Ensenada Grande
Ensenada Grande (Big Bay) is a beautiful protected bay incised into the west side of Isla Partida. It was here that we awoke to a glorious day. The air was warm, even before the sun's rays reached us. We watched the sunlight emerge over the red ash walls and illuminate surreal and Daliesque rock formations on the north side of the inlet. These are remnants of an explosive period of volcanism that occurred before the birth of the Gulf of California and the Baja peninsula.
We had a full day of activities here, starting immediately after breakfast. Groups of hikers dispersed with naturalists to explore the arroyo, which abounds with a diversity of cacti and other vegetation. After recent rains there were many vibrant flowers displayed along the way. We needed constant reminders to assure ourselves that this is really a desert.
The day quickly warmed up. A group of twelve scrambled over boulders to a saddle on the other side of the island and was rewarded for their effort by spectacular views off the precipitous east side. Those following more slowly found two Costa's hummingbird nests. One had a single egg that was possibly abandoned; the other had two tiny baby birds in it, scarcely recognizable as such.
The islands of the Sea of Cortez support a great diversity of reptiles, especially lizards. Some species have dispersed to, survived in, and colonized new places, having originated on mainland Mexico or, more recently, on the peninsula. The desert habitat befits them. Shelled eggs and scaly bodies help them live in dry areas. On some of the islands, endemic species or subspecies of reptiles have evolved and are now recognized by science. Over time and with geographic isolation, they have diverged from a parent ancestor. The colorful Baja California (or San Lucan) rock lizard (Petrosaurus thalassinus) featured today is endemic to the peninsula and some of the islands of the gulf. They dwell mostly in dense rocky areas such as those found on Isla Partida. They can easily jump from boulder to boulder and cling in a near vertical position.
In the afternoon we set up kayaks on a nearby beach. This method of travel offers a unique perspective, providing solitude and serenity. Many people took advantage of this opportunity - some for the first time. The second featured photograph, an adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in breeding plumage, was taken from a kayak as we slowly and silently cruised past its roost. Evolved from reptilian ancestors, birds are another successful lineage of vertebrates and, with 10,000 species worldwide, display many variations of a basic body plan. While birds and reptiles still share many characteristics, one major difference is that reptiles are considered exothermic ("cold-blooded" - gaining and losing heat through the environment), whereas birds are endothermic ("warm-blooded" - regulating body heat through metabolic processes). Nevertheless, they both need to exhibit certain behaviors in order to keep their body temperatures at optimal and efficient levels.
For those who wanted to snorkel or just swim this afternoon, these options were also offered from the sandy beach. This was the final day of our spectacular journey. The Lindblad tradition of Captain's farewell cocktails and dinner topped off a most memorable adventure.
Ensenada Grande (Big Bay) is a beautiful protected bay incised into the west side of Isla Partida. It was here that we awoke to a glorious day. The air was warm, even before the sun's rays reached us. We watched the sunlight emerge over the red ash walls and illuminate surreal and Daliesque rock formations on the north side of the inlet. These are remnants of an explosive period of volcanism that occurred before the birth of the Gulf of California and the Baja peninsula.
We had a full day of activities here, starting immediately after breakfast. Groups of hikers dispersed with naturalists to explore the arroyo, which abounds with a diversity of cacti and other vegetation. After recent rains there were many vibrant flowers displayed along the way. We needed constant reminders to assure ourselves that this is really a desert.
The day quickly warmed up. A group of twelve scrambled over boulders to a saddle on the other side of the island and was rewarded for their effort by spectacular views off the precipitous east side. Those following more slowly found two Costa's hummingbird nests. One had a single egg that was possibly abandoned; the other had two tiny baby birds in it, scarcely recognizable as such.
The islands of the Sea of Cortez support a great diversity of reptiles, especially lizards. Some species have dispersed to, survived in, and colonized new places, having originated on mainland Mexico or, more recently, on the peninsula. The desert habitat befits them. Shelled eggs and scaly bodies help them live in dry areas. On some of the islands, endemic species or subspecies of reptiles have evolved and are now recognized by science. Over time and with geographic isolation, they have diverged from a parent ancestor. The colorful Baja California (or San Lucan) rock lizard (Petrosaurus thalassinus) featured today is endemic to the peninsula and some of the islands of the gulf. They dwell mostly in dense rocky areas such as those found on Isla Partida. They can easily jump from boulder to boulder and cling in a near vertical position.
In the afternoon we set up kayaks on a nearby beach. This method of travel offers a unique perspective, providing solitude and serenity. Many people took advantage of this opportunity - some for the first time. The second featured photograph, an adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in breeding plumage, was taken from a kayak as we slowly and silently cruised past its roost. Evolved from reptilian ancestors, birds are another successful lineage of vertebrates and, with 10,000 species worldwide, display many variations of a basic body plan. While birds and reptiles still share many characteristics, one major difference is that reptiles are considered exothermic ("cold-blooded" - gaining and losing heat through the environment), whereas birds are endothermic ("warm-blooded" - regulating body heat through metabolic processes). Nevertheless, they both need to exhibit certain behaviors in order to keep their body temperatures at optimal and efficient levels.
For those who wanted to snorkel or just swim this afternoon, these options were also offered from the sandy beach. This was the final day of our spectacular journey. The Lindblad tradition of Captain's farewell cocktails and dinner topped off a most memorable adventure.
