We were up just before 6 and made our trek to the loos and washrooms before heading to the Palapa - general meeting and eating area - for a much needed coffee and cold breakfast of fruit and yogurt with the hot breakfast arriving at 8 am - scrambled eggs, beans and tortillas. Lots of discussions were going on as people got to know each other which was lovely.
After breakfast we had to get a wiggle on as all the 4 eco camps were full the guides wanted to be off to the designated whale watching area at the head of the lagoon by 0845 as it could be busy ( but it wasn't noticeably). First we had to have a wrist band on and find a life jacket that fitted - then we got ourselves into groups and headed off to get in the small boats with a captain and guide. We were with Bob and Jan our cabin neighbours, and Malcolm and Debra who we met the first day and who live just over the border in Bishops Stortford, Essex.
The wind had dropped from last night and the lagoon was flat just like a mill pond. In the distance we could see thousands of seabirds feeding on what must have been a large shoal of fish - double crested and Brandt's cormorants, pacific brown pelicans, and a variety of gulls. We could also see dolphins, sea-lions and whales ( the latter were not feeding but their blows and backs were clear to see) It was an amazing sight and even more amazing when Mark Carwardine said it was the first time he had seen it in the lagoon in his 25 years of coming here!
We continued on and saw whales to the left and right of us some moving quickly with a purpose, some in twos probably courting --apparently the males help each other as the males are not in competition, only the sperm is, the females are impregnated several times by different males and the strongest sperm wins! - others were mothers and calves. We were rewarded by one mother and calf staying with the boats for ages - she turned on her back and seemingly cuddled the boat with a flipper either side, almost lifting it out of the water, and encouraging her tummy to be tickled. She pushed the boats and rubbed along the sides - it was an amazing encounter.
This morning really spoilt us as the encounter was probably as good as it gets but only time will tell.
Back at camp we had a coffee followed by a much needed basic photographic workshop led by Mark where I learnt about apertures and shutter speeds and now know what to set my camera on. After lunch we had a short rest before heading for our next whale watch - the wind had now got up and it was much rougher - we saw lots of whales but nothing like this morning so I started to photograph the birds on the sandbank, the royal terns, pacific brown pelicans and the long lines of cormorants gliding across the surface.
90 minutes soon went by and we were back in dock.
We had signed for a shower which we shared to save water.
Refreshed and desalinated we headed to the Palapa for happy hour and a margareta; I sat with Chris and we worked out the waders we had spotted in the lagoon - the new addition was a short billed dowitcher which we identified from my photographs.
Tonight Mark talked about Grey Whales part 1 (part 2 tomorrow!) Another early night lights off at 2120 - after writing some of my blog!