Boca de la Soledad, Magdalena Lagoon
Today we finally had the opportunity of loading our Zodiac boats for whale watching activities in Boca de la Soledad, or Mouth of the Solitude, at the northernmost tip of the Magdalena Lagoon, where we anchored last night. The day was gray and cloudy but wonderful and warm. Our friends from Lopez Mateos town, holders of the permits for the whale watching, joined us right after breakfast.
We began exploring the very entrance to the lagoon where we immediately observed blows all around. To observe gray whales properly, we had to be very patient in order to understand what they were doing and foresee what they would be doing. At any given moment, the different Zodiac boats joined different pairs of cows and calves that moved towards the channel. The babies were of different ages, ranging from perhaps one week old up to three or four weeks old, according to their sizes. Some were playful, but others shy and elusive. The protective mothers were not prepared for allowing the calves to approach the boats and be friendly. But in general, they seemed calm and confident because they stayed long periods of time with every boat. The cows even looked as if they were feeding the calves, or playing with them. In between these ever-lasting moments, there were single whales traveling fast, which caught our attention. These singles were probably seeking mates. Many times, some of these whales spy hopped or breached to our enjoyment.
In the afternoon we repeated the experience, but combined the whale watching with pleasant walks on the magnificent, gold-colored sand dunes of Magdalena Island. Thousands of tracks from coyotes, jackrabbits, hermit crabs, birds and mice were found everywhere as evidence of their presence, and we followed them for short distances. Birds like cormorants, great blue herons and scrub jays were seen among the mangroves. Some of our guests and Naturalists, reliving child-like behaviors a long time forgotten, jumped from the highest dunes down the slope, and climbed back up again.
A beautiful sunset framed the end of a great day with the great Gray whales.
Today we finally had the opportunity of loading our Zodiac boats for whale watching activities in Boca de la Soledad, or Mouth of the Solitude, at the northernmost tip of the Magdalena Lagoon, where we anchored last night. The day was gray and cloudy but wonderful and warm. Our friends from Lopez Mateos town, holders of the permits for the whale watching, joined us right after breakfast.
We began exploring the very entrance to the lagoon where we immediately observed blows all around. To observe gray whales properly, we had to be very patient in order to understand what they were doing and foresee what they would be doing. At any given moment, the different Zodiac boats joined different pairs of cows and calves that moved towards the channel. The babies were of different ages, ranging from perhaps one week old up to three or four weeks old, according to their sizes. Some were playful, but others shy and elusive. The protective mothers were not prepared for allowing the calves to approach the boats and be friendly. But in general, they seemed calm and confident because they stayed long periods of time with every boat. The cows even looked as if they were feeding the calves, or playing with them. In between these ever-lasting moments, there were single whales traveling fast, which caught our attention. These singles were probably seeking mates. Many times, some of these whales spy hopped or breached to our enjoyment.
In the afternoon we repeated the experience, but combined the whale watching with pleasant walks on the magnificent, gold-colored sand dunes of Magdalena Island. Thousands of tracks from coyotes, jackrabbits, hermit crabs, birds and mice were found everywhere as evidence of their presence, and we followed them for short distances. Birds like cormorants, great blue herons and scrub jays were seen among the mangroves. Some of our guests and Naturalists, reliving child-like behaviors a long time forgotten, jumped from the highest dunes down the slope, and climbed back up again.
A beautiful sunset framed the end of a great day with the great Gray whales.
