In search of the Whales of Baja California. March 2007

A voyage on the Spirit of Adventure from San Diego California to Cabo San Jose in Mexico at the tip of the Baja Californian Peninsular and round into The Sea of Cortez.


Tailpiece
Lesser Scaup. San Diego.
Star of India, built in Ramsey, Isle of Man.
On board.
Gulls on a Russian Submarine.
On board USS Midway. Toys for boys.

Common Ground Dove.
House Finch.
White-crowned Sparrow.
Western MeadowLark.
Double-crested Cormorant.
Grey Heron.

Brown Pelican.
Eared Grebe. A good start and we have not left San Diego yet.
We set off on our first viewing trip.
Harbour Seal.
Elephant Seals.
Black Oystercatchers.

Californian Sea Lions.
Smile please.
Classic pose.
Spirit Of Adventure. Our 'mother ship' and home for the trip.
Black-footed Albatross.
Elephant Seals. San Benitos Islands.

Northern Elephant Seal.
Nesting Ospreys.
Guadaloupe Fur Seals. Back from the brink of extinction.
As are Grey Whales.
They once were fierce but now are very friendly.
They will approach a small boat to be patted.

Here Elizabeth gets to stroke a 55 foot Whale.
They even bring their calves to learn about us.
So big and so gentle.
They don't even bite.
Now the biggest of them all.
The mighty Blue Whale. Again back from the brink.

Awesome animals.
There are three together here.
The shot most want to get.
Santa Catalina Islands. Mexico.
Brown Boobies.
Blue-footed Boobies.

Common Dolphins.
Lots of em.
Loggerhead Shrike.
Barrel Cactus.
White-winged Dove.
Hooded Oriole. (female)

Some sort of Lizard endemic to these Islands.
Yellow-footed Gull.
What we came to see!
The mighty Blue Whale.
Thar she Blows!
Superlatives abound.

The biggest creature EVER to inhabit this Planet!
It can be 100 foot long AND 100 foot around the belly.
It eats the equivalent of four African Elephants a DAY!
The Tail fluke is the span of an Aeroplane.
This lady has a calf along with her.
She keeps him tucked alongside.

And puts him on the side away from us.
What a good Mother. We are so priviledged to meet them.
We hoped to see just ONE of these rare creatures.
Now they are sounding.
Worth the trip to see them alone!
Islas Partidas. Sea of Cortez.

Humpback Whales.
A pod of three.
Not quite as big a Blue Whales but who cares?.
Again massive Flukes.
Everyone tries for this shot.
Gone down.

Gila Woodpecker.
Gila Monster. A Venomous Lizard.
Brown Thrasher.
Californian Quail.
Killdeer.
White-faced Ibis.

Ibis with Franklin's Gull.
Franklin's Gull, (Black Head) and Bonaparte's Gull. (Pink Legs.)
Tri-coloured Heron
Black-necked Stilts.
Tri-coloured Heron.
Common Moorhen and American Coot.

Ruddy Ducks.
Spotted Sandpiper.
Spotted Sandpiper.
Tri-coloured Heron.
Green Heron
Spotted Sandpiper.

Blue-winged Teal.
Blue-winged Teal.
Pied-billed Grebes.
Little Blue Heron.
X'antu's Hummingbird on nest.
Magnificent Frigate.

Northern Cardinal.
Gila Woodpecker.
Scott's Oriole.
Greater Yellowlegs.
Least Sandpipers.
Stilts and Red-necked Phalarope.

Black Phoebe.
Gila Woodpecker.
Ospreys displaying.
Greater Yellowlegs and Bonaparte's Gull.