Easter Sunday in Baja California
Easter Sunday—a perfect morning for sleeping in, lingering over coffee, and eating a lavish brunch. With the best intentions, brunch on the National Geographic Sea Bird is scheduled for 10:30 am. All is quiet and going according to plan as the sun peaks above the horizon with the mythical but real “green flash.” Everything changes with the sighting of a Bryde’s whale off Isla del Carmen in Loreto Bay National Park. This is our 8th whale species of the voyage (not including dolphins), not a time for sleeping in any longer.
The Bryde’s whale (pronounced broo-des) or “tropical whale” is one of the large baleen whales of the world and is not uncommon here in the Sea of Cortez. Typically aloof and hard to observe, yet alone photograph, this particular whale repeatedly surfaces with mouth agape, swallowing bucket loads of krill. The ship sits motionless in the water as the whale literally swims circles around us. Surfacing closer and closer, it swims directly under the bow, rolls on its side with mouth open and throat pleats extended, then disappears into the deep. Conditions could not have been more perfect as camera shutters blazed, capturing an amazing moment witnessed by few.
Leaving the whale behind after over an hour of close observation, we chart a course for Isla Santa Catalina. We don’t get far when a group of bottlenose dolphins cross our path. We gather again out on deck hanging over the rail soaking in the action. There’s something about dolphins that makes people giddy. Maybe it’s their seemingly playful disposition as they take turns coming into the bow to ride the ship’s bow-wave.
Turning away, we resume our course for the island only to be distracted again, this time by a huge herd of common dolphins. We repeat the experience of another close encounter with the wild and free nature of dolphins. And we challenge and frustrate ourselves once again to get the perfect shot.
By the time that the call for Easter brunch finally arrives, we’ve spent more than 4 hours out on deck among the marine mammals. What a way to spend a morning…
After a well-deserved power nap our Easter Sunday is capped off by snorkeling, Zodiac cruising, and hiking ashore on Isla Santa Catalina. Late afternoon is a good time to explore the Sonoran desert among the towering cardon and giant barrel cacti. Lingering until sunset, a few diehard photographers make images at twilight of the ship, as the ship’s spotlight highlights Elephant Rock, the iconic rock formation that adorns the bay.
