BajaNomad

Famous Friend & Freak Whale sighting at Ojo de Liebre yesterday

shari - 2-21-2014 at 02:38 PM

It was an eventful day at the whale lagoon yesterday. On our morning whale adventure, we spotted this....WTF???



on close inspection...she came over to our panga for a visit...we got a close up view of this freaky fluke...the left side of her tail had FINGERS!!!! Of course we named her Dedos..spanish for both fingers and toes.



here are a few other highlights...this week, the calf lessons entail bringing the baby to the boat to meet the humans and the calves are also learning to spy hop and breach.





After our trip, we enjoyed magnificent magaritas and when I turned around, I saw Graham MacIntosh!!! we had a nice little visit before the shrimp tacos arrived.



The whales have been wonderful! and so have our guests...



[Edited on 2-22-2014 by shari]

shari - 2-21-2014 at 06:36 PM

Last night was one of those memorable calm, quiet nights...brilliant stars, breathing whales followed by a serene sunrise.









the tide began to fall and the birds moved in to feed...a truly marvelous morning!

Whale-ista - 2-21-2014 at 07:19 PM

Wow, very strange tail flukes. From injuries? Maybe propeller lacerations that healed in that shape?

Weird...

BornFisher - 2-21-2014 at 07:37 PM

Well that is a whale of a tale, and tail!!
Hummmmm............. so Graham and the freak whale show up at the same time??? I`m thinking Graham put something in the lagoon water, or maybe he just has some freak whale buddies??

Thanks for the pics and report. Hoping to get back there this year (and hopefully not get lost this time!).

shari - 2-21-2014 at 09:42 PM

that's my guess Whalista...a big propeller sliced that tail perhaps when she was young. One lanchero at the lagoon said he saw her 3 years ago with a calf as well, another thought it was 2 years ago and someone reported a whale of the same description in San Ignacio as well a couple years ago also with calf...which would mean she gave birth more often than is normal...it sure was a strange tail tale.

ElCap - 2-21-2014 at 09:58 PM

I think I saw that whale in Laguna San Ignacio 2 years ago - I remember it looked very similar to that. I don't think I got a photo, but I'll look.

bajadogs - 2-21-2014 at 10:56 PM

Great photos Shari. I can't get over that whale tail. Also, the last photo of the sunrise pangas is worthy of dragging out the canvas and acrylics.

edit to correct autocorrect.

[Edited on 2-22-2014 by bajadogs]

Bob H - 2-22-2014 at 01:29 AM

Great photos!

Geo_Skip - 2-22-2014 at 03:56 AM

Ah Shari, you meet the most amazing people and whales at Ojo de Liebre!

Cypress - 2-22-2014 at 04:02 AM

Thanks.:yes:

Roland - 2-22-2014 at 07:32 AM

Beautiful photos Shari. See you soon!

acadist - 2-22-2014 at 07:58 AM

Looks fun!

jimgrms - 2-22-2014 at 08:49 AM

Sounds like a tall tail.. BTW your tour is on my list of things to do soon.

shari - 2-22-2014 at 06:21 PM

Today was another insane whale day...the star of the day is a whale we named Pelotera...meaning soccer player. This single whale head butts and tosses pangas around like a soccer ball....a wee bit un nerving but fun for an adrenalin rush!

We spent nearly an hour in the middle of a mating dance which was absolutely stunning!

And Cola Blanca stole the show today with all the lovin on the pangas with her calf. They are the 2 whales that have sweet freckles on their chins! Photos some other time...I'm starving...hasta luego whale fans!

David K - 2-22-2014 at 07:46 PM

That radiation from Japan has sure begun working fast on the whale mutations! Could Godzilla be far behind??? :lol:

Nice to see Graham having fun!

boe4fun - 2-23-2014 at 10:40 AM

Perhaps the whale tail is a congenital anomaly similar to one that can occur in the human population - called phocomelia. We had many patients who needed prosthetic systems as a result of thalidomide.

Mexitron - 2-23-2014 at 11:44 AM

Nice pics Shari!

Ken Bondy - 2-23-2014 at 11:55 AM

Wonderful photos and a fantastic story Sis!! ;D;D;D

[Edited on 2-23-2014 by Ken Bondy]

shari - 2-26-2014 at 03:29 PM

just checking in from our base camp at the lagoon...last week was another spectacular week of calm, hot weather and whale loving! Stay tuned for pics of the last few days...still over 2,000 whales here but we have definitely passed the peak.

Bobvaso - 2-27-2014 at 12:10 PM

Thank you for the beautiful photos. Lord how I wish I spoke "whale" language. I am sure they have more than just "tails" to tell.

Graham - 2-27-2014 at 11:10 PM

Hi Shari, what a wonderful time there at the lagoon. And what a treat to meet you and Sirena and Izaak and all the happy folks in your group.




Mucho whales and amazing behaviours. I'd never had so many close encounters with whale tails; it was almost like they'd learned a new way to be "friendly."





Our panga received a couple of resounding slaps from different whales... never experienced that before, either in Laguna San Ignacio or Scammon's.

And so much sexual energy and flailing "pinkies."





Wow. Looking forward to getting back there again!

[Edited on 2-28-2014 by Graham]

Whale-ista - 2-28-2014 at 12:14 AM

apparently whales are getting slap happy all over the place...

shari - 2-28-2014 at 03:15 PM

we have a whale called La Pelotera who pretends to be a friendly whale then head butts the panga like a soccer ball! The calves are getting rather boisterous this week bumping and pushing the pangas around...woo hooo!

BajaRat - 2-28-2014 at 06:08 PM

Shari, We saw "dados" there 2 or 3 years ago can't remember. you don't forget a sighting like that. At first I thought we saw a sea monster from a distance :O
The whale was not afraid of the ponga, go figure.

BAJACAT - 3-3-2014 at 07:44 PM

Shari,they do whale trips on Sundays ?
Im planning to do SAN IGNACIO, already did OJO DE LIEBRE..
How do i see in GN for the SALT MINE TOUR AND BERRENDOS..thanks

shari - 3-4-2014 at 05:20 PM

Hey Cat....yes tours run every day. You can go to the ESSA office and arrange a tour there or ask at Cowboy or Malarrimo...be great to see your clan again...we are in Palapa #1 in case you change your mind!

dirtbikr - 3-4-2014 at 11:28 PM

Hey, anyone up tues nite? Question, we are at mallerimos in gn to see the whales with sheri tomorrow what time should we be out at the lagoon in the morn, thx

CakedecT - 3-5-2014 at 07:32 AM

Be there by nine. Early water is calmer

BajaLuna - 3-13-2014 at 04:33 PM

great pics, Shari!

The whale with the trippy tail is certainly interesting. Doesn't seem to have hampered it in any way?

And love all your whale reports! Keep em coming!

I just love the pics of the boats, they are definitely worthy of blowing up and hanging in your house. So beautiful! Perfect shots, you nailed em!