Bahia Magdalena
Before sunrise, we were out in our Zodiacs, diligently searching Boca de Soledad, the "mouth of solitude", for California gray whales. And riding out on this morning’s full moon high tide, we were generously rewarded for our steadfastness. Two female whales have entered the channel with their newborn calves. The calves had been born outside Magdalena Bay at the end of the long southern migration these amazing animals undertake annually. Several other solitary whales have come in as well, very likely pregnant females about to birth their young in the relative safety of this beautiful lagoon. The largest calf was very frisky at daybreak, throwing its body halfway out of the water and splashing back down to land near its mother. Out on the horizon, big breakers curled and crashed while lines of brown pelicans skimmed the water near the boats. Everyone had wonderful looks at these interesting whales; the holders of so many ocean mysteries.
Mid-morning we were southbound through Hull Canal toward La Entrada, the entrance to Magdalena Bay and our point of exit into the Pacific Ocean. La Entrada is guarded by immense rocky sentinels of exotic terrane colored deep red and dark purple hues that extend many miles both north and south. We observed several humpback whales nearby as we moved into the gentle swells and the deep ocean water of the Pacific and turned the National Geographic Sea Lion to make our morning appointment with Land’s End, the famed granite arches at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula.
Before sunrise, we were out in our Zodiacs, diligently searching Boca de Soledad, the "mouth of solitude", for California gray whales. And riding out on this morning’s full moon high tide, we were generously rewarded for our steadfastness. Two female whales have entered the channel with their newborn calves. The calves had been born outside Magdalena Bay at the end of the long southern migration these amazing animals undertake annually. Several other solitary whales have come in as well, very likely pregnant females about to birth their young in the relative safety of this beautiful lagoon. The largest calf was very frisky at daybreak, throwing its body halfway out of the water and splashing back down to land near its mother. Out on the horizon, big breakers curled and crashed while lines of brown pelicans skimmed the water near the boats. Everyone had wonderful looks at these interesting whales; the holders of so many ocean mysteries.
Mid-morning we were southbound through Hull Canal toward La Entrada, the entrance to Magdalena Bay and our point of exit into the Pacific Ocean. La Entrada is guarded by immense rocky sentinels of exotic terrane colored deep red and dark purple hues that extend many miles both north and south. We observed several humpback whales nearby as we moved into the gentle swells and the deep ocean water of the Pacific and turned the National Geographic Sea Lion to make our morning appointment with Land’s End, the famed granite arches at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula.
