Today was again a similar format - except we had an early lunch followed by a beach walk, and no lecture as it was an exceptionally low tide. In the evening we saw the most exceptional sunset and in the east there was a rainbow - it was an amazing sight and although we had had a cool and cloudy day we had had no rain so the rainbow was an interesting phenomena - why ?
In the morning whale watch we had a brief interaction with a mum and calf, with the mum almost putting her head on the boat to be touched but in the afternoon there were several whales around but none coming close albeit another boat was lucky. The highlight of the afternoon was as we went out to the whale watching area seeing a peregrine falcon take a willet; it took him several swoops to finish the job but eventually it flew off with the doomed bird! Unusually here the osprey not only take fish but also take birds.
New birds today included the buffle head and merganser ( both ducks) and identifying the plovers I saw yesterday as Wilson's plover.
The beach walk exposed red octopus, giant clams, a small sting ray, sponges and a crab with a bristle starfish on it's back.
In the evening Ruby talked about how whale watching started in this area and how as a result of one mans friendly encounter the minds of the locals slowly changed and they stopped fearing the grey whale. Tourism has transformed their lives - particularly the funding that has enabled them to go to school - indeed their first Doctor just graduated in Cuba. The grey whale has made a significant difference and they are resolved to protect it.
After rousing applause for Ruby, Mark gave a lecture on the wildlife photographer of the year competition which he had chaired for 7 years but left when they allowed photographs to be manipulated - he is a real man of principle - it's nice to meet him and know that men like him still exist!!
(Today's photo is of a big mother whale showing her blowhole and the barnacles that only live on grey whales.)