Carmen Island, Baja California Sur, Mexico
On this first day of our voyage we woke up with the desire to see marine mammals. This desire was soon satiated when we encountered several groups of common and bottlenose dolphins, one in a frenzy feeding. In addition, all sort of birds were seen, many following the dolphins in the pursuit of fish. Among these birds were brown- and blue-footed boobies, murrelets, gulls, brown pelicans, magnificent frigatebirds and cormorants. We finished the morning admiring the rugged profile of the Sierra de la Giganta on the peninsula.
Later we hiked the Carmen Island; for some of us it was the first time experiencing the Sonoran Desert from inside. As we walked along the arroyo, we began to discover the fascinating plants that live in the driest part of Mexico. The desert showed us its treasures like the Cardon, the Organ Pipe, the Pencil Cactus, the mimosas, Iron Wood, Old Man Cactus, Wild Cotton, and others. We finally found a solitary and small nipple cactus, Pitahayita or Viejita (Mammillaria dioica) with its beautiful reddish edible fruits on the top. The general feeling was it was worthwhile getting some spines in our skin and as a reward, we were able admire the miracles of nature as they occur.
On this first day of our voyage we woke up with the desire to see marine mammals. This desire was soon satiated when we encountered several groups of common and bottlenose dolphins, one in a frenzy feeding. In addition, all sort of birds were seen, many following the dolphins in the pursuit of fish. Among these birds were brown- and blue-footed boobies, murrelets, gulls, brown pelicans, magnificent frigatebirds and cormorants. We finished the morning admiring the rugged profile of the Sierra de la Giganta on the peninsula.
Later we hiked the Carmen Island; for some of us it was the first time experiencing the Sonoran Desert from inside. As we walked along the arroyo, we began to discover the fascinating plants that live in the driest part of Mexico. The desert showed us its treasures like the Cardon, the Organ Pipe, the Pencil Cactus, the mimosas, Iron Wood, Old Man Cactus, Wild Cotton, and others. We finally found a solitary and small nipple cactus, Pitahayita or Viejita (Mammillaria dioica) with its beautiful reddish edible fruits on the top. The general feeling was it was worthwhile getting some spines in our skin and as a reward, we were able admire the miracles of nature as they occur.
