Loreto Bay National Park
This morning the National Geographic Sea Bird was cruising in the vicinity of Isla del Carmen. Four islands–Islas Santa Catalina, Danzante, Monserrate and del Carmen—and the waters surrounding them, make up the protected area known as Loreto Bay National Park.
The sun rose above the calm surface of the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), illuminating the Sierra de la Giganta, “Mountains of the Giantess.” In the shadow of this peninsular range we found another giant—a blue whale. This is the most massive creature to have ever lived on the planet. It surfaced and blew a column of mist into the air. Its blowholes disappeared below the surface before the ridiculous nubbin of a dorsal fin appeared, giving a hint of the size of this huge animal.
Keen eyes also spotted a couple of dwarf sperm whales, elusive animals that look like dolphins, bobbing at the surface. They slipped away as we turned to look at the blue whale. We were entertained by a California sea lion that circled the ship and leapt out of the water between whale sightings. We can speculate about whether or not we provided entertainment for this sea lion. Also while “whale waiting” we saw brown pelicans, blue-footed and brown boobies, yellow-footed and Heermann’s gulls and double-crested cormorants.
The next marine mammal of the morning was the bottlenose dolphin. Many were scattered in the area as we came along the west side of Isla del Carmen. It was thrilling to have some of them come to bow-ride in the pressure wave that the vessel creates as it moves through the water.
Then we spotted a couple of fin whales. This is the second largest whale and the fleetest, as it is known as the “greyhound of the sea.” Dark gray with a prominent fin, this animal can be identified by its white lower right jaw. All of this activity signifies the richness of this area; upwellings of cold water bring nutrients to the surface and stimulate the food chain to support an abundance of marine life. We observed five marine mammals this morning and can already say that we have been “Among the Great Whales.”
We chose one of the islands around which to stage our afternoon activities. We anchored in scenic Honeymoon Cove with Isla Danzante (“The Dancer”), as the backdrop. After lunch we ventured out to explore land and sea, via kayak, snorkel, Zodiac and foot. The light was great for photography and many subjects were at hand. We were introduced to the varied flora of the region, which is part of the Sonoran Desert. Although the climate is arid, on close inspection we realized that many specially adapted plants can make a living here. Birdlife included a snowy egret feasting on isopods, a pair of American oystercatchers, spotted sandpipers, ravens, verdins, gnatcatchers, and ospreys. The weather cooperated to bring us a perfect day in many aspects. We look forward to the adventures of tomorrow.
