Isla Rasa and Isla Partida Norte
For most of us the sound of an alarm clock going off is a pretty familiar (and unwelcome) part of our mornings. But on a morning like this, when the Gulf of California is showing off its finest, we were all glad to be woken to the announcement that fin whales had been spotted off our bow. Early risers were awarded with a wonderful scene as these beautiful creatures moved gracefully along.
Following breakfast, we departed by Zodiac to Isla Rasa – the world’s largest breeding ground for the Heerman’s Gull and the Elegant Tern. This week those of us on staff pointed out the noticeable absence of thousands of birds who had only left during the past few days. Now that the adolescent chicks have developed to an able size, many of the birds are leaving – some for as far as California not to return here again until next spring.
As winds calmed, the crew put down all of the two-person kayaks and guests enjoyed a great afternoon kayaking around Isla Partida Norte or swimming off of the platform on the back of the ship. Others decided to go by Zodiac to a ‘play area’ of bottle nose dolphins. With dinner approaching and the sun beginning to set, the call of “whales and dolphins!” was again heard from the bow. Our ocean friends had come out to make sure that we had an equally great end to this very special day!
For most of us the sound of an alarm clock going off is a pretty familiar (and unwelcome) part of our mornings. But on a morning like this, when the Gulf of California is showing off its finest, we were all glad to be woken to the announcement that fin whales had been spotted off our bow. Early risers were awarded with a wonderful scene as these beautiful creatures moved gracefully along.
Following breakfast, we departed by Zodiac to Isla Rasa – the world’s largest breeding ground for the Heerman’s Gull and the Elegant Tern. This week those of us on staff pointed out the noticeable absence of thousands of birds who had only left during the past few days. Now that the adolescent chicks have developed to an able size, many of the birds are leaving – some for as far as California not to return here again until next spring.
As winds calmed, the crew put down all of the two-person kayaks and guests enjoyed a great afternoon kayaking around Isla Partida Norte or swimming off of the platform on the back of the ship. Others decided to go by Zodiac to a ‘play area’ of bottle nose dolphins. With dinner approaching and the sun beginning to set, the call of “whales and dolphins!” was again heard from the bow. Our ocean friends had come out to make sure that we had an equally great end to this very special day!
