At Sea off the Coast of Baja California
Today was the first day of our expedition, of the Baja California season and the first after a productive shipyard for the M/V Sea Bird. The morning met us with flat seas and no wind as we woke from a gentle passage from San Diego last night. Traditionally, days at sea are lazy ones with quiet conversation, books read and naps of opportunity, but not on a Lindblad Expedition. Today we had views of six different marine mammal species. Early in the morning, we had glimpses of a few common and bottlenose dolphins which was followed after breakfast by groups of Pacific white sided dolphins feeding and playing in the gentle swells. We were able to deploy a new piece of technology we have aboard the ship to view the dolphins as they passed by the hull. This bow-camera gave excellent views from behind the animals as they rode our bow wake.
Among the dolphin groups was a solitary finback whale. This species is second only to the great blue whale in size and is quite fast. After a few surfacings, the finback moved off. This lead to even more blows in the distance which we discovered to be humpbacks whales. One young animal came quite close to the ship and gave us great views of the white pectoral flippers.
Later in the morning in the middle of our safety drills, the captain came over the public address system to proclaim the drill is delayed, all hand to the bow for sperm whales! There were 15 of these mighty divers at the surface breathing rhythmically to reoxygenate their blood after long dives chasing squid in the depths. A few of them even spy hopped their huge heads as we approached with the ship.
It was quite a start to what we hope to be a great adventure along the coast of the Baja California peninsula.
Today was the first day of our expedition, of the Baja California season and the first after a productive shipyard for the M/V Sea Bird. The morning met us with flat seas and no wind as we woke from a gentle passage from San Diego last night. Traditionally, days at sea are lazy ones with quiet conversation, books read and naps of opportunity, but not on a Lindblad Expedition. Today we had views of six different marine mammal species. Early in the morning, we had glimpses of a few common and bottlenose dolphins which was followed after breakfast by groups of Pacific white sided dolphins feeding and playing in the gentle swells. We were able to deploy a new piece of technology we have aboard the ship to view the dolphins as they passed by the hull. This bow-camera gave excellent views from behind the animals as they rode our bow wake.
Among the dolphin groups was a solitary finback whale. This species is second only to the great blue whale in size and is quite fast. After a few surfacings, the finback moved off. This lead to even more blows in the distance which we discovered to be humpbacks whales. One young animal came quite close to the ship and gave us great views of the white pectoral flippers.
Later in the morning in the middle of our safety drills, the captain came over the public address system to proclaim the drill is delayed, all hand to the bow for sperm whales! There were 15 of these mighty divers at the surface breathing rhythmically to reoxygenate their blood after long dives chasing squid in the depths. A few of them even spy hopped their huge heads as we approached with the ship.
It was quite a start to what we hope to be a great adventure along the coast of the Baja California peninsula.
