The sun rose this morning with an auspicious green flash as the Sea Lion glided along the gulf waters east of Isla San Jose. Before breakfast the ship anchored just off the beautiful red sandstone cliffs of Punta Colorado and we were soon shuttled ashore for a morning walk. Three groups set out at different speeds up the spectacular sculpted arroyo that leads deep into the interior of the island. The rains of 9 days ago have set the desert plants in motion and annual flowers adorned the dry wash along with fresh leaves on copal, torchwood, palo adan and other drought deciduous plants. As we explored in the morning warmth we came upon another fellow traveler in the wash--a red diamond rattlesnake. Most, but not all, of us felt privileged to see this 4-foot long, docile snake basking in the sunshine. Although some of us had passed within a few feet, the snake never rattled nor hissed, but slowly slid away into the dappled shade of the washside brush. Rattlesnakes are members of the pit viper group which all have movable fangs located at the front of the upper jaw that inject venom into their prey. This species feeds on small mammals and birds, which it locates by temperature sensitive pits on each side of the face between the eye and nostril. Although we looked carefully for the snake in the brush, it blended quickly into the background and the group had to leave it to its snake business and continue with our human business having had yet another exciting and beautiful encounter with nature in the Sea of Cortez.