La Entrada and Hull Canal, Magdalena Bay
Our day started early today as the National Geographic Sea Bird sailed north alongside the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula, and a dramatic lightning storm could be seen a long distance away to the south; a few magnificent frigatebirds and Western gulls followed us as we cruised by Santa Margarita Island.
A few hours later we arrived at the gap between Santa Margarita and Magdalena islands – known as La Entrada – where a small group of Pacific white-sided dolphins and a large number of seabirds congregated; California and Western gulls, together with double-crested cormorants, brown pelicans and magnificent frigatebirds surrounded the ship as she made her way through and entered Magdalena Bay. Almost immediately we discovered the low and bushy blows of numerous gray whales as the deep waters of La Entrada are a favorite playground for adult whales with romantic ideas.
After picking-up our local pilot, Alejandro Camacho, we continued north through a natural waterway known as the Hull Canal; we admired the mangroves and sand dunes on shore and watched numerous birds including Brant geese, marbled godwits, willets and white ibises. Even some coyotes were discovered patrolling the shoreline, looking for something to scavenge.
Eventually we arrived at the area where gray whales congregate at the northern end of Magdalena Bay. As the ship slowly and carefully made her way through the canal we were delighted to watch numerous female gray whales with their babies; their smooth, dark gray bodies seemed tiny compared to those of their mothers as they frolicked around them. Meanwhile, we can’t wait to get the chance to observe them at close quarters during the following days.
