Magdalena Bay & Hull Canal

After a bumpy night sailing northward in the Pacific Ocean, we awoke off the west coast of Isla Santa Margarita, while going against strong winds. By midmorning, we entered in the protected waters of Magdalena Bay, constituted by a huge barrier island that goes in a north – south direction for almost 60 miles, and a portion of the western margin of the Baja peninsula. The whole bay contours a series of channels with mangroves on both sides which are very important places for the reproduction of mollusks, fish and sea birds.

Once in calmer waters after breakfast, we had a very interesting slide presentation about the geology of the region and how Baja California fits into the maps we know today. We also went out in our Zodiacs to visit part of this magnificent wetland, entering various channels made by mangroves and looking for some of the birds that feed on the exposed sand bars or wait perched on the mangrove trees. We saw, among other sea birds, brown pelicans, egrets, white ibis, kingfishers, scrub jays, shrikes, mangrove warblers, black-crown night herons and great blue herons as well as whimbrels, willets, marbled godwits, long-billed curlews, and many others.

We returned to the ship and we made our navigation northbound in the Hull Canal. The Sea Bird had at the helm Alejandro Camacho, the local pilot that for years has taken us over this treacherous natural waterway. We spotted two coyotes scavenging food on the sandy shores and a feral burro in the distance. At the end of the passage covered with mangroves we began to see the first gray whales in this lagoon.

We came to our anchorage close to the Boca de la Soledad (Mouth of Solitude), the northern most entrance to Magdalena Bay, where we expect to have great whale watching tomorrow. And with the light of the moon and thousands of stars as companions, we will dream of ourselves among the great whales!