Partida and Rasa Islands
Today we explored, by foot and Zodiac cruise, two of the most interesting islands in the Gulf of California. In the morning we went around Partida Norte, a volcanic island formed by basaltic magma that came out (from a transform fault) 5 to 15 million years ago. It was lifted up above the sea level probably a million years before present. As we approached, two fin whales showed, and we accompanied them for a time. Later, as the Zodiac boats progressed around the island, the impressive rock formations came into our sight, like columnar basalt and layers of ash and lava from different volcanic episodes. On the rocky slopes and on the shores, we observed thousands of brown pelicans and brown and blue-footed boobies, just finishing the breeding season.
We also found, during a hike inland, the fabulous fish-eating bats (one of the gulf endemic mammalian species), with their babies attached to their bodies. They were hidden under boulders and in crevices and cracks. The baby bats were just growing fur and had their eyes almost opened, like in puppies. Two little bird species were found as well, right next to the bats: the black and the least storm petrels, with their tiny downy, dark-grey chicks. Petrels are nocturnal birds that feed on plankton and little fishes, and when threatened they spit or throw digested food. The smell of this fluid discourages any possible predator to bother them. At the end of the cruises, we observed bottle-nose dolphins. Later, we snorkeled in the cool waters and discovered sting rays, big schools of anchovies, and other nice marine creatures.
The Sea Voyager was repositioned in the afternoon and anchored at Rasa Island, where a half a million Heerman’s gulls, royal and elegant terns, have their most important nesting haul-outs. Apparently, Rasa Island was formed from the lava flows that came from Partida and were lifted up by a block faulting phenomenon. Thick layers of guano and sand sediments are found on three big valleys on this island and are used by the terns to nest. The gulls don’t have this preference and nest elsewhere on the island. Enriqueta Velarde, the zoologist that has been working there every season for 28 years, gave a talk and lead us for a walk among these noisy and busy birds to observe a bit of their private lives. After the hikes, we took our boats to Rasito, a tiny islet close to Rasa, to observe sea lions. Our day was closed with the fortunate observation of an albino baby sea lion, of about 2 weeks of age, a very rare event in the marine mammal world! This is the first time that Lindblad’s staff has photographed an albino of this species in the Gulf of California.
At the end of the day there was a general feeling that the gulf is truly a special place on Earth, and that we have penetrated into its secrets.
Today we explored, by foot and Zodiac cruise, two of the most interesting islands in the Gulf of California. In the morning we went around Partida Norte, a volcanic island formed by basaltic magma that came out (from a transform fault) 5 to 15 million years ago. It was lifted up above the sea level probably a million years before present. As we approached, two fin whales showed, and we accompanied them for a time. Later, as the Zodiac boats progressed around the island, the impressive rock formations came into our sight, like columnar basalt and layers of ash and lava from different volcanic episodes. On the rocky slopes and on the shores, we observed thousands of brown pelicans and brown and blue-footed boobies, just finishing the breeding season.
We also found, during a hike inland, the fabulous fish-eating bats (one of the gulf endemic mammalian species), with their babies attached to their bodies. They were hidden under boulders and in crevices and cracks. The baby bats were just growing fur and had their eyes almost opened, like in puppies. Two little bird species were found as well, right next to the bats: the black and the least storm petrels, with their tiny downy, dark-grey chicks. Petrels are nocturnal birds that feed on plankton and little fishes, and when threatened they spit or throw digested food. The smell of this fluid discourages any possible predator to bother them. At the end of the cruises, we observed bottle-nose dolphins. Later, we snorkeled in the cool waters and discovered sting rays, big schools of anchovies, and other nice marine creatures.
The Sea Voyager was repositioned in the afternoon and anchored at Rasa Island, where a half a million Heerman’s gulls, royal and elegant terns, have their most important nesting haul-outs. Apparently, Rasa Island was formed from the lava flows that came from Partida and were lifted up by a block faulting phenomenon. Thick layers of guano and sand sediments are found on three big valleys on this island and are used by the terns to nest. The gulls don’t have this preference and nest elsewhere on the island. Enriqueta Velarde, the zoologist that has been working there every season for 28 years, gave a talk and lead us for a walk among these noisy and busy birds to observe a bit of their private lives. After the hikes, we took our boats to Rasito, a tiny islet close to Rasa, to observe sea lions. Our day was closed with the fortunate observation of an albino baby sea lion, of about 2 weeks of age, a very rare event in the marine mammal world! This is the first time that Lindblad’s staff has photographed an albino of this species in the Gulf of California.
At the end of the day there was a general feeling that the gulf is truly a special place on Earth, and that we have penetrated into its secrets.
