Beautiful sand dunes filled with diverse salt-water resistant plants, patches of intricate mangroves, and animals like lizards, beetles, larks and hundreds of seabirds around them were all seen in the morning while we hiked on the long, narrow Magdalena Island. Besides the plethora of life of the desert, we also found literally tons of shells in natural and man-made deposits called middens, mute eyewitnesses of the ancient presence of humans in that harsh environment. Some carcasses of dolphins, seabirds, and sea turtles that have completed their life cycle, rested on the long and lonely beach on the Pacific side of the island. And from the lagoon to the Pacific, our enthusiastic guests and naturalists explored and enjoyed the enormous dunes, produced by the endless blowing of the wind, and the vastness and solitude of the whole environment. But this was just one half of what happened today while the National Geographic Sea Bird laid anchored in the quiet water of this coastal lagoon. At different times we explored the waters aboard our to find the gray whales, our most important target today.
Up to 30 different pairs of mother and calf were seen throughout the day. Most babies were about three to four weeks of age, or older, and were very active, swimming and diving around their mothers’ backs, or nursing, spinning, and fluking. Some of the mothers were not interested in interacting with guests and naturalists, and took their babies away from us. But others stayed with us, and some cows came to play with us, and even allowed to touch them! It just was a matter of streching the arms and hands out! Tears, smiles, foolish words and all types of gestures were seen and heard during this excursion, as the happy consequence of these encounters with the grey, gentle giants.
After all of the excitement, we came back to the ship for hot showers and cocktails. Los Coyotes de Magdalena, a local group of musicians, performed for us and sang Mexican love songs. An abundant, generously served dinner, was available, and finished with a delicious Tres Leches cake to celebrate our successful day of gray whale watching at Magdalena lagoon.
