Feathers & blue whales
Tucked into the lee of Isla San Jose we began our explorations of Baja California. From the bow we could see turkey vultures beachcombing. In the skies above they rode thermals; teetering, soaring and gliding above in flap-less flight. Once on the beach we followed in their footsteps, quite literally, and took two of their tracks back to the Sea Bird, cast in plaster-of-paris. A molted feather provided inspiration for Zoë Watson to demonstrate her version of a soaring vulture, as shown in the picture above. We could see snow angel designs, trenched in the sandy arroyo by wind-driven flower-laden branches of a desert lavender. Would that make them lavender angels? Vines, trees, and shrubs were flush with foliage, burdened with leaves and delicately adorned with flowers.
The afternoon found us cruising south amongst a slalom course of blue whales. Our first whale sighting gave us a memorable bonus. As all eyes followed the turquoise silhouette of one whale swimming under the waters surface, a red plume blossomed in its path, clear evidence of recent feeding activity, this was a cloud of digested krill.
It seemed no matter which way we turned another blow would be sighted. A plaintive cry was heard on the bow, “I’ve seen so many different things already, my eyes are beginning to hurt.” The sighting that sent everyone to the rail was a cow/calf pair of blue whales. The call came over the radio from the bridge to the deck, “They’re right under us!” And indeed they were, they had swum under us and surfaced just under our bow as we idled in the water. While it is not unusual for our guests to enjoy incredible views of marine mammals from our outside decks, it is safe to say it is not common for them to actually look over the rail and down the blowholes of a pair of blue whales. How close can you be? When the whales decide, you can be unbelievably close.
Tucked into the lee of Isla San Jose we began our explorations of Baja California. From the bow we could see turkey vultures beachcombing. In the skies above they rode thermals; teetering, soaring and gliding above in flap-less flight. Once on the beach we followed in their footsteps, quite literally, and took two of their tracks back to the Sea Bird, cast in plaster-of-paris. A molted feather provided inspiration for Zoë Watson to demonstrate her version of a soaring vulture, as shown in the picture above. We could see snow angel designs, trenched in the sandy arroyo by wind-driven flower-laden branches of a desert lavender. Would that make them lavender angels? Vines, trees, and shrubs were flush with foliage, burdened with leaves and delicately adorned with flowers.
The afternoon found us cruising south amongst a slalom course of blue whales. Our first whale sighting gave us a memorable bonus. As all eyes followed the turquoise silhouette of one whale swimming under the waters surface, a red plume blossomed in its path, clear evidence of recent feeding activity, this was a cloud of digested krill.
It seemed no matter which way we turned another blow would be sighted. A plaintive cry was heard on the bow, “I’ve seen so many different things already, my eyes are beginning to hurt.” The sighting that sent everyone to the rail was a cow/calf pair of blue whales. The call came over the radio from the bridge to the deck, “They’re right under us!” And indeed they were, they had swum under us and surfaced just under our bow as we idled in the water. While it is not unusual for our guests to enjoy incredible views of marine mammals from our outside decks, it is safe to say it is not common for them to actually look over the rail and down the blowholes of a pair of blue whales. How close can you be? When the whales decide, you can be unbelievably close.
