Category: Observing the Reef

During spring/summer of 2021, one of the largest sardine runs in 25 yrs flowed along El Sargento beaches like a river. This was the most significant ecological event I have ever witnessed. Sardines, a food chain building block, transformed the bay into a series of feeding frenzies where marine species and sea birds were benefactors. I produced and initially released a short video in July 2021, called THE RETURN OF THE SARDINES, and then recently released a new one called 2021 A SARDINE RUN TO REMEMBER, using mostly unused footage of this epic return. Check out the videos, documenting much of the action that I witnessed. If you enjoy them, please consider taking time to share, like and subscribe. 1st time I have ever suggested that to viewers. Now, I sound like just another YouTuber! However, YouYube measures those to decide to bury or promote content. Thanks. William desertplayer@hotmail.com

 My Green Jack Friends: this video is a blue Giant Damselfish I visited every trip to this reef, hundreds of times over 5 years… his rock, well trimmed, I called Crewcut Rock. I visited this fish every time, I knew how to find that rock, it was distinct. The surrounding landmarks broke apart, but I could still find it. I can find it today… He partnered with a female about a year and a half ago, she is still there, feeding on this rock, living in the small coral over hang right past it. But he is gone. :(. Watch the video here. William desertplayer@hotmail.com

 The Amazing Grace of Fish: Early in my fish documentation project, I noticed patterns of behavior that a variety of fish share. One is rubbing against the sand. I was intrigued watching how fish propel themselves as they swim. So I focused the camera on those behaviors and made this video. The piano melody that accompanies this video, I heard every morning, filling the music room at Singing Bridge Performance Art Lodge in Cummington, MA. Out the windows, once green leaves, turned red and yellow, then would glide in the wind, landing along banks of the Westfield. Daniel’s melody grew on me. Today, it brings me back to that delightful time visiting New England in the fall. Watch the video! William desertplayer@hotmail.com

Eight Eel Species of Baja. This video introduces eight saltwater eel species living in La Ventana Bay located in the Gulf of California in Baja California Sur, Mexico. There are two eel species I have only seen once over 760 snorkels. Those are the Redsaddled Snake Eel, and the Pacific Snake Eel. The other I rarely see is the Zebra Moray, and when I do see it, it retreats beneath a rock, and stays put for longer than I care to wait. All the rest, not including the Garden Eels I see repeatedly go beneath rocks in search for food. Often a few species of fish can be seen following the eels and waiting for them to reemerge from under the rock or coral. William desertplayer@hotmail.com

If you are swimming or snorkeling, be on the lookout for Portuguese Man O’ War. Monday, May 21st, we had a boat load of them in the water during one tide. The most I have seen. The next day, snorkeled at the same time, but a different tide, back to normal. Just a couple seen during a long distance snorkel. William desertplayer@hotmail.com

This video shows the special relationships fish of difference species share with one another. You can look for these next time you snorkel, which are fun to observe and interesting to learn about.

To learn about the fish that live in La Ventana Bay, visit Observing Baja Coral Reef Fish. 

A video of a rare deep water fish that needs help. Back in late May, I found myself trying to rescue two rare 8-foot, deep-water Oarfish from multiple beachings. I was all alone with no one to assist me. So out of desperation, I swim one out to sea. This is the story of that remarkable day. I still cry when I watch the video. This is the first time, I’ve woven a music score into one of my videos. So be prepared for a different experience with this one. Hope you like it.

Moon Jellyfish have invaded Ventana Bay. Luckily their stings usually aren’t serious and their tentacles are short so you can swim around them without being stung.

Here’s a newer fish video: Snorkeling in Baja. There are many fish vids on my Youtube channel, Observing Baja Coral Reef Fish, Ventana Bay that I have not shared with the Ventana View. I have been documenting life around the reefs of El Sargento, identifying well over a 100 species of fish since Nov. 2017. There still exists tremendous diversity around the reefs. However, the adult fish are scarce, and the sharks along the reefs right by El Sargento, I have never seen one in over 500 snorkels. I understand there is a La Ventana dive shop owner who is working with the local shark fisherman to take tourists to see the sharks out toward Punta Arena.

So if fewer sharks are taken and a tourism industry grows around seeing the sharks, maybe they will return to the reefs where I swim? Let’s hope so. They are an important part of the ecology, as are the sardines, which haven’t returned to the shore where I filmed them last year in one of the largest returns in 25 years. In case you missed it: The Return of the Sardines. It was a magnificent thing to witness, and the video is really a tribute to “life rebounding.”

The footage I share linked below is from between Muertos Bay and Punta Arena. Hope you like it. William

This video shows a symbiotic relationship between Barberfish and Mexican Goatfish. Local resident and Naturalist, Mary Sim pointed this relationship out four years ago, and minutes later I started trying to capture it on video. After hours and hours of footage hitting the cutting room floor, I finally pulled together a few clips to share. This footage was shot at a place I’ve named, “The Barbershop.” Barberfish come there to pick parasites and the Mexican Goatfish will position themselves vertically, communicating a need for parasite cleaning services.