Would you be excited to have a rattlesnake in your yard? How about a fox? Does standing on your deck watching whales cavort in the ocean sound good to you? If you answered yes to these questions, you won’t be disappointed with my photos of Baja wildlife I’ve come to know.

We’ve been here almost six years and I’ve only seen two rattlesnakes. One of them was in my yard (see below), but we quickly snapped him (or her) up and took him (or her) for a ride to where we’d seen the other rattler hanging out. This is about a mile from our house. Our “visitor” is the only snake that’s been in our yard (that I know of). I believe snakes are just as afraid of humans as humans are of snakes.

 

The next critter visited our house when we lived on a hill overlooking the ocean. Foxy wasn’t feeling very well and after he went away we unfortunately witnessed the buzzards eating him for lunch. (Sorry.) But not before he posed ever-so-nicely for a snapshot.

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Speaking of buzzards, they like to spread their wings

allowing the sun to warm them up

for their day of flying in search of food.

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I can’t imagine being in Baja without donkeys. These are all from the East Cape. Cute and always happy to eat the scraps that the campers leave for them. (Far away from camp though…don’t want that donkey poo by your campsite).

Is that one on the right pregnant?

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Leaving land for a minute we find sea lions napping together. Such cuddling!

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Snorkeling just outside La Paz we came across some small mantas doing water ballet.

 

Not far from the mantas, this whale shark was feeding when we got this photo. Thank goodness they don’t eat people.

In fact they eat the smallest creature in the water.

These are amazingly large, but they are juveniles. No matter!

They  made my heart sing (and beat fast) as I swam with them.

We weren’t the only ones swimming with the whale sharks.

These fish like to stay close to the big guys. Perhaps for protection?

I think swimming with the sea lions was as big a thrill for me as were the whale sharks and rays.

They are playful and graceful and so much fun to watch.

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Rays also jump. I focused on them in a different blog, “Jumping Rays…Why do They Jump?”

The rays have been doing a lot of jumping lately.

I was lucky enough to photograph them on my morning beach walk.

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Now here’s a guy I could do without. In fact, Mr. Scorpion was at my neighbor’s house, not mine. Whew.

We have to be careful when walking around outside at night. Wearing shoes is a good idea.

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This bat was also at the neighbor’s house.

The neighbor only lives there part-time and lots of critters visit when nobody’s home.

He stuck around (pun intended) for a couple days and then he went back to his bat cave I guess.

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This is an oyster catcher. I never expected to see one in Baja.

I thought they were only in the Pacific Northwest.

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Very common is the pelican. They are quite fascinating to watch. Good fishermen.

The pelican below was doing its fishing on the East Cape.

Making a splash!

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Along highways and like here in the mountains, you always find goats grazing.

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There are many horses in the mountains.

Sadly, this one succumbed to death and the vultures are getting a meal.

Circle of Life!

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According to what we’ve heard and read, this bird, a black throated magpie jay, 

is not found in Baja. And yet we saw this one in San Vicente in the Sierra Lagunas.

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The blue heron has a wide range. This regal bird was hanging out just outside La Paz.

Another bird with a wide range is the osprey or fish eagle.

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Watching whales cavort in the water in front of our house

is one of the biggest thrills about living here.

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I do run across dead creatures on the shore from time to time.

Look at this eel’s eye and teeth.

Sea birds come along and eat the eyeballs. Vultures will clean up the rest.

Next is a dolphin washed up on shore.

I didn’t photograph the whole body. Didn’t want to gross you out.

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Closer to home there are familiar, friendly birds (house finch and orioles) who come to eat and nest.

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I couldn’t resist including the dragonfly. His wings are exquisite, don’t you agree?

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Although I have done entire entries on turtles, I am including a few photos

here of the turtles I’ve witnessed heading to the ocean after hatching

on the beach in front of our house.

The excitement of seeing this phenomenon never gets old.

A little beach glass and a shell makes a cute turtle.

The real thing is much better. These guys were heading down to the water.

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Thanks for coming along as I shared Baja wildlife I’ve come to know!