Bahia San Basilio and Isla san Ildefonso, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Our first day in the Gulf of California enjoyed a lovely sunrise. Pinks, peach color, oranges. The sun then screamed as it arose above the horizon, creating a very special moment for us. We had already arrived at our morning destination, San Basilio Bay, on the mainland of the peninsula. The color of the volcanic ash layers was striking, as we anchored, enjoyed breakfast, and prepared to take part in a series of hikes up a dry arroyo. We were lucky to find a leaf-toed gecko under a rock, with its fat thick tail as an energy reservoir.
During the last months the desert had received very generous amounts of water, and now it showed it. Many plants were in bloom, many had advanced to the seed stage. Some of the plants we had not seen before!
Just before midday we met a small pod of bottle-nosed dolphins, who frolicked in our wake and rode our bow-wave. Midday came along; we made our way back to the ship and had lunch. We then proceeded North to the island of San Ildefonso, which harbors a great number of seabirds, including brown and blue-footed boobies, cormorants, ravens, tropic birds and magnificent frigate birds. When we had anchored, we boarded our Zodiacs and marveled at the views along its cliffs, and the small birds and sea lions in the water. Of course, the day began to die, a great number of birds to return. Magnificent!
Our first day in the Gulf of California enjoyed a lovely sunrise. Pinks, peach color, oranges. The sun then screamed as it arose above the horizon, creating a very special moment for us. We had already arrived at our morning destination, San Basilio Bay, on the mainland of the peninsula. The color of the volcanic ash layers was striking, as we anchored, enjoyed breakfast, and prepared to take part in a series of hikes up a dry arroyo. We were lucky to find a leaf-toed gecko under a rock, with its fat thick tail as an energy reservoir.
During the last months the desert had received very generous amounts of water, and now it showed it. Many plants were in bloom, many had advanced to the seed stage. Some of the plants we had not seen before!
Just before midday we met a small pod of bottle-nosed dolphins, who frolicked in our wake and rode our bow-wave. Midday came along; we made our way back to the ship and had lunch. We then proceeded North to the island of San Ildefonso, which harbors a great number of seabirds, including brown and blue-footed boobies, cormorants, ravens, tropic birds and magnificent frigate birds. When we had anchored, we boarded our Zodiacs and marveled at the views along its cliffs, and the small birds and sea lions in the water. Of course, the day began to die, a great number of birds to return. Magnificent!
