Capt Aaron called in a report tonight from the Channel Islands area. They spent time with some marine mammals today: Bryde’s, humpback and fin whales, and Risso’s, common and bottlenose dolphins. They came upon a huge feeding frenzy of sea lions and seabirds that was quite impressive. The bird list included Buller’s shearwaters, brown boobies, common murre, Cravieri’s murrelet, and lots more.
The 25 birders and 4 leaders left around noon yesterday to head out for an afternoon of local birding, before heading north to the Channel Islands and offshore deep water. They are in search of pelagic birds, whales, dolphins and any other life they can find. The weather forecast looks terrific! Stay tuned for reports.
p.s. Brown boobies were spotted before they left San Diego Bay!
Today we started the day with Bryde’s and fin whales. We were able to get on the right side of the fin whale with great lighting and see the white lower jaw plainly. Not a bad start!
We travlled around the northern end of the island so we could get into deep water with hopes of a toothed whale. We didn’t see any toothed whales initially but we did see a 25 foot whale shark on the surface up close– a first for several people. After that we continued on and we came across 8 orcas, What a thrill to see these whales with great looks and in great conditions. The photo of the day is of a single whale on the surface. Espiritu Santo is in the background.
Later we saw a flock of 40 long-tailed jeagers–that was a hit for the birders.
What a great trip to end the season! We enjoyed lots and lots of wildlife. All in all, the entire season was fantastic.
Thanks to all the clients who traveled far to joins us. Thanks to our great naturalists who enhanced our trips this season. Thanks to Team Searcher for a job well done.
Capt. Art
Hello whaewatchers: We had some communication gliches yesterday so we weren’t’t able to send a report. We were busy with plenty of activities–a skiff ride into the mangroves at Isla San Jose to start and then whalewatching on our way to Los Islotes to snorkel with the sea lions. We came across some pilot whales and a few Bryde’s whales. We were able to get good looks at both whales. We then had skiff ride and then a snorkel with the sea lions and everyone enjoyed time with sea lions. Next we dropped the anchor at El Candalero, Isla Espiritu Santo and everyone went ashore for a hike.
To finish the day we had margaritas and a buffet on the back deck. What a day!
Team Searcher
Hello whalewatchers, We had a great start to our day with a sunrise at Punta Colorado, Isla San Jose. The we had an early walk in the arroyo and a good snorkel session with good visibilty and 75 degree water. There was a personal milestone for one of our passengers, Reiner Ertel from Germany. Before today he has seen every gull in the world except one and that would be the yellow-footed gull that is found here in the Sea of Cortez. Reiner completed his list of gulls today.
We left and had “Cheeseburgers in Paradise” for lunch and headed of shore. We headed west towards the peninsula and found an area of jumping smooth-tailed mobulas which is always fun to see, then a red billed tropicbird and lots of black and least storm petrels. Another new bird for everyone that we see regularly here is the Craveri’s murrelet.
We had a close look at a Bryde’s whale and at the end of the day we saw a group of bottlenose dolphin and a great sunset.
Today’s photo is of a yellow-footed gull on our boom.
Team Searcher
Hello whalewatchers: We had another awesome day today with great weather, clear skies, calm seas and light winds. Great sea birds this morning again–frigates, black and least storm petrels, brown and masked boobies, pink-footed shearwaters, red-billed tropicbirds too! The whalewatching was tremendous with a humpback cow and her calf with an escort and all the cool behaviors that humpbacks display. Also great singing on the hydrophone!
We saw a few loggerhead turtles as well. We stopped at Los Frailes and we were able to get a snorkel session in 77-degree water and fair visibility. Almost everyone went ashore for a walk and had great birdwatching.
Today’s photo is a brown and masked boobies up close.
Team Searcher
Hello whalewatchers, We had another great day with good conditions-light winds and calm seas. The morning started out with lots of common dolphin and seabirds, including elegant terns, Sabines gulls in breeding plumage, pinkfooted and blackvented shearwaters, red phalropes, frigatebirds and the highlight- masked and nazca boobies. We saw a few sea turtles as well.
We had a dry spell for a few hours and then the seabirds started to show up again, and then we saw pair of humpbacks that fluked for us multiple times. We ended the day with a huge herd of common dolphin, around 4000-5000 dolphins. It was awesome to see. Then a cow and calf humpback and the calf performed for us with some breaches. We are headed for Gorda Banks for more humpbacks. Today’s photo is of one of the humpbacks fluking.
Hello whalewatchers: We had a wonderful day in Laguna San Ignacio with great weather in the morning/early afternoon and awesome whalewatching. Everyone had a close encounter with multiple cows and calves. We had some light rain before sunset, and then after dark we had heavy rain at times. The weather this year has been different than any other year I can recall. The peninsula has gotten a lot of rain and that will do good things.
Team Searcher
Hello whalewatchers: We had a great day at Islas San Benito, starting with a blue whale in the anchorage. We haven’t seen a blue whale in that shallow of water here ever before! We had a few good looks and then went ashore. The group had a good day and saw plenty of elephant seals returing to molt, Guadalupe fur seals more abundant now than in earlier trips, and ospreys, peregrine falcons, horned larks and a mockingbird.
I went for a little walk up to the lighthouse for some exercise. I visited the lighthouse for the final time this year and took some scenic photos that will be on the website after the trip. It was a lovely day. Today’s photo is from the top of the island with blooming barell cactus in the foreground. and middle and east island in the background.
We are headed to Laguna San Ignacio for the final time this year.
Team Searcher
Dear whalewatchers: What a great start to our tour #6! We saw at least 6 blue whales, two fin whales, and lost of short-beaked common dolphins. The birders were happy with shearwaters, phalaropes, elegant terns, Bonapartes gulls and more. We saw all the species of pinnipeds at Islas Todos Santos also.
We are looking forward to our day at Isla San Benito tomorrow.
Team Searcher
