If you didn't find what you were looking for, try a new search!
đReport from San Ignacio Lagoon is in:â
â
Singles : 39
Mother & Calf : 12 pairsâ
Total: 63
Census completed on 9th February 2020â
đWe also have a few spots available for 2020 season which is unheard of. So make sure you book your spot. https://bajawhale.com/
Here it is in print (though we all knew it was true!). Baja California Sur is extremely safe for travel.
We are leaving tonight and so the blog will begin again tomorrow! Elephant seal mother and pup from last trip. Photo taken by Steve Lamb @ wrongwaylamb.com.
Searcher naturalist, Paul Jones, shares this exciting 2020 sighting while aboard Searcher!
On March 17, 2020, while Searcher was just west of Isla Monserrat in the Gulf of California and we were looking for whales, the crew spotted what appeared to be a blue whale at first glance. However, as we got closer, there was considerable disagreement as to what we were looking at. Clearly, this whale had some color and body shape that was indicative of a blue whale. But other characteristics reflected what we have seen in fin whales. As it circled the boat, we were finally able on one pass to see the lower jaw on the right side, which should have been definitive for a fin whale – and it was all dark. So, the mystery whale had us continuing the debate well into the afternoon, past the time when we found three fin whales and two blue whales to follow, and into the night. Because of some good sleuthing in his expansive, digital marine mammal literature database, Tom Jefferson found a paper that led us to believe we had seen a hybrid fin/blue whale. The story that unfolded is told in our recently published scientific paper is amazing – this male is the offspring of a male fin whale and female blue whale and he travels back and forth from Southern California waters to the Gulf of California. Plus, there’s lots more about fin/blue hybrids and their movements between these waterbodies. We encourage you to read on by clicking the link to the paper below.
Sightings and Satellite Tracking of a Blue/Fin Whale Hybrid in its Wintering and Summering Ranges in the Eastern North Pacific
Authors: Jefferson Thomas, Palacios Daniel, Calambokidis John, Baker C. Scott, Hayslip Craig, Jones Paul, Lagerquist Barbara, JĂžrgensen Morten and Schulman-Janiger Alisa
Enjoy Paul Jones’ video on top and Searcher video below for two different views of this special whale.
All wildlife and tour destination images you’ve enjoyed on our web site were taken while aboard a Searcher Natural History Tour. All other photos, including the aerials, were taken by SNHT’s photographer, Joseph Agustin. Enjoy his web site here: josephagustinphoto.com
We are grateful for permission granted by the following talented photographers for their images to appear. Please enjoy the photos and do not copy them.
Home: Tom Blackman
Baja Whalewatching Tours: Ally Marsh, Joanne Lasnier, Lee Morgan, Hilary Thompson, Rob Nawojchik, Mark Underwood, John Davison, Nigel Carter, Chris Earley
Pelagic Birding Tours: Tom Blackman, Larry Schott, Ally Marsh, Dave Pereksta, Dave Povey, Terry Hunefeld, Todd McGrath, Paul Lehman
Schedule: Mark Underwood, Chris Shields, John Davison, Val Shore, Steve Lamb, Tom Blackman, Paul Jones, Rob Nawojchik, Lee Morgan, John Broderick
Booking a Baja Whalewatching Tour: Chris Shields, Lee Morgan, Simon Murgatroyd
Booking a Pelagic Birding Tour: Steve Lamb
Explore the Boat: Chris Shields, Ally Marsh, Dave Povey, Chris Shields, Val Shore, Rich Crossen
Team Searcher: Lee Morgan, Brian Leadbitter, Christine Hallas, Susan Schott, Julie Kondor, Chris Earley
Birds of Baja: Nigel Carter, Chris Earley, Tom Blackman, Mark Underwood, Rich Crossen
đHappy #Whale Wednesday! đ
Report from San Ignacio Lagoon is in:â
â
Singles : 25
Mother & Calf : 4 pairsâ
Total: 33
Census completed on 4th February 2020â
We also have a few spots available for 2020 season which is unheard of. So make sure you book your spot. https://bajawhale.com/
BBC Wildlife Magazine has teamed up with The Travelling Naturalist to offer a special whale watching trip to the tip of Baja California, Mexico, which includes exclusive extras for readers. Click here for details about the tour and the extras–BBC Wildlife Magazine: Discover Wildlife
Rob Nawojchik guides Searcher passengers around the elephant seal haul-out areas on scenic Isla San Benito.Â
Searcher passengers are vigilant for the moment a whale breaks the surface.
Comfortable indoor salon for meals and programs.
Dolphins on the bow!
BBC WILDLIFE READER HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Exclusive extras for BBC Wildlife Magazine readers:Â
Wildlife viewing while enjoying the comfort of a shaded back deck!
WHALE WATCHING IN BAJA CALIFORNIAÂ
When 7 â 20 April 2017
TO BOOK: Call 01305 267994 or email sales@thetravellingnaturalist.com and quote BBC Wildlife Magazine Baja.
Listen to Searcher naturalists/leaders Paul Jones and Frank Balthis discuss the beaching of the female blue whale and fetus in northern California:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/south_bay&id=7708760
As we began our 2016 Searcher Natural History Tours Baja Whalewatching season, we proclaimed the following:
“Our hearts are full – and we want to share the Baja love!”
(Click here to see our “We Can’t Help Falling In Love” video)
We asked passengers to recall moments when they fell in love during one of our Searcher Natural History Tours.
Here’s what our Searcher friends replied:
|
|
Photo Credit: Michael Larsen
|
|
Photo Credit: Chris Shields
|
Photo Credit: Rob Nawojchik
As we planned early (2010) for our 25 th Anniversary (April 11, 2012), we were targeting the Galapagos Islands for our special nature trip. But then I read a book called âWhales Touching the Mysteryâ by Doug Thomson. It is a fascinating book about San Ignacio Lagoon and the friendly gray whales (Iâve read it twice).
Larry and I have been fascinated with nature and in particular whales for a long time. We had observed whales in Cape Cod, Cabo and Puerto Vallarta. As I was reading the book, I kept asking myself if it was âfor realâ. How cool to be able to really interact with a gray whale. But who do I contact? So I went back to the first page of the Introduction where the author talked about his first encounter with a gray whale while travelling on a vessel called âThe Searcherâ.
The internet being a wonderful thing, I searched for âThe Searcherâ and lo and behold, I found âSearcher Natural History Toursâ. I contacted Celia, who provided great information and answered all of our questions. From that point on, Galapagos was out the window and we were going to do a once in a lifetime trip in Baja for our 25th Anniversary to see the gray whales up close and personal!
I still remember my excitement going out in the pangas, especially when I touched the smooth back of my first young whale. Itâs hard to express the feeling in words. I was so thrilled, the first thing I did back at the Searcher was give Captain Art a great BIG hug. As Art famously says, I didnât just touch the whale, the whale touched me.
Larryâs dream was to see a big blue whale. We didnât see just one – but 20 of them – including a baby blue that thought we were its nanny! This is just a small taste of the natural wonders experienced in the 12-day adventure. Iâve learned about birds (thanks, Paul Jones!), pinnipeds (thanks, Marc Webber!) and many species of whales and dolphins.
We enjoyed it so much that we went back in 2014 and we just returned from our 2016 trip. Words cannot begin to express the amazing trips that Captain Art, Celia and the Searcher crew provide.
Thank you for memories of a lifetime (times 3!).
– Sue (and Larry) Schott – Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Did YOU fall in love during a Searcher Natural History Tour?  Tell us about it!
Email your âfell in loveâ story to searcher@bajawhale.com
đ
Unsubscribe at any time
