Isla San Jose & Los Gatos, Mainland Baja California, Mexico
Mexico’s islands in the Gulf of California are considered by many a higher equivalent of the Galápagos islands, as these islands have more species and more endemisms . Each one of our islands has endemic plant and animal species. For example, today, Isla San Jose has an endemic rabbit species, as well as an endemic subspecies of the mule deer. Some of the scorpion species on the islands are endemic there too. A good number of turkey vultures were seen perched atop the largest of the columnar cacti and saw a good number of land birds too. Today we hiked at Kelley’s Beach, along a fantastic arroyo (dry river bed), and enjoyed a large number of plants, some of which were flowering. Isla San Jose is a large island, and starting during the 1800’s (1830-1870) more than 600 ship trips were done by US ships from San Francisco to the Yuma Fortress at the confluence of the Gila River. Cargo was moved, but exotic animals were also left behind to roam free on many of the islands. Isla San Jose was also the site of silver mining. This island is also the greenest of all, probably owing to the high mountains. A very notorious darkling beetle was seen eating the meristematic tissues of the cholla, so abundant everywhere.
Later in the afternoon we anchored off Puerto Gato, where the Timbabichi Ranch is located. Here we had kayaking and interesting hikes into the desert. Very attractive here are the fossil sand dunes, of a reddish color, dominating the scenery. Very lively jackrabbits were seen, as well as ground squirrels. The day ended there with a delightful bar-be-cue on the beach, as well as Mexican stories about the creation of the sun and the moon.
Mexico’s islands in the Gulf of California are considered by many a higher equivalent of the Galápagos islands, as these islands have more species and more endemisms . Each one of our islands has endemic plant and animal species. For example, today, Isla San Jose has an endemic rabbit species, as well as an endemic subspecies of the mule deer. Some of the scorpion species on the islands are endemic there too. A good number of turkey vultures were seen perched atop the largest of the columnar cacti and saw a good number of land birds too. Today we hiked at Kelley’s Beach, along a fantastic arroyo (dry river bed), and enjoyed a large number of plants, some of which were flowering. Isla San Jose is a large island, and starting during the 1800’s (1830-1870) more than 600 ship trips were done by US ships from San Francisco to the Yuma Fortress at the confluence of the Gila River. Cargo was moved, but exotic animals were also left behind to roam free on many of the islands. Isla San Jose was also the site of silver mining. This island is also the greenest of all, probably owing to the high mountains. A very notorious darkling beetle was seen eating the meristematic tissues of the cholla, so abundant everywhere.
Later in the afternoon we anchored off Puerto Gato, where the Timbabichi Ranch is located. Here we had kayaking and interesting hikes into the desert. Very attractive here are the fossil sand dunes, of a reddish color, dominating the scenery. Very lively jackrabbits were seen, as well as ground squirrels. The day ended there with a delightful bar-be-cue on the beach, as well as Mexican stories about the creation of the sun and the moon.
