Isla San Pedro Martir and Isla San Esteban, Midriff Islands, México
A few heads popped out of the early morning comfort of our cabins to witness the arrival of the first destination of our first day in the Gulf of California. The island in front of us loomed out of the darkness gradually and we could see a frosting of white guano that covered everything. San Pedro Martir is the most isolated island in the mid-Gulf and is located about thirty miles from the peninsula and mainland Mexico. Thousands of seabirds nest here every year such as the brown pelicans, brown boobies and blue-footed boobies. The California sea lion also uses this island as a haul out and rookery and approximately 800 individuals live here. The tactile sensory abilities of these marine mammals are well developed and the most obvious structure is the skin. From the Zodiac, we found this group of animals. (See photo above) Many colonial species of pinnipeds, (from the Latin meaning “wing-footed or “fin-footed”) such as walruses, sea lions and elephant seals, group together densely on land - a tendency called thigmotaxis. Sometimes animals clump so tightly together that they are literally piled on top of one another.
After a mouth watering experience of tacos filled to bursting point at lunch, we had relocated to one of my favorite islands of the northern Gulf – Isla San Esteban. The vegetation found here is primarily desert scrub species dominated by cacti, and yet surprisingly varied and diverse. We intended to go ashore and explore with short, medium, or long walks, but at the moment it was much too hot to venture there. So, we decided to cool off a bit with a dip into the very comfortable and clear water from an anchored Zodiac. By late afternoon, we were strolling up Arroyo Limantour in search of one of the endemic species of iguana found here – the pinto chuckwalla. This large lizard, up to 25 inches in length, can be hard to spot since it blends in so well with the orange, brown and charcoal colored rocks. Several were seen, along with another endemic species, the spiny-tailed iguana, scurrying across the dry wash.
After a much welcomed cold shower, our day wrapped up with cold cocktails and recap in the spacious lounge.
A few heads popped out of the early morning comfort of our cabins to witness the arrival of the first destination of our first day in the Gulf of California. The island in front of us loomed out of the darkness gradually and we could see a frosting of white guano that covered everything. San Pedro Martir is the most isolated island in the mid-Gulf and is located about thirty miles from the peninsula and mainland Mexico. Thousands of seabirds nest here every year such as the brown pelicans, brown boobies and blue-footed boobies. The California sea lion also uses this island as a haul out and rookery and approximately 800 individuals live here. The tactile sensory abilities of these marine mammals are well developed and the most obvious structure is the skin. From the Zodiac, we found this group of animals. (See photo above) Many colonial species of pinnipeds, (from the Latin meaning “wing-footed or “fin-footed”) such as walruses, sea lions and elephant seals, group together densely on land - a tendency called thigmotaxis. Sometimes animals clump so tightly together that they are literally piled on top of one another.
After a mouth watering experience of tacos filled to bursting point at lunch, we had relocated to one of my favorite islands of the northern Gulf – Isla San Esteban. The vegetation found here is primarily desert scrub species dominated by cacti, and yet surprisingly varied and diverse. We intended to go ashore and explore with short, medium, or long walks, but at the moment it was much too hot to venture there. So, we decided to cool off a bit with a dip into the very comfortable and clear water from an anchored Zodiac. By late afternoon, we were strolling up Arroyo Limantour in search of one of the endemic species of iguana found here – the pinto chuckwalla. This large lizard, up to 25 inches in length, can be hard to spot since it blends in so well with the orange, brown and charcoal colored rocks. Several were seen, along with another endemic species, the spiny-tailed iguana, scurrying across the dry wash.
After a much welcomed cold shower, our day wrapped up with cold cocktails and recap in the spacious lounge.
