01 – 2008 – Isla San Benitos- ELEPHANT SEALS
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- We arrived after a day and two nights sail. Captain Cindy’s looking excited…… Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Sunrise at Cedros Island Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Cedros at Sunrise Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Isla San Benitos East (between Cedros Island and the Isla San Benitos group) Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- We were greeted by this pair of “fishing dolphins” at our arrival at the anchorage Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Fishing Pangas at the anchorage Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- We landed the dinghy on the beach….Our new wheel system for landing has worked out extremely well Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- The wheels were remade out of stainless steel from the original aluminum and have a quick system for deploying and retrieving our 250 lbs of dinghy to pull it up on the beach. The buildings are the fishing village (you’re seeing about 20 percent of it) in the background Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Just as we landed the dinghy, we realized we had some company Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Male Bull Elephant Seal at the beach landing Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Scott gets as close as he dares. We didn’t want to wake the sleeping giant. This big boy probably weighed well over 1000 lbs. They move amazingly fast on land as well Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- When we first arrived. A family came out to greet us in their panga. They wanted “candy”. Cindy provided them with a healthier snack when we went ashore…..including a little chocolate. Daniel, Damian & Alejandra……… Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- In many places in the “eco” areas of Mexico, we have found these signs explaining the local interests and need for protecting the environment. Unforntunately, the locals don’t always read the signs….. Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- This gives you an idea of life in a fishing village – The outback of Baja…….. Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- A new church was being built. They used the wall of an adjacent house as one wall for the church Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Beach House at Isla San Benitos with Cedros Island in the distance Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- We went for a 5 mile strenous hike up to the top of the mountain at Isla San Benito West to the light house…….Spectacular views Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Cindy with Isla San Benitos Middle and East, with Cedros Island in the distance Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Scott with Isla San Benito Middle, East and Cedros Island in the distance Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- We believe this to be a “Century Palm” which blooms about every 10 years Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Views of Isla San Benitos Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- The last quarter mile of this hike was very steep. Scott was exhausted Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Beach House with Cedros Island in the distance. Anchorage at Isla San Benito West Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- This sign asks for visitors to be respectful of the Elephant Seal colony Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Who’s striking the pose here anyhow? Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Elephant Seal Colony (Group) Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Pup with Mom…. Apparently the pups are born over several months as we saw mostly newborns; but some who were weaned Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- What Mom was communicating, we’ll never know, but she was laying down the law Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Mostly the gals hung together if they didn’t have any pups Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Living large and cute on the beach Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- The alpha males seemed to have one thing on their mind…. Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- After all that hot action, he had to take a cool dip. Maybe she told him to take a cold shower Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Redux……. Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- What I chose not to show in these photos were the fairly high infant mortality rate. Several young pups were on the beach who didn’t make it for one reason or another. Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- We actually saw one elephant seal give birth. The birds cleaned up the delivery room in seconds. Mom seemed confused and was separated from her newborn. She couldn’t seem to get past another mother who thought she was trying to nurse her baby. We hoped the outcome would resolve itself, after an hour it still had not. This may be a common reason for pup loss Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- The mothers had barking voices, the babies sounded like monkeys when they cried out Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Many of the mothers barked at their pups, for the most part, the pups could have cared less. In some cases (as the mothers only had one pup at a time), we thought they might be telling the other pup to go find their own mother Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Though we shot most of these images with a film lens equivalent of a 350mm (we shoot digital with a 1.4 times image enlargement), two or three times in several hours, mom would let us know, we were close enough Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Many of the mothers seemed to be territorial and didn’t want another mother to get too close to her pup Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- The mother on the right thought her personal and pup space was being crowded Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- As you can see, mom (differing from many mammals) seems to have lots of choices for her young to nurse. Mom is just asleep Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Well, mom’s trying to sleep anyway Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Cute Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Newly weaned, this guy was trying see how fast he could reach “Alpha” status Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Enough of you big boy Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Yes, mother would love it…….such a face Isla
- Back off buddy! Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- We were sad to leave Isla San Benitos. The people were nice, the experience unforgettable Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- It’s a tough life for these fishing families. Much welcomed supplies arrived on m/v “San Benito” from Cedros Island. Also, new families taking their turn fishing from the village. The average family stays only a few days to a few months before returning to their homes on Cedros or Isla Natividad (to the south of Cedros Island) Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- These pangas catch my photograhic eye and I never tire of taking their picture. You sort of get a “sense” of each one, a feeling for each boat almost as it were alive and a distinct individual Isla San Benitos – Mexico
- Farewell Islas San Benitos…..We really enjoyed our stay, now on our way……..To Turtle Bay! Isla San Benitos – Mexico