Isla Angel de la Guarda / Isla Rasa
This morning the seas calmed down to greet us with another wonderful day. The Sea Voyager dropped the hook near Isla Angel de la Guarda. Here we explored a new landing for all of us. We discovered together incredible plants and other interesting life forms that are highly adapted to desert conditions. Snorkeling, we could immerse ourselves in the undersea realm to take a closer look at fish, different types of algae, a few corals and other marine invertebrates.
Leaving Angel de la Guarda behind, we sailed through the mirror waters of the Gulf of California bound to Isla Rasa. On our way, we changed course to approach a feeding frenzy composed by several species of marine mammals and birds. Hundreds of common dolphins were actively feeding in deeper waters, while big numbers of sea lions joined them as they leaped out of the water. Birds like brown boobies, Heerman’s gulls and even a few shearwaters sat on the water’s surface feeding on small fish.
With the high tide, we made it to Isla Rasa, an incredible breeding colony of thousands of Heerman’s gulls, Royal, and Elegant terns. We cruised around the island where we had a broad perspective of how these birds feed on the ocean, and fly away from their nests and chicks to feed and bring fish for their young. Peregrine falcons were seen on one of the cliffs, and even flying over our Zodiacs. One of them had recently caught a sea bird’s chick, carrying it in its talons!
We hiked on the island guided by Dr. Enriqueta Velarde, who has been in charge of protecting the island for the last 27 years and is a committed conservationist. We ended the day with our evening recap, while sea lions splashed near the Sea Voyager.
This morning the seas calmed down to greet us with another wonderful day. The Sea Voyager dropped the hook near Isla Angel de la Guarda. Here we explored a new landing for all of us. We discovered together incredible plants and other interesting life forms that are highly adapted to desert conditions. Snorkeling, we could immerse ourselves in the undersea realm to take a closer look at fish, different types of algae, a few corals and other marine invertebrates.
Leaving Angel de la Guarda behind, we sailed through the mirror waters of the Gulf of California bound to Isla Rasa. On our way, we changed course to approach a feeding frenzy composed by several species of marine mammals and birds. Hundreds of common dolphins were actively feeding in deeper waters, while big numbers of sea lions joined them as they leaped out of the water. Birds like brown boobies, Heerman’s gulls and even a few shearwaters sat on the water’s surface feeding on small fish.
With the high tide, we made it to Isla Rasa, an incredible breeding colony of thousands of Heerman’s gulls, Royal, and Elegant terns. We cruised around the island where we had a broad perspective of how these birds feed on the ocean, and fly away from their nests and chicks to feed and bring fish for their young. Peregrine falcons were seen on one of the cliffs, and even flying over our Zodiacs. One of them had recently caught a sea bird’s chick, carrying it in its talons!
We hiked on the island guided by Dr. Enriqueta Velarde, who has been in charge of protecting the island for the last 27 years and is a committed conservationist. We ended the day with our evening recap, while sea lions splashed near the Sea Voyager.
