Isla Partida Norte and Isla Rasa
We arrive at our anchorage off Isla Partida, a volcanic island located some 8 km off Rasa in the southern region of the midriff group. We slowly navigate the Zodiac through the crystal clear water observing in amazement the unusual shapes of the rock which is made out of basalt. While we cruise around the island, our naturalist, Stewart Aitchison, points out the magnificent wildlife surrounding us. Isla Partida is the breeding ground of black storm petrels which nest within the rocks up on the slope.
One of the most intriguing creatures on the island is a fish eating bat, which we got to observe very closely thanks to a team of Mexican researchers headed by Jose Juan Perez, who is studying the bats in the Island. After this incredible encounter, we move south to Isla Rasa, which is situated in the midriff island region of the Gulf of California. It was formed by an eruption flow probably originating from Isla Partida. Rasa means “flat” in Spanish and is the perfect place for nesting Heermann’s gulls. When we arrived, we were greeted by thousands of Heermann’s gulls, and the sound and amount of these magnificent birds is almost overwhelming. We walked among thousands of them being very careful not to disturb their nesting.
After our walk through the abundance of Heermann’s gulls, we cruised around the island in a Zodiac, pausing when nature commanded and occasionally taking photos of the extraordinary amount of animal life surrounding the island. Sally lightfoot crabs, yellow- footed gulls, peregrine falcons and ospreys were among the wildlife inhabitants.
We arrive at our anchorage off Isla Partida, a volcanic island located some 8 km off Rasa in the southern region of the midriff group. We slowly navigate the Zodiac through the crystal clear water observing in amazement the unusual shapes of the rock which is made out of basalt. While we cruise around the island, our naturalist, Stewart Aitchison, points out the magnificent wildlife surrounding us. Isla Partida is the breeding ground of black storm petrels which nest within the rocks up on the slope.
One of the most intriguing creatures on the island is a fish eating bat, which we got to observe very closely thanks to a team of Mexican researchers headed by Jose Juan Perez, who is studying the bats in the Island. After this incredible encounter, we move south to Isla Rasa, which is situated in the midriff island region of the Gulf of California. It was formed by an eruption flow probably originating from Isla Partida. Rasa means “flat” in Spanish and is the perfect place for nesting Heermann’s gulls. When we arrived, we were greeted by thousands of Heermann’s gulls, and the sound and amount of these magnificent birds is almost overwhelming. We walked among thousands of them being very careful not to disturb their nesting.
After our walk through the abundance of Heermann’s gulls, we cruised around the island in a Zodiac, pausing when nature commanded and occasionally taking photos of the extraordinary amount of animal life surrounding the island. Sally lightfoot crabs, yellow- footed gulls, peregrine falcons and ospreys were among the wildlife inhabitants.
