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2024 Baja Whalewatching Tour: Bahia Magdalena (Feb 15-26)

February 20

Dear whale watchers:
Good evening,
Another epic day on the Pacific Ocean. We spent our day outside Bahia Magdelena looking at humpback whales all day. We enjoyed lots of active whales and up-close whales for great photography. We’ll be around the area of Cabo San Lucas and we are hoping for more of the same tomorrow.
Captain Mike and the boys
2024-02-21T09:34:05-08:00February 21st, 2024|Trip Reports|
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2024 Baja Whalewatching Tour (Feb 15-26) Laguna San Ignacio

February 18

Dear whale watchers:
We arrived to the entrance at Laguna San Ignacio around 0830 this morning. There was a pretty good swell but the Jesus from our friends and colleagues at Kuyima met us at the entrance and showed us the way in. We got our anchor down near Rocky Point at about 1030 and got the whale watchers out in the pangas (locals’ skiffs) right away.
There are lots of whales around, more than 100, here right now and it looks like more are on the way. There’s plenty to look at and a few friendly whales visited as well.
It’s been an awesome day with awesome weather. We’re camping out tonight and going to do it again tomorrow.
Captain Mike and the boys
2024-02-19T17:08:00-08:00February 19th, 2024|Trip Reports, Uncategorized|
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2024 Baja Whalewatching Tour (Feb 15-26) Islas San Benito

February 17

Dear whalewatchers:
We had a nice day at Isla San Benito. The elephant seal population, as well as the fur seal population, on the island seem to be quite healthy. Excellent birding as well.
After leaving the island, we spent time with a few single humpback whales. We’re headed for Laguna San Ignacio now.
Captain Mike and the boys
2024-02-19T06:50:30-08:00February 19th, 2024|Trip Reports, Uncategorized|
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2024 Baja Whalewatching Tour (Feb 15-26) Ensenada and southbound

February 16

Dear whalewatchers:
We departed last night on our first Baja adventure of the year. We cleared customs and immigration check in Ensenada around 0730 am and made a left turn for Islas San Benito.
Just south of Punta Banda on the Banda Bank, there was a lot of life around. We had gray whales, common dolphin and Pacific white-sided dolphin. Along with gulls, shearwaters, pelicans and cormorants. Later in the day, the action decreased though we did see a few distant albatross and late in the afternoon we had a red-billed tropicbird fly overhead.   We’ll be at San Benitos first thing in the morning.
Captain Mike and the boys
2024-02-17T06:46:09-08:00February 17th, 2024|Trip Reports, Uncategorized|
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Gray Whale Counts on 13 February: Laguna San Ignacio

Dr Steven Swartz reported (via Alisa Schulman-Janiger, the ACS Census Director) the following estimated numbers of gray whales during a 13 February 2024 count:

  • 4 mother/calf pair and 115 singles for a total of 123 whales

Our drone photo is thanks to @GabeBergerhouse! Gray whale mother and calf travelling past Southern California.

2024-02-15T09:57:20-08:00February 15th, 2024|Census|
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Gray Whale Counts on 7 February: Laguna San Ignacio

Researchers in Laguna San Ignacio (REBIVI*) reported the following estimated numbers of gray whales during their 7 February 2024 count:

  • 12 mother/calf pair and 59 singles for a total of 83 whales

Our drone photo is thanks to @GabeBergerhouse! Gray whale mother and calf travelling past Southern California.

* REBIVI: Staff from Biosphere Reserve of El Vizcaino which contains Laguna San Ignacio in a protected region of Mexico.

2024-02-08T06:14:57-08:00February 8th, 2024|Census|
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Gray Whale Counts on 2 February: Laguna San Ignacio

Researchers in Laguna San Ignacio (REBIVI*) reported the following estimated numbers of gray whales during their 2 February 2024 count:

  • 9 mother/calf pair and 30 singles for a total of 48 whales

Our drone photo is thanks to @GabeBergerhouse! Gray whale mother and calf travelling past Southern California.

* REBIVI: Staff from Biosphere Reserve of El Vizcaino which contains Laguna San Ignacio in a protected region of Mexico.

2024-02-03T06:39:53-08:00February 3rd, 2024|Census|
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Gray Whale Counts on 26 January: Southern California and Laguna San Ignacio

Researchers in Laguna San Ignacio (UABCS) reported the following estimated numbers of gray whales during their 26January 2024 count:

  • 10 mother/calf pair and 11 singles for a total of 31 whales

Our drone photo is thanks to @GabeBergerhouse! Gray whale mother and calf travelling past Southern California.

2024-01-29T09:36:41-08:00January 29th, 2024|Census|
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Gray Whale Counts on 18 January: Southern California and Laguna San Ignacio

Census workers in Point Fermin, near Los Angeles, CA, reported their highest gray whale count for 2024 on 18 January. They tracked 16 southbound gray whales, including 6 newborn calves on 18 January.

Census director, Alisa Schulman-Janiger, took this photo of one of the mother and calf pairs as they migrated past the census station. She reported that the calf lifted its head above the water a few times, so that the “fetal folds” showed. These are the skin folds from being in utero that can remain on a newborn even after birth.

Researchers in Laguna San Ignacio (REBIVI) reported the following estimated numbers of gray whales during their 18 January 2024 count:

  • 1 mother/calf pair and 5 singles for a total of 7 whales
2024-01-19T08:19:09-08:00January 19th, 2024|Census|
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2023 Pelagic Birding Tour (Sep 4-8) day 3

September 6

Dear birders:

Today’s highlights were 10 tropicbirds, Nazca booby, and Guadalupe murrelets, along with albatross, terns and jaegers. More as we can get reports together!
Thanks to Alisa Schulman-Janiger for the 2022 photo of Guadalupe murrelet.

Captain Mike and Team Searcher

2023-09-07T08:46:14-07:00September 7th, 2023|Uncategorized|
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