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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Whale Magic in Ojo de Liebre last week!
On January 6th, my daughter Sirena, her husband Adrian and my 3 year old grandson Izaak set out to Ojo de Liebre calving lagoon near Guerrero Negro,
more than excited to see some of our old whale friends again. Izaak couldnt wait and ran down to climb aboard the panga named after his Mama!
We were curious to find out how many whales were in the lagoon as reports from California indicated that the southern migration was much earlier this
season. Whale spotters at Point Vicente in Rancho Palos Verdes counted 364 gray whales heading south to Baja California in December, whereas only 182
were counted during the same period in 2012. The record count is far higher than in 2010, when observers saw just 38 gray whales in December.
Our first day on the water was a beauty and as expected we saw more whales in the lagoon than ever before at this early date. We estimated seeing
about 30-40 whales in the very inner lagoon, half of them with newborn calves. Many of the mothers were sleeping after their long migration and
childbirth and the huge pregnant females were just lounging around waiting, often accompanied by another adult whale.
We were particularly looking for whales in labor and found one we thought may be giving birth as she was lifting her head out of the water on every
breath which is abnormal. We stayed with this whale about 15 minutes to photo identify it and noted that it’s breathing was unusual as she was
chortling at every exhale as if she was having respiratory problems. I hope it is just a cold and she survives.
We observed 3 different “nursing groups” with several cow/calf pairs together in an area whose calves are about the same age. Each group often has
what I think is an elder grandmother present to watch over the new families.
When we stopped to meet an adult pair, they immediately turned towards our panga and came over to check us out. As is the custom, they circled the
boat a few times and passed underneath us as they got to know us.
When they were satisfied we weren’t a threat, they came right up to the boat and turned over on their side to gaze into our eyes. My grandson was
thrilled and asked if the whale was going to touch him!
They didn’t mind a little chin rub while they watched us and we all had a chance to make physical contact with the friendlier of the two whales who
seemed very relaxed and accustomed to humans.
This whale we have named Eyezak as she spent such a long time looking into Izaak’s eyes.
The whales stayed with us for about an hour after which we had to leave them and they followed us a ways wanting to hang out longer!
It was a wonderful omen for the season to begin with such a magical encounter.
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Bajagypsy
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Posts: 1416
Registered: 8-31-2006
Location: BahĂa Asuncion BCS
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Mood: Living the dream
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Wow, what an experience!
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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THE FIRST GRAY WHALE CENSUS OF THE YEAR IN OJO DE LIEBRE REPORTS THERE ARE 318 ADULTS AND 119 CALVES FOR A TOTAL OF 437!!! WOOO
HOOOO
Last Jan.6th, there were 236 Adults, 106 calves for a total of 342
http://www.oem.com.mx/elsudcaliforniano/notas/n3251406.htm
[Edited on 1-10-2014 by shari]
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Ateo
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Registered: 7-18-2011
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Seeing those whales up close is a life changing experience. Thanks for taking us out last year. We will be back next time with more people!
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Barbareno
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Registered: 11-4-2007
Location: Vernon BC
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Can't wait for our turn....we be first timer's.
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BajaLuna
Senior Nomad
Posts: 581
Registered: 12-5-2012
Location: Pacific Northwest/Bahia Asuncion
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Mood: groovy
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thanks for the whale report, Shari! And the pictures are awesome!
Love the pic of Izaak walking to the dock. One can feel his sense of excitement and wonder of what awaits him!
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liknbaja127
Nomad
Posts: 463
Registered: 1-17-2012
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Great report Shari, looking so forward to your trip in March
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bajalearner
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Posts: 670
Registered: 8-24-2010
Location: Tijuana
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Mood: in search of more
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Fantastic
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Ken Bondy
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Posts: 3326
Registered: 12-13-2002
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Mood: Mellow
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These are fabulous hermana!!!
carpe diem!
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churro
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Posts: 195
Registered: 5-6-2013
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Nice report and photos Shari, my wife and I will definitely need to go on one of your tours next year. I will need to plan a Baja trip around one of
your whale tours.
