As we boarded the pangas in Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos we were met with glassy calm waters. A thin layer of wispy fog gave the mangrove-lined channels an ethereal look. We set out to look for wildlife at the northern limit of the Bahia Magdalena complex, which is known as a gray whale wintering area and is also home to myriad birds, mangrove forests, and other wildlife. A female gray whale and her newborn calf frolicked just a few hundred meters from the docks. Mom rested while her calf continuously spyhopped and rolled through the tranquil water. As we moved further out toward the mouth of the bay, we were surrounded by curious bottlenose dolphins, jumping and playing in our wake. Low tide set the table for endless shorebirds grabbing bites in the intertidal mudflats.
After a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, we headed back out on the water to explore the mangroves. We wound through narrow channels to a small-scale sustainable oyster farm. There we learned about the process of growing oysters in these pristine waters and sampled the delicious seafood, as fresh as it comes. On our way out we spied on coyotes foraging in the intertidal; we also observed great egrets, white ibises, and American oystercatchers. It was a day filled with natural beauty and wildlife galore.
