El Barril, Canal de Soledad, and Isla Magdalena, 2/1/2023, National Geographic Sea Bird
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Bird
Baja California
We enjoyed two different aspects of Isla Magdalena today. First, the bay created by this island was our target for water exploration. We used kayaks, standup paddleboards, and Zodiacs. The next aspect was terra firma, as we hiked through and across the dunes to the Pacific Ocean.
Born in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Linda and her Air Force family moved extensively throughout the U.S. when she was a child. Linda continues to travel and explore a broader spectrum of the world as a naturalist with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geogr...
We took full advantage of the beautiful weather today and went whale watching in both the morning and the afternoon. Our lovely pangueros picked us up bright and early, and we set out for a day full of gray whales. Here to breed and give birth to calves, these gray whales have a reputation for getting incredibly close to boats. We observed spy-hopping and breaching. It was a special day in the lagoon of Magdalena Bay.
Walks in the desert can hold a plethora of surprises, and today was no exception. From clusters of scarlet Palo Adan flowers, the gems of the morning, to purple and white striped passion flowers. The numerous fruits on the vine attested to a series of flowers earlier this month. A diminutive bird, the verdin, was also interested in the Palo Adan flowers. The verdin’s short beak cannot reach the nectar, so this bird approaches the base of the flower, nips it open, and takes a nectar reward; pollination of the flower is thwarted in this thievery. The exoskeleton of a tarantula was found under the scrub, an indication of a spider that has molted and grown a bit bigger. At the end of the trail, we were all rewarded with a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean. Good things come to those who venture outdoors.
Today we woke up in the northernmost part of Magdalena Bay. In the morning, we went whale watching at Boca de la Soledad, where we came across a mother and calf. Later, we went to Estero Chivo at high tide, where we observed a variety of birds. We were particularly interested in the numerous shorebirds, egrets, and herons. We raised anchor to continue our day. While transiting Hull Canal, we spotted bow-riding bottlenose dolphins. National Geographic Sea Bird set anchor in front of Magdalena Island. The wind was blowing, causing the dunes to come alive. After walking among dunes and desert plants, we arrived at the Pacific coast of Magdalena Island. We enjoyed walking along the beach and observing various shells, snails, and sand dollars. In the distance, we spotted the carcass of a beached gray whale and contemplated both life and death. These animals begin their lives on the coast of Mexico, and their cycle also ends here.
