Walking with Whales II

Hearing the whales

“Long time ago I read, in an article from an old natural history magazine, that Inuits –in the Arctic- have a place were they go “to hear the whales…” Seated on the pebble beach -located only a few kilometers from the city of Puerto Madryn, in Patagonia- I remembered that article and smiled grateful. The Southern Right Whales swim in front of me only a few meters from the coast. I can see their evolutions, their behavior, hear their voices and –also occasionally- smell their breath…”

(From Dinosaurios “Relatos y Sueños de un Guardafauna by Carlos A. Passera)

Last year I wrote in this blog a post called “Walking with Whales”. Again I feel the need to share a bit of that incredible experience of being so intimate with the whales. Nothing, photos or descriptions, can explain the privilege of that incomparable rendezvous with them. But let me try again. Since April to end of October we go almost every day to the beach called El Doradillo –distant only 17 kilometers from the city of Puerto Madryn- to enjoy the gentle giants: the Southern Right Whales. Year after year the feelings are the same: astonishment, fascination, harmony and gratitude… Even though we are enormouslly privileged to rise every morning and see the whales through the window of our home in the city, and spy them at any time during the day on our way to the bank or doing shopping or driving to work, going to El Doradillo is a balsam.

Not one or two whales living freely their lives, no, dozens of them pass by in front of the people, no further than 5 to 10 meters from the shore. Nursing their calves, mating, breaching, lob tailing, doing –not more and surely not less- than living their own life.

Enjoy the photographs.
Carlos & Carol Passera Photos: Carlos & Carol Whale season at Peninsula Valdes: End of April to end of November; At El Doradillo area and from Puerto Madryn waterfront end of April to end of September.

PEREGRINE Falcon

Our visitor

This years regular visitor is a young Peregrine falcon, in this picture we took from our window 10 days ago, you can see it is already molting to adult plumage. Peregrine falcons are sexually mature at the end of their first year of life but they tend to reproduce between the age of two and three. The male courtship flight consists of flying in a series of spirals forming an eight shape and he offers his female prey as a gift. They mate for life and return to the same nest year after year. It nests on shelves on cliffs; lay between 2 and 4 creamy colored eggs. The female incubates the eggs for a month; the male provides the female and chicks with food.

I have watched a peregrine falcon attack and eat a Crested Duck but the one nesting near Puerto Madryn feed on seabirds, such as South American Terns and Rock Doves which abound in the city. This bird likes to perch on the corner of our terrace and we feel our heart stop when we are lucky enough to be at home when it does stop by. We also want to share the beautiful sunset and moons we get to see from our home. Carol & Carlos Passera