Having made our way south in the Sea of Cortez during the night, the National Geographic Sea Bird anchored this morning along the mountainous coast of the Baja Peninsula. After another hearty breakfast we went ashore to explore a remote arroyo affectionately called Gull Rock.
It was a magical morning with something to discover around every bend. It wasn’t long before a Costa’s hummingbird was discovered sitting on a nest at eye level in a palo blanco tree. We marveled at the construction of the nest from spider webs and how the diminutive bird could hang on in the blustery winds whipping down the canyon.
Intrepid hikers made it far up the canyon, scrambling over large boulders. The canyon walls of the arroyo are composed of colorful red volcanic rock, testimony to the explosive geologic history long before the Baja Peninsula separated from mainland Mexico by plate tectonic actions. Small, side-blotched lizards could be seen, and photographed, soaking up the Sonoran desert sun.
Back on the ship and underway, we spent the afternoon scoping the horizon for anything we might discover. From time to time bottlenose dolphins came in to ride the bow wave, making acrobatic leaps in the stern wake.
Just before sunset we dropped the anchor and enjoyed Recap and dinner in the protected waters of Salinas Bay along Isla del Carmen. A colorful sunset capped off another wonderful day in Baja California.
