Canal de San Jose and San Francisco Island, Baja California Sur, México
Whale watching can be an arduous business. We used a good part of the morning searching for whales in the San Jose Channel, that part of the ocean between San Jose Island and the mainland Baja California Peninsula. Of the twenty something species of whales that it is possible to see in the Gulf of California, a good number of them are to be regularly found here. We promptly saw a tropical or Bryde’s whale, which did not really cooperate with us, as during more than an hour we were barely able to see its far-off blows or a near, very short view. At the same time, we saw a larger whale, probably a fin whale, the second largest animal on our planet. And again, it dove and for a good time we weren’t able to see it. And when it came back up, again it was very far off. But two whales we did see!
The afternoon was enjoyed at Isla San Francisco, where we kayaked and hiked, and visited tide pools, where we saw a good array of marine creatures. At the same time, some of us hiked among the low hills, and had the luck of finding a small scorpion, of the not-so-poisonous type, with very big pedipalps, with which to catch its prey. It is armored in the front part of the body, and probably rarely uses its stinger to subdue its prey!
Whale watching can be an arduous business. We used a good part of the morning searching for whales in the San Jose Channel, that part of the ocean between San Jose Island and the mainland Baja California Peninsula. Of the twenty something species of whales that it is possible to see in the Gulf of California, a good number of them are to be regularly found here. We promptly saw a tropical or Bryde’s whale, which did not really cooperate with us, as during more than an hour we were barely able to see its far-off blows or a near, very short view. At the same time, we saw a larger whale, probably a fin whale, the second largest animal on our planet. And again, it dove and for a good time we weren’t able to see it. And when it came back up, again it was very far off. But two whales we did see!
The afternoon was enjoyed at Isla San Francisco, where we kayaked and hiked, and visited tide pools, where we saw a good array of marine creatures. At the same time, some of us hiked among the low hills, and had the luck of finding a small scorpion, of the not-so-poisonous type, with very big pedipalps, with which to catch its prey. It is armored in the front part of the body, and probably rarely uses its stinger to subdue its prey!
