Sand dollar Beach, transit of Hull canal
As the sun rose this morning, the Sea Bird continued to rock on her anchor softly, in the northwest wind. After boarding in the small community of San Carlos last night, we made a short passage to the southern tip of Isla Magdalena, and anchored, in preparation for today’s activities. Once the customary drills associated with the beginning of a trip were completed, we assembled in the aft section of the Sea Bird ready for a short Zodiac ride to the eastern beach of Isla Magdalena. Our walks would take us across a thin section of this barrier island composed of sand dunes of many sizes, on our way to the Pacific Ocean! Some of these large moving hills of sand were occupied by a myriad of plants. Accompanied by our natural history staff, we made our way from east to west across Isla Magdalena to an eleven mile long beach called Bahia Santa Maria. After listening to descriptions of how plants can successfully make a living in such an unusual and severe environment, we found ourselves on top of the last rise, seeing and hearing the breakers of the Pacific Ocean. Making our way through the last network of sand dunes, we followed tracks left behind by the animal and insect population of a dune landscape. The wind-protected side of the dunes were decorated with white-footed mouse footprints, larger rat footprints, rabbit trails, with larger coyote paw prints in hot pursuit! There were the irregular patterns of beetles, and the swishing telltale sign of a lizard tail; all showing us who had been wandering about during the previous night and early morning hours.
Adding color to this rather monotone environment, were occasional flowers. Creating stabilized hummocks we found box-thorn, ground cherry, rattle weed, devil’s claw, rock daisy, milkweed and primrose; all in flower. During this winter season, the warm land mass of these barrier islands are met by the cool breezes of the Pacific Ocean, forming evening moisture and fog. These plants have received almost all of their moisture from the meeting of these winter forces, providing enough water for the display of flower we experienced through out our walks across Isla Magdalena.
Finally, lifting our gaze from the sand dunes we headed towards the sound of waves, and soon understood the naming of this beach. Thousands of sand dollars littered the beach. They were the primary decoration, landing in every posture in the sand and even on flotsam!
The morning passed too quickly and soon it was time to return across the dunes. The Zodiacs brought us back to the Sea Bird and preparations were made for our northern transit through Hull canal. Just after lunch the bow was crowded, as our vessel made a slow passage towards the nursery area for California Grey whales. Before we reached that area, we spent the afternoon in the rich birding area of the Hull canal. Bird names were called out as we continued north heading for Boca de Soledad. Near Boundary Island, we spotted our first Grey whales as we entered the upper section of the nursery lagoon. As the Sea Bird anchored for the night, we carried the day’s last sighting of a mother Grey whale and her young three week old baby close at her side with us for the remainder of the evening.
As the sun rose this morning, the Sea Bird continued to rock on her anchor softly, in the northwest wind. After boarding in the small community of San Carlos last night, we made a short passage to the southern tip of Isla Magdalena, and anchored, in preparation for today’s activities. Once the customary drills associated with the beginning of a trip were completed, we assembled in the aft section of the Sea Bird ready for a short Zodiac ride to the eastern beach of Isla Magdalena. Our walks would take us across a thin section of this barrier island composed of sand dunes of many sizes, on our way to the Pacific Ocean! Some of these large moving hills of sand were occupied by a myriad of plants. Accompanied by our natural history staff, we made our way from east to west across Isla Magdalena to an eleven mile long beach called Bahia Santa Maria. After listening to descriptions of how plants can successfully make a living in such an unusual and severe environment, we found ourselves on top of the last rise, seeing and hearing the breakers of the Pacific Ocean. Making our way through the last network of sand dunes, we followed tracks left behind by the animal and insect population of a dune landscape. The wind-protected side of the dunes were decorated with white-footed mouse footprints, larger rat footprints, rabbit trails, with larger coyote paw prints in hot pursuit! There were the irregular patterns of beetles, and the swishing telltale sign of a lizard tail; all showing us who had been wandering about during the previous night and early morning hours.
Adding color to this rather monotone environment, were occasional flowers. Creating stabilized hummocks we found box-thorn, ground cherry, rattle weed, devil’s claw, rock daisy, milkweed and primrose; all in flower. During this winter season, the warm land mass of these barrier islands are met by the cool breezes of the Pacific Ocean, forming evening moisture and fog. These plants have received almost all of their moisture from the meeting of these winter forces, providing enough water for the display of flower we experienced through out our walks across Isla Magdalena.
Finally, lifting our gaze from the sand dunes we headed towards the sound of waves, and soon understood the naming of this beach. Thousands of sand dollars littered the beach. They were the primary decoration, landing in every posture in the sand and even on flotsam!
The morning passed too quickly and soon it was time to return across the dunes. The Zodiacs brought us back to the Sea Bird and preparations were made for our northern transit through Hull canal. Just after lunch the bow was crowded, as our vessel made a slow passage towards the nursery area for California Grey whales. Before we reached that area, we spent the afternoon in the rich birding area of the Hull canal. Bird names were called out as we continued north heading for Boca de Soledad. Near Boundary Island, we spotted our first Grey whales as we entered the upper section of the nursery lagoon. As the Sea Bird anchored for the night, we carried the day’s last sighting of a mother Grey whale and her young three week old baby close at her side with us for the remainder of the evening.
