Angel de la Guarda and Isla Rasa
A day that we would use all of our five senses, it began as we awoke on the Sea Bird, where during the night she had cruised north, deeper into the Sea of Cortez. Anchored off of the towering cliffs of Isla Angel de la Guarda, (Guardian Angel) some of us used our eyes to see the sun rise. Although we had not planned a landing this morning, thanks to our flexible itinerary, we had time for a short exploration ashore. Explore we did. The steep rocks provided an incredible view as the Zodiacs took us to our landing. On the island was a plethora of vegetation that we closely examined with our eyes, hands, and noses. Blue fan palms, a Baja California endemic species, were found along with smoke trees, elephant trees, blooming yellow evening primroses, red tubular flower penstemons, and scented desert lavender.
After our quick morning walks, the Sea Bird cruised her way to Isla Rasa. Approaching this tiny island, only a half of a square mile, we could see many elegant and royal terns, as well as Heermann’s gulls. Isla Rasa is home to nearly 500,000 birds. Ninety percent of all Heermann’s Gulls and Elegant terns nest at Rasa. Heermann’s Gulls migrate to Rasa from southern Canada and the western coast of the United States, with the elegant terns traveling as far as costal Chile and Peru. Riding the Zodiac to the island we began to hear the sounds of squawking birds. As we arrived on Isla Rasa we quickly began to smell the birds as well. Dr. Enriqueta Velarde met us to teach us about the island. Enriqueta, who has been coming to this island for 25 years, explained her work on ending egg collection as well as eradicating rats and mice from the island. Throughout our time on Rasa our ears heard the cackling of the gulls, squeaking of the terns. Our eyes looked at the enormous amounts of birds packed together like sardines in a can, the type of fish they feed on. Our noses discovered the sometimes unpleasant scent of the half million birds.
As our day came to an end many of us watched the sun set over the distant islands in the Sea of Cortez. This all before our mouths enjoyed the delicious BBQ dinner enjoyed by all. Touch, the most important sense of the day, we all used because Baja has truly touched all of our hearts.
A day that we would use all of our five senses, it began as we awoke on the Sea Bird, where during the night she had cruised north, deeper into the Sea of Cortez. Anchored off of the towering cliffs of Isla Angel de la Guarda, (Guardian Angel) some of us used our eyes to see the sun rise. Although we had not planned a landing this morning, thanks to our flexible itinerary, we had time for a short exploration ashore. Explore we did. The steep rocks provided an incredible view as the Zodiacs took us to our landing. On the island was a plethora of vegetation that we closely examined with our eyes, hands, and noses. Blue fan palms, a Baja California endemic species, were found along with smoke trees, elephant trees, blooming yellow evening primroses, red tubular flower penstemons, and scented desert lavender.
After our quick morning walks, the Sea Bird cruised her way to Isla Rasa. Approaching this tiny island, only a half of a square mile, we could see many elegant and royal terns, as well as Heermann’s gulls. Isla Rasa is home to nearly 500,000 birds. Ninety percent of all Heermann’s Gulls and Elegant terns nest at Rasa. Heermann’s Gulls migrate to Rasa from southern Canada and the western coast of the United States, with the elegant terns traveling as far as costal Chile and Peru. Riding the Zodiac to the island we began to hear the sounds of squawking birds. As we arrived on Isla Rasa we quickly began to smell the birds as well. Dr. Enriqueta Velarde met us to teach us about the island. Enriqueta, who has been coming to this island for 25 years, explained her work on ending egg collection as well as eradicating rats and mice from the island. Throughout our time on Rasa our ears heard the cackling of the gulls, squeaking of the terns. Our eyes looked at the enormous amounts of birds packed together like sardines in a can, the type of fish they feed on. Our noses discovered the sometimes unpleasant scent of the half million birds.
As our day came to an end many of us watched the sun set over the distant islands in the Sea of Cortez. This all before our mouths enjoyed the delicious BBQ dinner enjoyed by all. Touch, the most important sense of the day, we all used because Baja has truly touched all of our hearts.
