Bahia Magdalena
During the night we sailed north in a calm Pacific Ocean for Bahia Magdalena. As we made for the entrance into the bay, spouts of grey whales appeared all around the ship. Once an area for whaling ships to hunt whales in sheltered waters, now the narrow lagoons provide safe waters for grey whales to breed and give birth.
Late in the morning we went ashore on Isla Magdalena and trekked across the dunes to Bahia Santa Maria. Once on the Pacific side we could see where winds and tides had deposited bleached treasures. People were able to rearticulate the spine of a California sea lion and inspect the carapace of a sea turtle. Big pen shells and hundreds of sand dollars dominated the high tide line. Some folks even ventured into the Pacific for a rejuvenating swim.
During the afternoon we sailed north in the Hull Canal. Mangroves and mudflats surrounded the ship. And the birds! The shores were rich with all sorts of sandpipers and tree branches bent under the weight of pelicans, cormorants, and long-legged waders. A few groups of brant paddled over the eelgrass, their preferred winter forage, and at one point three osprey circled within view, wheeling in unison. It’s remarkable to be able to view these birds, eye level with roosts and perches, so intimately from the bow of our ship.
We dropped anchor near Boca de Soledad, eyeing the waters and anticipating tomorrow’s outings, when we will set off by Zodiac to see what whales have arrived after their long swim south from the Bering Sea.
During the night we sailed north in a calm Pacific Ocean for Bahia Magdalena. As we made for the entrance into the bay, spouts of grey whales appeared all around the ship. Once an area for whaling ships to hunt whales in sheltered waters, now the narrow lagoons provide safe waters for grey whales to breed and give birth.
Late in the morning we went ashore on Isla Magdalena and trekked across the dunes to Bahia Santa Maria. Once on the Pacific side we could see where winds and tides had deposited bleached treasures. People were able to rearticulate the spine of a California sea lion and inspect the carapace of a sea turtle. Big pen shells and hundreds of sand dollars dominated the high tide line. Some folks even ventured into the Pacific for a rejuvenating swim.
During the afternoon we sailed north in the Hull Canal. Mangroves and mudflats surrounded the ship. And the birds! The shores were rich with all sorts of sandpipers and tree branches bent under the weight of pelicans, cormorants, and long-legged waders. A few groups of brant paddled over the eelgrass, their preferred winter forage, and at one point three osprey circled within view, wheeling in unison. It’s remarkable to be able to view these birds, eye level with roosts and perches, so intimately from the bow of our ship.
We dropped anchor near Boca de Soledad, eyeing the waters and anticipating tomorrow’s outings, when we will set off by Zodiac to see what whales have arrived after their long swim south from the Bering Sea.
