Rasa and Partida Norte Islands
This was a special day as we had the unique opportunity to walk on Rasa, one of the most interesting and important islands in the Gulf of California. The reason: thousands of nesting birds, seen displaying great activity as they defended their nesting space and fed the chicks almost without a break. The time for migrating back to the adult’s feeding grounds is close, so the chicks need to be ready with almost the adult size and the complete first year’s plumage. The chicks grow fast and need a lot of food. Probably tons of schooling fish, squid and shrimp, among other items, were brought from the sea by the countless Heerman’s gulls and royal and elegant terns during the short time we spent on the island.
Later we pulled up anchor and navigated towards Partida Norte, another island of great interest. Once there we first snorkeled on a shallow and nice emerald-colored bay, were we observed banded guitarfish, among other creatures. After that we hiked on the rocky slopes and found the little treasures of Partida: the black and least storm petrels and the endemic fish-eating bats. The petrels were nesting, and their little dark grey chicks were heard as they hide into burrows or just under the big boulders on the slopes. They share the rocks with the endemic fish-eating bat, which roosts there as a permanent resident of the gulf. The bats were also seen with their pups that have grown a brow fur, very distinct from the reddish color of the adults (photo).
When we were thinking of the thoroughness of the day, with no more surprises, we finally observed a group of 10 fin whales, the second largest living creature of this world, surpassed only by the blue whale. We had the very rare opportunity to see them mating and feeding on a very calm ocean, just like a mirror. This is the Sea of Cortez!
This was a special day as we had the unique opportunity to walk on Rasa, one of the most interesting and important islands in the Gulf of California. The reason: thousands of nesting birds, seen displaying great activity as they defended their nesting space and fed the chicks almost without a break. The time for migrating back to the adult’s feeding grounds is close, so the chicks need to be ready with almost the adult size and the complete first year’s plumage. The chicks grow fast and need a lot of food. Probably tons of schooling fish, squid and shrimp, among other items, were brought from the sea by the countless Heerman’s gulls and royal and elegant terns during the short time we spent on the island.
Later we pulled up anchor and navigated towards Partida Norte, another island of great interest. Once there we first snorkeled on a shallow and nice emerald-colored bay, were we observed banded guitarfish, among other creatures. After that we hiked on the rocky slopes and found the little treasures of Partida: the black and least storm petrels and the endemic fish-eating bats. The petrels were nesting, and their little dark grey chicks were heard as they hide into burrows or just under the big boulders on the slopes. They share the rocks with the endemic fish-eating bat, which roosts there as a permanent resident of the gulf. The bats were also seen with their pups that have grown a brow fur, very distinct from the reddish color of the adults (photo).
When we were thinking of the thoroughness of the day, with no more surprises, we finally observed a group of 10 fin whales, the second largest living creature of this world, surpassed only by the blue whale. We had the very rare opportunity to see them mating and feeding on a very calm ocean, just like a mirror. This is the Sea of Cortez!
