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The waters surrounding Baja California and the Sea of Cortez are home to one of the richest collections of marine life in the world.
Throughout decades of guiding expeditions in these waters, Keith Jones has observed a wide variety of whales, dolphins, seabirds, and marine mammals migrating through the region. The changing ocean temperatures and seasonal migrations bring different species into Baja’s waters throughout the year.
The Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California, supports large populations of cetaceans, including blue whales, finback whales, gray whales, humpback whales, dolphins, sperm whales, and orcas.
Gray whales remain at the center of Keith’s work and travels.
Each autumn, gray whales begin their long migration south from the cold northern waters of the Bering Sea and the Arctic coastline. By winter, many arrive in the protected lagoons of Baja California, where mothers give birth and calves spend their first weeks in sheltered waters.
Keith has spent years observing gray whale behavior in Laguna Ojo de Liebre and nearby lagoons, documenting:
Gray whales are known for their curiosity around boats and are often considered among the most approachable whale species in the world.
Blue whales are the largest animals ever known to have lived on earth.
Since 2004, Keith has led blue whale expeditions into the Sea of Cortez near Loreto, Baja California Sur, where blue whales migrate during winter months.
These whales can reach lengths of nearly 100 feet and weigh up to 160 tons. Their hearts alone may weigh nearly 1,000 pounds.
Winter populations near Loreto are generally estimated between 10 and 20 adult blue whales each season.
One whale frequently encountered over the years became especially memorable.
One of the blue whales Keith followed for years was a whale known as Calabaza.
Named by marine researcher Fernando Arcas, Calabaza became identifiable through the distinctive scar pattern on his tail. Researchers documented sightings of this whale in multiple regions, including:
Keith described repeated encounters with Calabaza during blue whale expeditions offshore of Loreto, often observing the whale feeding and diving continuously throughout the encounters.
Finback whales, also called fin whales, are the second largest whales in the world. They are commonly seen in the Sea of Cortez alongside blue whales during winter months.
During a single March 2011 expedition near Loreto, Keith’s group encountered:
Finbacks are powerful swimmers and are frequently observed traveling and feeding in small groups.
Humpback whales also migrate through Baja waters and are occasionally encountered during offshore whale expeditions.
Known for their acrobatic behavior, humpbacks are among the species most associated with breaching and surface activity.
Keith documented encounters with humpbacks during blue whale expeditions in the Sea of Cortez, including one whale observed carrying fishing net entanglement around its tail.
One of the most dramatic whale behaviors is breaching — when a whale launches its body out of the water before crashing back onto the surface.
After years of observing gray whales in Baja lagoons, Keith developed extensive notes and theories regarding breaching behavior.
His observations included:
These observations were gathered over years of nearly daily whale encounters during migration seasons in Laguna Ojo de Liebre.
The Sea of Cortez supports large populations of dolphins, often encountered in pods numbering in the hundreds.
Other marine mammals and wildlife commonly seen throughout Baja include:
The region is also famous for:
For decades, the waters surrounding Baja California have provided Keith Jones with opportunities to observe some of the world’s largest and most remarkable marine animals in their natural environment.
The migrations of whales through the Sea of Cortez and the Baja lagoons continue to shape the stories, expeditions, and wildlife encounters that define Grey Whale today.
The ultimate whale watching trip with intimate gray whale encounters and unforgettable shore-side adventures.
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