Boca de Soledad
At dawn a cool onshore breeze kept the usual morning fog at bay, making ideal conditions to take our Zodiacs far out into the Boca or ‘mouth of solitude’ in search of California gray whales. Out near the roaring breakers we found a number of single adult and juvenile whales and several cow/calf pairs. At this point in the season, most calves are six to seven weeks old and have nearly doubled their birth weight of 1,000 pounds. Most are almost strong enough and large enough to begin the long swim to the far north that will end at their arctic feeding grounds in the Chukchi and Bering Seas.
Many of these migratory whales have already departed Magdalena Bay and begun moving up the coast. Once outside the protection of the breakers, the young whales are especially susceptible to predation by killer whales and great white sharks. One of the interesting defensive behaviors they have developed is called ‘snorkeling.’ The whales will ‘hide’ in kelp forests and breathe shallow breaths. If all goes well they will not be discovered by marauding pods of transient killer whales.
The north end of Isla Magdalena offers one of the finest beaches anywhere on the planet, and many of us stretched our legs there today. Walking the shell-strewn sand at the water’s edge is always a delight, and wandering through the dunes can bring all sorts of surprises; from delicate wildflowers to wild jackrabbits. Sometimes the coyotes sing from their hideout in the mangroves while above them the nesting cormorants make soft cooing sounds.
Tonight we are celebrating our good fortune with a Mexican fiesta on board the National Geographic Sea Lion and our own ‘Coyotes de Magdalena’ are singing some of the beautiful folk songs of this magical country.
At dawn a cool onshore breeze kept the usual morning fog at bay, making ideal conditions to take our Zodiacs far out into the Boca or ‘mouth of solitude’ in search of California gray whales. Out near the roaring breakers we found a number of single adult and juvenile whales and several cow/calf pairs. At this point in the season, most calves are six to seven weeks old and have nearly doubled their birth weight of 1,000 pounds. Most are almost strong enough and large enough to begin the long swim to the far north that will end at their arctic feeding grounds in the Chukchi and Bering Seas.
Many of these migratory whales have already departed Magdalena Bay and begun moving up the coast. Once outside the protection of the breakers, the young whales are especially susceptible to predation by killer whales and great white sharks. One of the interesting defensive behaviors they have developed is called ‘snorkeling.’ The whales will ‘hide’ in kelp forests and breathe shallow breaths. If all goes well they will not be discovered by marauding pods of transient killer whales.
The north end of Isla Magdalena offers one of the finest beaches anywhere on the planet, and many of us stretched our legs there today. Walking the shell-strewn sand at the water’s edge is always a delight, and wandering through the dunes can bring all sorts of surprises; from delicate wildflowers to wild jackrabbits. Sometimes the coyotes sing from their hideout in the mangroves while above them the nesting cormorants make soft cooing sounds.
Tonight we are celebrating our good fortune with a Mexican fiesta on board the National Geographic Sea Lion and our own ‘Coyotes de Magdalena’ are singing some of the beautiful folk songs of this magical country.
