Cloud appreciation
Michael Larsen’s photo from Laguna San Ignacio
Many thanks to Michael for sharing this photo. We think it speaks volumes!
Report on possible resighting of Manx shearwater off San Diego
From Dave Povey: “When asked to “chase” the Manx Shearwater seen Thursday, Feb 14. I thought chances were slim and none. Doug Aguillar, Jay Keller, B J Stacey, and I headed into the same area s.e. of Pt. Loma this morning. There were birds and dolphin working the area, though I thought, in smaller numbers than Thursday. We faithfully looked at every Black-vented Shearwater that past, and stopped on several small groups resting on the water. Around 8:30 a.m. we found a larger group that had just finished a feeding frenzy, and were now resting on the water. Jay called out he that he was seeing a darker backed bird on the water. Quickly sorting through Black-vents, there was our Manx. Same overall size, blacker backed, bright white below, with a curl of white up the neck around the ear, and white under tail coverts.
We drifted along with the flock for 5 mins. or so, taking pictures, before the flock finally started taking off. Was it the same bird as Thursdays? Maybe the photos will help?
The postion on the GPS was 1.3 n. miles southeast of Thursday’s Manx.
That would put this bird at 4 n. miles s.e. of Pt. Loma and 3.25 n. miles west of Silver Strand.”
Tour #2: Isla San Jose
Hello whalewatchers: Today we enjoyed sunny skies and calm seas. We started at Punta Colorado on Isla San Jose at sunrise and went ashore before breakfast. This is just one of our favorite places in Baja. We left there and started south looking for whales. We came across some common dolphin and then a Bryde’s whale with the island in the background, it was a great show! Then we saw at least 8-10 dwarf sperm whales which are rare and only seen in the conditions we had. A big group of bottlenose dolphin was next. Could it get any better? It did with a good-size group of pilot whales (pictured) with a few calves included. Then the finale–sperm whales in the Cerralvo channel. We saw at least 20 individuals with multiple animals on the surface at once. A great day for toothed whales and did I mention the sunset? Another great one!
We are arriving in Cabo in the morning with a very happy group of whalewatchers.
Team Searcher
Tour #2: Puerto Gato and Sea of Cortez
Hello whalewatchers: We got some nice Sea of Cortez weather today and we took advantage of it in a big way. We saw at least 15 blue whales throughout the day, with one cow calf pair and two blue whales that fluked. A mega herd of thousands of common dolphin, humpbacks and plenty of bird life, with black and least storm petrels, were added to the list.
We had a period where the wind came up for a few hours so we ducked into one of our favorite spots on the peninsula, Puerto Gato. It is a great little cove and very picturesque.
We ended the day with a classic Baja sunset over the peninsula, The “Cloud Appreciation Society” members were pleased. We had margaritas and a buffet on the back deck to cap off a great day. Team Searcher
Tour #2: Isla Santa Catalina
Hello whalewatchers, Today started with a great sunrise but lots of wind. We were very lucky though, approaching Isla Santa Catalina we came across our first blue whale and we were able to see 6 or 7 surfaces. The whale seemed to be staying in the same general area so we decided to proceed and go ashore. Everyone enjoyed the island and I can tell you that the island is greener than usual and some of the trail is overgrown a little. The cactus are doing fine!
We returned to the Searcher for a Krazy Koastal Kruise (maybe by Kaptain Kenny) and a snorkel. The visibilty was outstanding but the temperature was a chilly 66 degrees! We saw a few bottlenose dolphin before the sunset and some bird life.
Hoping for less wind tomorrow, Team Searcher
Ramping up for offshore pelagic birding season!
Local experts headed offshore on February 14th for a half-day out as far as the 9-Mile Bank. Most areas were fairly quiet, with only small numbers of scattered seabirds here and there.
But quite close to shore–only 2.7 nm SSE of the tip of Point Loma or 3.5 nm W of the Silver Strand–we had a large feeding concentration of Black-vented Shearwaters (ca. 400-500), Brown Pelicans, cormorants, alcids, and Pacific Loons. With all the Black-vents was a MANX SHEARWATER, which put on a fairly good show both at rest and in flight. Otherwise, the totals for the morning were:
Northern Fulmar: 3
Black-vented Shearwater: 500
Pomarine Jaeger: 5
Parasitic Jaeger: 1
Common Murre: 14
Scripps’s Murrelet: 48
Cassin’s Auklet: 35
Rhinoceros Auklet: 54
–Paul Lehman, San Diego
Tour #2: Isla Espiritu Santo and Los Islotes
Hello whalewatchers: Happy Valetines Day!
We ended up at Isla Espiritu Santo this morning for breakfast and a beach walk. After having lunch in this great spot, El Candelero, we ventured up the island and visited Los Islotes for a skiff ride and snorkel session with the sea lions. Everyone had a great time there with plenty of snorkel stories. There was good bird watching there as well with plenty of blue-footed boobies, frigates, yellow-footed gulls and more. We are currently heading north towards Isla San Jose with plans to stop in another calm spot for a few hours tonight so everyone can get some good sleep, as we had a bumpy ride last night.
More tomorrow from Isla Catalina.
Team Searcher
Question for Ginger, Marissa, & Aled and Nina & Ellie…
From Paul and Marc (CLICK MORE)
Tour #2: Offshore Cabo San Lucas
Hello whalewatchers: We had a wonderful morning in the Gorda Banks area at the tip of the Baja peninsula. We enjoyed lots of humpbacks, some with calves and escorts and groups of multiple animals. We saw breaching and pectoral flippers, flukes and more flukes. Just a great day with humpbacks. We also had time with long-beaked common dolphin, smooth-tailed mobulas and a few manta rays. We finished the day with a walk and snorkel at Los Frailes.
More tomorrow, Team Searcher
