From the Sea of Cortez
We saw a lot of Baja California today, although we didn’t go very far. Known as “Mexico’s Galapagos,” there are many similarities between the two very different places. There are species here that are found nowhere else, as well as several found in common. The endemic yellow-footed gull occurs only in the Sea of Cortez. We also saw blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds, and Sally-lightfoot crabs, which also occur in the Galapagos Islands. We explored aquatic, terrestrial and aerial realms. Rocks, birds, plants, fish, insects, mammals. We saw and did things we had never seen or done before. We observed predators and prey. We interacted with our environment. This is what an expedition is.
During an early morning bird walk, the drama included an avian meal taken by a peregrine falcon. Later, at Los Islotes, magnificent frigatebirds swirled over fabulously sculpted volcanic remnants. California sea lions lounged and frolicked, comfortable on land and in water. Bright fish and invertebrates, interspersed with lightening-fast sea lions, enchanted snorkelers.
The picture above embodies the Sea of Cortez; yet there is so much more. We can only graze the surface. In each entity there is a lifetime. Everything is interconnected and interdependent. There are many complex relationships of which we are not even cognizant. Any disturbance could upset the balance, which is dynamic anyway. Stable yet fragile. Magic and mystery are part of the wonder of Baja California. We are now under its spell.
We saw a lot of Baja California today, although we didn’t go very far. Known as “Mexico’s Galapagos,” there are many similarities between the two very different places. There are species here that are found nowhere else, as well as several found in common. The endemic yellow-footed gull occurs only in the Sea of Cortez. We also saw blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds, and Sally-lightfoot crabs, which also occur in the Galapagos Islands. We explored aquatic, terrestrial and aerial realms. Rocks, birds, plants, fish, insects, mammals. We saw and did things we had never seen or done before. We observed predators and prey. We interacted with our environment. This is what an expedition is.
During an early morning bird walk, the drama included an avian meal taken by a peregrine falcon. Later, at Los Islotes, magnificent frigatebirds swirled over fabulously sculpted volcanic remnants. California sea lions lounged and frolicked, comfortable on land and in water. Bright fish and invertebrates, interspersed with lightening-fast sea lions, enchanted snorkelers.
The picture above embodies the Sea of Cortez; yet there is so much more. We can only graze the surface. In each entity there is a lifetime. Everything is interconnected and interdependent. There are many complex relationships of which we are not even cognizant. Any disturbance could upset the balance, which is dynamic anyway. Stable yet fragile. Magic and mystery are part of the wonder of Baja California. We are now under its spell.
