Captain's Blog

Hello whalewatchers:

We arrived at San Benito island just after sunrise this morning. Last night we had a windy ride down  so everyone was happy to get off the boat for a few hours and walk around West Island. There is a good number of elephant seals around the island, incuding one right at our landing beach! Along with the elephant seals, passengers saw Guadalupe fur seals and California sea lions. It was a good day for pinnipeds!

After we left the Island the wind picked up again, which made the viewing conditions difficult. However like yesterday it made for some good seabirding. We saw a couple of southbound gray whales late in the day. We will be in San Ignacio Lagoon tomorrow morning.

Captain Mike and Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers:

Last night we departed on Tour #2. We arrived in Ensenada early this morning to pick up our guide Luis and complete our tasks there. After clearing with the Mexican officials, we headed across the bay to Isla Todos Santos which was very green from the recent rains. We spent about a hour watching the sea lions and harbor seals hauled out on the beach and playing in the surge.

Shortly after leaving Bahia Todos Santos, we were greeted by a large number of northbound gray whales and long-beaked common dolphins. We had windy conditions all day but we were able to get a decent look at a couple groups of grays. However the wind did create great conditions for good seabirding. We were able to check off two species of albatross: Layson’s (pictured) and black-footed. we also saw a humpback whale late in the day. We will be at Islas San Benito at daybreak tomorrow.

Captain Mike and Team Searcher

Dear whalewatchers:

Tour #1 has come to an end, but it was a beautiful last day to appreciate clouds (thank you, Paul Jones!), stunning locations, new friends with shared experiences, and Searcher, who makes it all possible.

Many thanks to all our eco-tourists, because you love it all like we do!

Capt Art and Team Searcher

Searcher at Los Islotes

New friends and family

Marc Webber, Amanda Dalsgaard, and Paul Jones made up the leadership team

Hello Whalewatchers,

We started looking for whales in the Cerralvo channel of Sea of Cortez this morning. We were lucky enough to find four orcas (killer whales):  three adults and a calf! We had great opportunities to see them and take photos of them. Everyone was very  happy to have this encounter. The weather is great with calm seas that allowed us to see sea turtles as they surfaced.  At lunchtime we came a cross a humpback mother and calf pair that was a little evasive so we left them to do what they do. We are now headed further south to find some more humpbacks this afternoon.

Capt Art and Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers,

We offered a pre-breakfast early walk on the peninsula to look at birds. We are hoping to locate some endemics like gray thrasher, and Xantus’ hummingbirds. Our photo is of the beach landing and the dramatic background of the peninsula.

We are headed out to look for whales and dolphins this morning with a stop for a walk and snorkel after lunch.

Capt Art and Team Searcher

Sunrise from the bow of Searcher

 

Hello whalewatchers,

We started our day with a lovely sunrise at Punta Colorado, Isla San Jose.  Passengers enjoyed a walk on the island to view the desert plant and bird life, followed by a snorkel session. We left the island and traveled north in the Sea of Cortez looking for whales and wildlife. We saw a single blue whale in the channel and then crew spotted multiple spouts close to the peninsula. We arrived with just enough light to see at least three more blue whales. It wasn’t the best lighting for photography but we enjoyed good looks at these amazing whales.

To top off our day, we anchored in a special spot called Puerto Gato.

Capt Art and Team Searcher

P.S. We had a spectacular show last night with a large school of smooth-tailed mobula rays around the boat. They were attracted by our underwater light. It was so very cool, and a video to follow!

Sunrise colors on Punta Colorado

Sky colors in Sea of Cortez

Hello whalewatchers,

We had a busy day today! We spent time in La Paz bay with whale sharks. That was a huge success. Those that snorkeled had a great trip, and the observers had great looks as well. Chefs Mike and Dan helped celebrate Valentine’s Day with chocolate dipped strawberries, some with coconut and even a few with….bacon?!

We traveled north looking for whales and wildlife. We ended the day at Los Islotes for a skiff rides to photograph birds and sea lions, and a snorkel session with sea lions and reef fishes. That was a huge success as well. We all enjoyed a great sunset as we retrieved our skiffs. Anth then there’s seared yellowfin tuna for dinner. Wow!

Capt Art and Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers,

We enjoyed some spectacular humpback whalewatching today around the Gorda Banks! There were lots of whales and lots of acrobatics. Plenty of breaching, flipper flapping and tail lobbing. It was one of those days we hope to have on these trips.
We are headed to the peninsula to walk and snorkel for the first time this trip.

Capt Art and Team Searcher

Mother humpback is waving her pectoral flipper

A sea turtle

A distant fluking humpback

Duck breast, farro and asparagas for dinner

Hello whalewatchers,

Great humpbacks again today with lots of whales around. Before the wind came up, we had excellent whalewatching. We were able to stay with one big group of 8 whales. Lots of tail fluke photos for all the photographers. We traveled closer to the coast and found a mother and calf pair with the calf breaching and the cow flipper flapping. It was a good show!
We stopped to let the snorkelers test out their gear for tomorrow morning where the group will snorkel and observe the whale sharks.

Capt Art and Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers,

We are offshore Bahia Magdalena today and we have seen multiple humpbacks and common dolphin too. It’s been good birdwatching with masked boobies, fulmars, shearwaters, frigatebirds, Craveri’s murrelets, and red phalropes. We have been busy this morning! The weather is great, with sunny skies and light winds with a long period swell that gently rolls us around a little.

Our photo is a pair of humpbacks close to the surface, one fluking and the other about break the surface.

~Capt Art and Team Searcher