Los Islotes & Espiritu Santo Island
The early morning air filled with strange noises as we approached our anchorage at Los Islotes; guttural barking, coughing, and howling sounds reached our ears as the California sea lions resting on the rocks greeted our arrival. Being members of the Carnivora, the sea lions made many familiar noises and their heads and inquisitive eyes reminded many of us of our dear dog pets at home. Our Zodiacs provided the perfect platform to observe and photograph them at close range, and gave us the chance to admire the local bird fauna flying above or resting on the guano-covered islets. Magnificent frigatebirds, brown and blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, turkey vultures and ravens were just some of the most conspicuous feathered creatures around.
Later in the morning we changed our gear and clothing and went snorkeling, which is the best way to fully appreciate how marvelously adapted the sea lions are to the marine realm. Propelling themselves with their strong, over-sized fore flippers, California sea lions can easily out-maneuver any fish; their underwater antics delighted both young and old snorkelers. Sharing their marine environment, numerous fish species were also observed. Big schools of scissortail damselfishes, sergeant majors, leopard groupers and yellow snappers patrolled their territories in the clear waters, whereas large bumphead parrot fishes took bites out of the coral polyps and coralline algae growing over the rocky reef.
During the evening we had a great time exploring the beach and desert environment at the south end of Espiritu Santo Island at Bonanza Bay. Once again we had the chance to admire the massive cardon cactus and enjoy the privilege of walking on a long, empty beach. After several days of exploring the Gulf of California, I am sure that we all felt grateful for having had the chance to go and see, to admire and marvel in such a wonderful place.
The early morning air filled with strange noises as we approached our anchorage at Los Islotes; guttural barking, coughing, and howling sounds reached our ears as the California sea lions resting on the rocks greeted our arrival. Being members of the Carnivora, the sea lions made many familiar noises and their heads and inquisitive eyes reminded many of us of our dear dog pets at home. Our Zodiacs provided the perfect platform to observe and photograph them at close range, and gave us the chance to admire the local bird fauna flying above or resting on the guano-covered islets. Magnificent frigatebirds, brown and blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, turkey vultures and ravens were just some of the most conspicuous feathered creatures around.
Later in the morning we changed our gear and clothing and went snorkeling, which is the best way to fully appreciate how marvelously adapted the sea lions are to the marine realm. Propelling themselves with their strong, over-sized fore flippers, California sea lions can easily out-maneuver any fish; their underwater antics delighted both young and old snorkelers. Sharing their marine environment, numerous fish species were also observed. Big schools of scissortail damselfishes, sergeant majors, leopard groupers and yellow snappers patrolled their territories in the clear waters, whereas large bumphead parrot fishes took bites out of the coral polyps and coralline algae growing over the rocky reef.
During the evening we had a great time exploring the beach and desert environment at the south end of Espiritu Santo Island at Bonanza Bay. Once again we had the chance to admire the massive cardon cactus and enjoy the privilege of walking on a long, empty beach. After several days of exploring the Gulf of California, I am sure that we all felt grateful for having had the chance to go and see, to admire and marvel in such a wonderful place.
