Boca de Soledad, Magdalena Bay
We awoke to gray whales surrounding the Sea Bird and quickly set out in the Zodiacs to observe them up close and personal. The whales were very cooperative, showing many different behaviors including spy hopping and breaching. One calf repeatedly breached and was even witnessed with mud and water streaming out of its mouth, possibly practicing the feeding behavior it will need to survive after it migrates to the arctic waters. It was amazing to witness the close bond between mother and calf as many young rode their mother’s backs and were lifted out of the water. They will continue this bond all the way to Alaska where they will soon travel to reach their summer feeding grounds.
In the afternoon, as the tide was beginning to drop, many of the whales left the more sheltered waters and headed out to the channel leading out to the Pacific Ocean. About twenty mom-calf pairs congregated near the lighthouse area and nosed into the strong current flowing out of the bay. The Zodiacs pulled along side of the pairs and we stayed pointed into the current just as they were. The mothers seem to bring the calves out there to get some practice with stronger currents and some ocean waves, and at times it seems much like a treadmill.
For the period when we weren’t whale watching, much time was spent exploring the vast dunes, beachcombing for treasures, and examining the many birds in the lagoon area near our anchorage. One highlight was an active cormorant rookery with some cormorants returning with nesting material and even a few feeding chicks. Many different wading birds were also observed including herons, egrets, ibis, and plovers. As the hikers returned to the beach with a setting sun behind them, a coyote was found exploring the lifejackets that were placed in its territory.
We awoke to gray whales surrounding the Sea Bird and quickly set out in the Zodiacs to observe them up close and personal. The whales were very cooperative, showing many different behaviors including spy hopping and breaching. One calf repeatedly breached and was even witnessed with mud and water streaming out of its mouth, possibly practicing the feeding behavior it will need to survive after it migrates to the arctic waters. It was amazing to witness the close bond between mother and calf as many young rode their mother’s backs and were lifted out of the water. They will continue this bond all the way to Alaska where they will soon travel to reach their summer feeding grounds.
In the afternoon, as the tide was beginning to drop, many of the whales left the more sheltered waters and headed out to the channel leading out to the Pacific Ocean. About twenty mom-calf pairs congregated near the lighthouse area and nosed into the strong current flowing out of the bay. The Zodiacs pulled along side of the pairs and we stayed pointed into the current just as they were. The mothers seem to bring the calves out there to get some practice with stronger currents and some ocean waves, and at times it seems much like a treadmill.
For the period when we weren’t whale watching, much time was spent exploring the vast dunes, beachcombing for treasures, and examining the many birds in the lagoon area near our anchorage. One highlight was an active cormorant rookery with some cormorants returning with nesting material and even a few feeding chicks. Many different wading birds were also observed including herons, egrets, ibis, and plovers. As the hikers returned to the beach with a setting sun behind them, a coyote was found exploring the lifejackets that were placed in its territory.
