The Gulf of California also called the Sea of Cortez is well known to be one of the best places in the world to do whale watching during the winter months (from November to March). However, in our past expeditions during this summer, we have witnessed countless species of whales and toothed whales!
From the end of April to June, we can expect to see the giants of the ocean, Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) and Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus)! Most of these blue whales that cross the main channels of the Sea of Cortez are traveling with their calves!
We have also spotted pods of orcas (Orcinus orca) during the summer, composed of three or up to eleven members of the family! We have been extremely lucky to see them very close hunting dolphins, sea turtles, and even ocean sunfish!
We have also had rare and exciting encounters with sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), from May to August.
They make one of our favorite whale watching experiences, since they travel in massive groups (called units), composed of about a dozen adult females, and their offspring. With our scouting airplane, we have counted more than eighty individuals at the same time crossing the channels of the Sea of Cortez.
Other exciting sightings include Bryde whales (Balaenoptera edeni), Sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis), and big pods of pilot whales (Globicephala), where we have counted around fifty individuals at the same time socializing!
- Naturalist Scarlett Mayorga
