Bahia Magdalena
Through the night and into the morning, rough seas of the Pacific carried us north to Bahia Magdalena. It was as if we couldn’t shake loose the excitement of days past. As the bow crashed down into the troughs between waves, migratory flocks of phalaropes fluttered past. It is amazing to think that these tiny birds were on their way to Alaska! A tropic bird even had the courtesy to pay us a visit. Why shouldn’t the excitement end? Why not add another species to our bird list?
As we rounded the northern point of Isla Margarita and into Bahia Magdelana things wound down and the peace for which the Pacific was named finally triumphed. Friends quietly conversed on the bow. Our camaraderie, the warmth of the sun, and the calm seas were enough for us to appreciate this last day in beautiful Baja California. But as a reminder that nature is never without excitement, a fleeting pod of white sided dolphins passed us by. Gee, what other new species can we add to our list?
Peace gave way to a sense of freedom after we landed on the dunes of Isla Magdalena. Many of us wandered across the sandy expanse on our own. Others joined naturalists to soak up some last tidbits of their vast knowledge. Green vegetation and flowers everywhere were pronouncements that an El Nino is indeed a time to celebrate if you are a plant.
Delicate tracks dotting the fine dry sand told other amazing stories. White footed mice, coyotes and lizards are evidence of rich animal communities. And the land itself came to life at sunset as each wave in the sand was accentuated with shadow and highlighted in hues of pinks and yellows.
This is truly a trip to remember!