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BajaLucy
Junior Nomad
Posts: 61
Registered: 12-6-2012
Location: Some place around Baja
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Mood: {BajaTime}
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Thanks for posting pix Shari Your nieto looks muy guapo saludos desde Socal-Ca
Hasta la proxima,
In a world where You can Be Anything Be Yourself
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shari
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Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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thank you all...we are so stoked for this season's trips and look forward to gazing into the whale's eyes with many of you soon.
We till have seats available on several trips and will also have a full time camp set up at the inner lagoon ejido campground if you want to stop in
and visit.
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woody with a view
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Posts: 15939
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Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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if you've never been, check out one of Shari's trips. very educational and the whales are a bonus!
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CakedecT
Junior Nomad
Posts: 29
Registered: 1-28-2014
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How is the road to the campground for a 2wd car? Do we need reservations at the campground?
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shari
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Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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it is fine...I drive my little Ford Contour Sport out there all the time...there are a couple sandy spots on the edges you can avoid and most of it is
well graded. No you dont need reservations to camp and there are lots of palapas. But if there is one you especially want, you can reserve it...I can
do it for you if you like or give you the phone number of their office.
Tomorrow we will be sniffing whale breath!
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Udo
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Superb photos, as always, Shari!
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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Geo_Skip
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Registered: 5-15-2009
Location: Alta California and......../
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Astounding Shari. the Photo of Eyezak's eye looking up is a sight of a mind reaching across a physical boundary to make contact with another mind.
You draw the most incredible experiences to you like magic.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Ateo
Seeing those whales up close is a life changing experience. Thanks for taking us out last year. We will be back next time with more people!
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So very true.
I can't recall the number of folks I've encountered who went to Sea World, and believe they were in heaven. I've talked to many about the incredible
difference they will encounter by getting off their fat butts and driving a bit in order to join these magnificent creatures on their terms. There is
nothing like it.
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CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
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| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
On January 6th, my daughter Sirena, her husband Adrian and my 3 year old grandson Izaak set out to Ojo de Liebre calving lagoon near Guerrero Negro,
more than excited to see some of our old whale friends again. Izaak couldnt wait and ran down to climb aboard the panga named after his Mama!
We were curious to find out how many whales were in the lagoon as reports from California indicated that the southern migration was much earlier this
season. Whale spotters at Point Vicente in Rancho Palos Verdes counted 364 gray whales heading south to Baja California in December, whereas only 182
were counted during the same period in 2012. The record count is far higher than in 2010, when observers saw just 38 gray whales in December.
Our first day on the water was a beauty and as expected we saw more whales in the lagoon than ever before at this early date. We estimated seeing
about 30-40 whales in the very inner lagoon, half of them with newborn calves. Many of the mothers were sleeping after their long migration and
childbirth and the huge pregnant females were just lounging around waiting, often accompanied by another adult whale.
We were particularly looking for whales in labor and found one we thought may be giving birth as she was lifting her head out of the water on every
breath which is abnormal. We stayed with this whale about 15 minutes to photo identify it and noted that it’s breathing was unusual as she was
chortling at every exhale as if she was having respiratory problems. I hope it is just a cold and she survives.
We observed 3 different “nursing groups” with several cow/calf pairs together in an area whose calves are about the same age. Each group often has
what I think is an elder grandmother present to watch over the new families.
When we stopped to meet an adult pair, they immediately turned towards our panga and came over to check us out. As is the custom, they circled the
boat a few times and passed underneath us as they got to know us.
When they were satisfied we weren’t a threat, they came right up to the boat and turned over on their side to gaze into our eyes. My grandson was
thrilled and asked if the whale was going to touch him!
They didn’t mind a little chin rub while they watched us and we all had a chance to make physical contact with the friendlier of the two whales who
seemed very relaxed and accustomed to humans.
This whale we have named Eyezak as she spent such a long time looking into Izaak’s eyes.
The whales stayed with us for about an hour after which we had to leave them and they followed us a ways wanting to hang out longer!
It was a wonderful omen for the season to begin with such a magical encounter. |
All great photos, but I wuv the last one. It almost looks like a piece of art work made from glass
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
- Albert Einstein
Follow Cortez Blue
www.cortezblue.com
We put the FUNK in disFUNKtion |
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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I will never forget those moments when this whale gazed at Izaak for soooo long. Often you will see them scanning the faces back and forth with their
eyes but this whale just stared at him!
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