News

Volunteers at the LA county-based census project have counted over 60 gray whales so far and one southbound calf, so the migration to Baja California is well underway. You can follow their daily log here: http://www.acs-la.org/daily.htm

Pregnant females will sometimes give birth during the southern journey, or as they arrive to the shallow, warm-water lagoon in Baja, such as San Ignacio, Magdalena Bay and Scammon’s.

Gray whale surfaces to breathe next to Searcher while at anchor in Laguna San Ignacio.

We’re excited to meet them in Laguna San Ignacio, where our passengers will spend two days among the whales, incuding mothers with newborn calves! There are still some spots available for 2017 tours. Contact our office for details: searcher@bajawhale.com or 619-226-2403.

Want to brush up on gray whale details? Click here: Gray Whales. Thanks to Rob Nawojchik, Searcher naturalist,  for the article and photos.

 

And sometimes, close enough to touch. photo by Rob Nawojchik

If you’d like to support the active research on gray whales and the entire habitat in Laguna San Ignacio, the scientists there need a replacement outboard motor for their skiff, a critical piece of equipment. Perhaps you met Dr Steven Swartz while aboard Searcher? He is one of the principals on this project and he is very grateful for anything we can do!

If you’d like, join us in making a monetary donation here: OCEAN FOUNDATION:  Laguna San Ignario Ecosystem Science Pogram

You can read all about their research in Laguna San Ignacio here: https://www.sanignaciograywhales.org/research/

Whalewatching companies and researchers are reporting that some of the first of the gray whales to leave the Arctic areas and migrate south have appeared off the central California coast this week!

Need a refresher on gray whales natural history and characteristics? We’ve got a Rob-servation for you! Click here: GRAY WHALES. (Article and photos by Rob Nawojchik.)

And then consider visiting with the gray whales in one of their winter homes, Laguna San Ignacio. Our tours spend two glorious days anchored there, and you’ll interact with whales and photograph  behaviors such breaching, fluking, spyhopping, and diving. It’s the trip of a lifetime!

Don’t miss the chance for the bird missing from your list OR for a pelagic rarity!

Passenger Candy McNamee enjoyed the 2016 annual Labor Day 5-day adventure.

“Wow! What a fabulous pelagic! Not only did I have an awesome time with the whales, dolphins, and birds, but the crew, guides and participants were absolutely fantastic! The Searcher Natural History T0urs is well run, from pre-trip information to the end of the excursion. I look forward to returning!”

Are you ready for our all ABA southern California deep-water, offshore adventure? Reserve your place on the boat here: SAVE ME A SPOT IN 2017!

Enjoy a few images from the 2016 Annual Labor Day Pelagic Birding Tour

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We were touched to see a Facebook post by Linda Riseborough about enjoying her tea from a Searcher souvenir mug. She posted “We drink our tea from Searcher mugs on the Norfolk Broads in the UK. I wonder how far other mugs travel?!”

So we invited others to weigh in! Mugs have been spotted in Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii;  Ouderkerk aan de Amstel (Amsterdam area) the Netherlands; and York England! Please send in a photo of your Searcher mug and we’ll post it along with the others.

We’d love to see the far and distant lands that our Searcher Natural History Tours mugs have travelled!

Rene Kadijk has been using his old-school mug since 1995! This mug resides near Amsterdam in The Netherlands.

Linda’s mug is enjoying the scenery on the Norfolk Broads in the UK.

Louise Ling enjoys her cuppa in York, England which “brings back so many brilliant memories” of her trip aboard Searcher to Baja California.

And we shouldn’t forget about the Searcher Natural History Tour water bottle! Karen Madsen and Julie Brownell Walters didn’t forget it on a recent whalewatch trip.

Brian C. had his mug with him in Bangkok, and is packing it for his new post in Beirut!

Ah, the Birdfair in Rutland, England…where Searcher passengers gather, and so do their mugs!

And of course, the water bottle was needed at Falmouth, Serena Stewart’s home beach.

Most guests chose our tour for the unparalleled whalewatching opportunities in Baja California. However the unusual plant life of this peninsula and its islands captures the attention of most as well.

Colleague/friend, Donna Parham, wrote about the plantlife of Baja, as exhibited at the impressive San Diego Safari Park’s Baja Garden:

A Stroll Through the Baja Garden

Capt Art poses with a cardon cactus on Baja’s Isla Santa Catalina.