Cabo San Lucas, Gorda Banks
At first light this morning the Sea Bird was abeam of Cabo Falso, the False Cape, on our way to Land’s End. The Baja Peninsula comes to an end, nearly a thousand miles south of the U.S./Mexico border, in the graceful granite arch of Cabo San Lucas. Although there were a few clouds on the horizon, the rising sun set the sea’s surface aglow, as a pair of humpback whales casually crossed our path and raised their tail flukes to us. Captain Graves pulled the bow of the Sea Bird in close to the infamous arch and Lover’s Beach, giving us close looks at magnificent frigatebirds, brown pelicans, California sea lions and even a juvenile masked booby. While we went down to breakfast, the ship pulled in to the marina basin and tied up right in the center of town.
Guests chose to spend their morning in a variety of ways. Some opted to join David for a midmorning walk along a desert trail and arroyo. The object of the walk was birdwatching, but recent rains have coaxed beautiful flowers from the Cape Region scrub. Birds sighted included both Scott’s and hooded orioles, Costa’s hummingbird, the endemic gray thrasher, varied bunting, Cooper’s hawk and many others. Others walked through town with Adrian to explore some of the better galleries and shops. The last of the organized outings was a Zodiac ride out to the rocks surrounding the cape for a chance to snorkel. With water temperature near 75 degrees, this was a pleasant place to get in the water and swim with the fish. Schools of panamic sergeant majors gathered around us, accompanied by curious yellowtail surgeonfish and king angelfish. Giant damselfish were protecting their turf among the boulders on the reef. More typically found on coral reefs, several moorish idols nibbled on the algae and invertebrates covering this rocky outcropping. Barberfish, Cortez rainbow wrasses, bi-color parrotfish and this completely camouflaged frogfish were also around.
After a morning filled with activities, we were all aboard the Sea Bird by the time lunch was announced, headed back out of the harbor and into the Sea of Cortez. The temperature was delightful on deck, and we managed to see a few humpback whales – one of which was very active at the surface. Later in the afternoon we had a chance to hear Steve Strand’s talk on sperm whales and jumbo squid.
As the afternoon progressed, the wind picked up and so did the seas. We had a comfortable ride for recap and dinner and then tucked into our cabins for a bumpy ride north into the Sea of Cortez.
At first light this morning the Sea Bird was abeam of Cabo Falso, the False Cape, on our way to Land’s End. The Baja Peninsula comes to an end, nearly a thousand miles south of the U.S./Mexico border, in the graceful granite arch of Cabo San Lucas. Although there were a few clouds on the horizon, the rising sun set the sea’s surface aglow, as a pair of humpback whales casually crossed our path and raised their tail flukes to us. Captain Graves pulled the bow of the Sea Bird in close to the infamous arch and Lover’s Beach, giving us close looks at magnificent frigatebirds, brown pelicans, California sea lions and even a juvenile masked booby. While we went down to breakfast, the ship pulled in to the marina basin and tied up right in the center of town.
Guests chose to spend their morning in a variety of ways. Some opted to join David for a midmorning walk along a desert trail and arroyo. The object of the walk was birdwatching, but recent rains have coaxed beautiful flowers from the Cape Region scrub. Birds sighted included both Scott’s and hooded orioles, Costa’s hummingbird, the endemic gray thrasher, varied bunting, Cooper’s hawk and many others. Others walked through town with Adrian to explore some of the better galleries and shops. The last of the organized outings was a Zodiac ride out to the rocks surrounding the cape for a chance to snorkel. With water temperature near 75 degrees, this was a pleasant place to get in the water and swim with the fish. Schools of panamic sergeant majors gathered around us, accompanied by curious yellowtail surgeonfish and king angelfish. Giant damselfish were protecting their turf among the boulders on the reef. More typically found on coral reefs, several moorish idols nibbled on the algae and invertebrates covering this rocky outcropping. Barberfish, Cortez rainbow wrasses, bi-color parrotfish and this completely camouflaged frogfish were also around.
After a morning filled with activities, we were all aboard the Sea Bird by the time lunch was announced, headed back out of the harbor and into the Sea of Cortez. The temperature was delightful on deck, and we managed to see a few humpback whales – one of which was very active at the surface. Later in the afternoon we had a chance to hear Steve Strand’s talk on sperm whales and jumbo squid.
As the afternoon progressed, the wind picked up and so did the seas. We had a comfortable ride for recap and dinner and then tucked into our cabins for a bumpy ride north into the Sea of Cortez.
