Captain's Blog

Hello whalewatchers: Today we had a marvelous day starting at Isla Santa Catalina with a early walk and then a snorkel session and a skiff ride for those nonsnorkellers. It has been interesting to me going to the island each trip and see the changes going on with the plants. The cardons are flowering and there are several different plants leafing out over the past 2 months. What a wonderful place.
We travelled down the channel and we received info about sperm whales in the channel. We arrived in the area to see multiple sperm whales on the surface. We spent 2.5 hours with various whales including a cow and calf. It is really a treat to view these whales. They are really different than all the other whales we see and is fascinating how they live their lives in the deep.
We found a calm spot to have our back deck buffet and margarita night. Everyone had a great time and as usual the food was great. Today’s picture is a sperm  whale fluking.
Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers: Today we got a break from the wind. We were able to get out to look for a whale. We had a quick look at a  Bryde’s whale and a good look at a fin whale, and then we saw a tall spout that we thought was a blue whale. It was  down for 13-15 minutes and wasn’t very watchable so we elected to head north along the peninsula. We saw plenty of bird life– boobies, Sabines gulls, red billed tropicbird, and lots of least and black storm petrels, but a lack of whales or dolphins until we made it up to Isla Monserate. Then we saw common dolphin and a humpback whale feeding with lots of birds.
West of the island we saw all the signs associated with ballen whales such as krill, phalaropes, manta,s but no whales. The weather is calm and the forecast looks good for the remainder of the trip. Lookinfg forward to tomorrow at Isla Santa Catalina, Team Searcher.
Today’s picture is of a humpback in front of the boat.

Hello whalewatchers: Today we have windy conditions to deal with, so we took a trip into the mangroves at Isla San Jose for a great bird viewing trip. The tide was high so it allowed the skiffs to get to areas that are only accessible with high waters. The highlight was seeing roosting frigatebirds in the mangroves along with all the usual suspects. We had great looks at mangrove warblers too.
After lunch we tried to go up the San Jose channel but it was too windy. We anchored in a different bay by Punta Salina and we offerd a beach walk in a new spot. The forecast looks good for less wind tomorrow.
Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers: Today we had an awesome day viewing humpback whales and bottlenose dolphin. We had windy conditions but it didn’t impact us too much. We started the day at first light around the Gorda Banks with multiple whales and several breaches. The conditions weren’t the greatest out on the banks so we elected to head for the coast and it paid off. We found a group of about 20 humpbacks in a small area, and there were multiple whales breaching and flipper flapping and tail lobbing at the same time! it was tremendous. Along with the humpbacks there were several bottlenose dolphin associated with the whales. They were performing as well. We spent at least two hours in the area. It has to be one of the better humpback days we’ve had recently as far as the acrobactics is concerned.
We also had a rare bird sighting– white-necked petrel. It was in the Gorda Banks area and our naturalist Lee Morgan saw three individuals.  We ended the day at Bahia Los Frailes with a snorkel session and a late afternoon walk.
Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers: We had a great day today, staying pretty busy with lots of common dolphin, plenty of bird life and good looks at humpback whales. We had a close look at a cow and calf, a pair of adults and to end the day a pair of breachers. We also had good looks at a Bryde’s whale cow and calf, and also  a distant look at short finned pilot whales. We added 2 more species of cetaceans today.
We saw lots of birds–masked and brown boobies, tropicbird, Sabine’s gull, frigatebirds, and more. Those were the highlights. Our weather was ok with overcast skies in the morning and clear skies in the afternoon. Breezy conditions most of the day but not bad enough to stop us from working. Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers: Another great day in Laguna San Ignacio. The morning was fabulous with plenty of close encounters for all. The afternoon had great viewing and really good walk on the beach with lots to look at. We are headed south for tomorrow. I am including another picture of the cow and calf that visied us most of the morning, our friends. We are sharing with one of our pangas full of happy clients and our old friend Frederico.
Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers: We are having a glorious morning in the lagoon. We have had a cow and calf visiting us off and on since yesterday afternoon, and they are with us now. It’s a pretty incredible event, with the pangas  participating with our passengers and scrubbing the whale with a soft deck brush. It just doesn’t get any better than this in this magical place. Our newest crew member Andrew Viola (on loan from another boat) is pictured with the scrub brush in hand and a gray whale cow at the end of the brush getting scrubbed. Andrew had no idea what to expect when he came on this trip. He is glad he came.
Team Searcher