Las Animas //
We welcome the day with bird watching as the sun rises. I’ve never had much interest in birds until lately and I can’t help but wonder if this is one of the tell-tale signs of getting older. Regardless, I enjoy spotting various species and learning from Josh what each one is. Egrets, herons, boobies, oyster catchers.
After we all conclude cooking breakfast at our respective outdoor kitchens, honey bees descend upon us. This was an issue we contended with in the spring here in Baja and had hopes of it being better given the time of year. Unfortunately, no such luck. With dozens of bees covering every surface that could possibly provide fresh water, we pack up much of camp in hopes of some reprieve. The effort helps until Mark is drinking a beer later in the afternoon and a bee dives right inside his can, we realize we can’t let our guard down.
Mark, Josh, and Hannah go out on the water while Darci and I hang back to each work on photo editing. As sunset approaches Mark prepares a pork loin for dinner that we share with the group; a thank you to Josh & Darci for providing Thanksgiving dinner. Beneath the warm glow of our string lights, conversation flows for hours with the gentle lapping of waves in the background.
Hours later and in a deep sleep Mark wakes me up “Michele, there’s bioluminescence”. I’m not one to wake easily but the word bioluminescence is all I need to hear. I walk out to the water’s edge and with each breaking wave, the crest of the wave glows, shimmers, and twinkles in bright celestial blue light. This incredible display of nature, caused by an algae bloom of plankton, is so magical it feels like I’m dreaming. Josh says it feels like the aurora borealis of the sea and I completely agree. For a moment I have the inclination to be out on the water lying on our paddle board, watching this phenomenon more closely. But with my eyelids beginning to close again I instead turn the opposite direction and return to bed.
As if this place didn’t feel like pure magic already, it continues to deliver in ways I could never predict.
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Sounds like you had a nice Thanksgiving. I hope the bee issue goes away! The bioluminescence sounds amazing! That would definitely be worth getting up in the middle of the night to see!
The bioluminescence was incredible!
Michelle, bird watching isn’t an age thing, but a new level of awareness of the intriguing levels of nature around you! At home, where deer are my love to watch, enter 3 coyotes to the mix. Not fond of this, in my hiking space, but interesting to see their movements and interactions with the nature and surroundings. New level of learning! And learning is what I love to do every single day! As you and Mark do and share in your travels! Be safe!
Patti, I love that perspective, thank you for saying that. We certainly do love observing our surroundings, as well as learning every day.
Thanks so much for following along with our travels and for your kind words!
It’s true that most birders you see have lots of wrinkles & wear too much nylon.
Get Cornell’s Merlin app and download Mexico- you will like – has vocalizations as well as photos & rangemaps
Thanks for the recommendation Will!
Just call yourself an amateur ornithologist … it sounds fancier than birder 🤣. Will is spot on with the Merlin app for sure. I’ve been using it for a few years now and love it 👍
I need to get that app!