A Day On The Water That Was Just Too Good Not To Share

January 16, 2010 was THE most perfect day for a nature, whale watching cruise.  MV Bright and Morning Star left the H&M Landing dock at 10:30am with Captain Ben at the wheel and Captain Steve in the galley.  Diane and Gaynell were onboard as volunteers from the San Diego Natural History Museum and they were eager to tell the 30 guests making the trip about what they could expect to see on this 6-hour trip through San Diego Bay, out into the Pacific Ocean and offshore to the Los Coronados Islands.  It was not very long after we passed the Cabrillo Monument up on the tip of Point Loma and the giant kelp beds just offshore that we noticed a blow on the glassy smooth sea surface.  Sure enough, it was our first gray whale sighting of the day.  Everyone onboard was on their feet eager to get some good photos. This whale was migrating south, blowing at the surface a few times, fluking and making several shallow dives.  We noticed it swim in the direction of the U. S. Navy aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan which was just a little past Buoy One and not moving. Too bad there were only about 3-4 personnel on the carrier deck because all of a sudden the whale breached twice!   They may have missed this whale’s version of saying hello, but we certainly didn’t.  There were shouts of joy watching this 40-50 foot, 30-40 ton leviathan rise up and splash back down to the surface.

Whew, we’ll say thanks to this whale and continue our journey offshore.  Not much longer and what do we see but Common Dolphins leaping and swimming very fast right toward us.  Soon we were surrounded by several hundred of them.  Many came over to ride the Bright and Morning Star’s bow or to body surf in the wake.  They spent a few minutes checking us out before continuing to search for a nice school of fish for their lunch.  Another great opportunity to get some great photos of the dolphins, many with small calves.

OK, now we really have to get going, the islands are waiting.  As we get closer to South Island we notice how green it looks with the sparse vegetation taking advantage of all of our late December and early January rains.  We started seeing cormorants and pelicans flying from rocky outcrops on small bird-occupied islands.  The Los Coronados are a Mexico nature reserve where all types of feathered and furred wildlife can be seen.  You can fish or dive in the sparkly aquamarine waters around the islands, but as a reserve no one is allowed to anchor and go onshore.  Soon we are at a cove where Captain Ben very expertly points our bow toward shore so that we can get some views of numerous pinnepeds.  The little harbor seals lift their heads as if to say please don’t disturb us.  The California sea lions are all standing up, barking at us just like guard dogs in a backyard.  But what are those big brown blobs up onshore that don’t seem to move at all.  They are Northern elephant seals taking a rest.  We notice one enormous male who is bigger than anything else on the beach.  There are also several females tossing sand over their backs; a few of them have small to medium-sized elephant seal pups.

Continuing on our cruise along the shorelines of Middle and North Islands we begin to see just how much bird life there is to see on the islands.  We are fortunate today to see both the Black Oystercatcher and the American Oystercatcher making their way along the edges at low tide in search of mussels.  The low tide also gives us excellent views of numerous urchins and brightly-colored sea stars all clinging to the rocks until the tide rolls in and they are once again submerged out of view.  We see hundreds and hundreds of cormorants, nesting pelicans and gulls and then a really special treat — brown boobies flying out over our heads and then back to their nests where we observe a few fluffy white booby chicks.  Even a peregrine falcon put in a special appearance, perched high up a hill.  Cameras are just clicking away.  Captain Ben told us many pirate stories and some facts about the early history of the islands.

All too soon it was time to start our journey back to San Diego Bay.  But, we couldn’t leave the islands without saying adios to four more migrating gray whales, surfacing, blowing and sounding in unison as they continue their journey down to the lagoons on the west coast of Baja.  Everybody was ready to kick back, relax, enjoy the light breezes and the beginning of what will certainly be a beautiful sunset.   Anyone and everyone, whether a San Diego resident or a welcome visitor, should get out on a cruise, get out in the ocean and see the wondrous wildlife that we are fortunate to have just off our coastline.  And get out there NOW.  If you only have time for a 3-hour cruise, no problem, the whales are cruising on by.  But, if you can manage a 6-hour nature cruise you will be in for a double delight.  Happy Whale watching everyone See you out there.
Gaynell