Bahia Magdalena
A beautiful morning in Bahia Magdalena, a multicolored sunrise, a postcard greeting to a new and wonderful day. Since we got out on deck, we could appreciate the sound of grey whales spouting, even if the sun was still behind the mountains, and would not let us see them we could feel the presence of these magnificent creatures. At sunrise they seemed to celebrate a new day by raising their flukes and breaching against the early morning horizon. We traveled south towards “La Entrada” of Magdalena Bay, until we arrived to “El Barril”, a mangrove forest near Isla Magdalena, which is the habitat of a great number of birds and underwater creatures. Our expedition leader decided to take some Zodiacs in for a closer look a this important ecosystem which is the place where many marine organisms complete their life cycle. Mangroves provide nutrients and protection to young organisms during the most critical period of their lives.
Steve and his group were fortunate enough to encounter an aggregation of Bat rays Myliobatis californica, or in Spanish “raya gavilan”, gracefully swimming in one of the channels. These fish are included in the class Elasmobranchii, which means that they are close relatives of the sharks. They are distinct from all bony fishes because their skeletons are composed of cartilage instead of bone. They feed mainly on worms, shrimps, clams, abalone, and crabs, which they crush with their powerful jaws.
As a great finale of the day, at “La Entrada”, we were surrounded by bushy heart shaped blows of countless grey whales who were joyfully exhibiting their flukes.
A beautiful morning in Bahia Magdalena, a multicolored sunrise, a postcard greeting to a new and wonderful day. Since we got out on deck, we could appreciate the sound of grey whales spouting, even if the sun was still behind the mountains, and would not let us see them we could feel the presence of these magnificent creatures. At sunrise they seemed to celebrate a new day by raising their flukes and breaching against the early morning horizon. We traveled south towards “La Entrada” of Magdalena Bay, until we arrived to “El Barril”, a mangrove forest near Isla Magdalena, which is the habitat of a great number of birds and underwater creatures. Our expedition leader decided to take some Zodiacs in for a closer look a this important ecosystem which is the place where many marine organisms complete their life cycle. Mangroves provide nutrients and protection to young organisms during the most critical period of their lives.
Steve and his group were fortunate enough to encounter an aggregation of Bat rays Myliobatis californica, or in Spanish “raya gavilan”, gracefully swimming in one of the channels. These fish are included in the class Elasmobranchii, which means that they are close relatives of the sharks. They are distinct from all bony fishes because their skeletons are composed of cartilage instead of bone. They feed mainly on worms, shrimps, clams, abalone, and crabs, which they crush with their powerful jaws.
As a great finale of the day, at “La Entrada”, we were surrounded by bushy heart shaped blows of countless grey whales who were joyfully exhibiting their flukes.
