waters of the bay.
Kayaking allowed us to experience this wondrous place in sweet solitude. Taking advantage of calm waters, many ventured in and out of small inlets within the cove. Here we saw how these volcanic rocks along the shoreline had been sculpted over time. Wave action eroded much of their interiors leaving them very rounded. The more resistant exterior remained intact except for the many holes where it, too, had been worn away. In which case, this outer rock looked like a lacy material draped over the softer rounded rocks. Gazing down into the clear water, we also saw many fish, sea stars and cucumbers. Perhaps the most interesting was a lone sea horse. As many of us were getting ready to leave the beach, this treasure, a rarely seen fish closely related to the reef cornet fish, was seen bobbing up and down with the waves along the beach.
Afternoon found us at the northern tip of Isla Partida, at a grouping of two small islets known as Los Islotes. The barking of the sea lions reminded us that, “Yes, today is the day we get to swim with sea lions!” And indeed, that is what we did. While snorkeling, sea lions swam toward us at great speeds and then veered off in all different directions. Often times, it appeared as if they were showing off, reminding us that their swimming abilities are far superior than ours. Fish of all kinds could also be found nearer the bottom.
Though this sense of freedom pervaded the day, a definite feeling of togetherness is what was felt during our evening activities. In watching a photo presentation by Naturalist, Sharon Grainger, we were not only reminded of the beauty of Baja California, we also felt a true connection with our fellow travelers. This was truly a phenomenal trip!
