Boca de Soledad, Hull Canal
The El Norte, a common winter wind in Mexico, blew across the Boca de Soledad as our expedition leader, Sue Perin, made a slightly early wake up this morning. We would be doing our last two rounds of whale watching before heading south down Hull Canal this afternoon. The Sea Lion was divided into two groups, and at 7:00am, Zodiacs were positioned off the fantail and ready for loading. A squadron of black, low-riding boats could be seen moving slowly out into the choppy waves heading for several blows seen a short distance from the Sea Lion. Wind and tide carried us out near the lighthouse, marking the entrance to this northern end of Bahia Magdalena where several sets of cow/calf pairs of Gray whales were enjoying an early morning of frolicking. A particular baby whale had obviously just learned to spy hop and continued lifting its head and then rolling over its mother. Both mother and baby approached several Zodiacs and gave us a long look and then returned to their relaxed morning of rolling, spy hopping, showing pectoral flippers and an occasional baby Gray whale fluke. Through out the morning each Zodiac had an opportunity to spend time with this same cow/calf pair, enjoying the obvious bond, and this baby Gray whale who seemed very interested in watching its observers.
The second round of whale watching brought much of the same experiences for both guests in Zodiacs and cow/calf pairs. The wind continued blowing a steady fifteen knots making the northern trip out into the Boca de Soledad just a bit wet and the return rides back to the Sea Lion warm and pleasant. Our two days in the Gray whale nursery area of Bahia Magdalena had been filled with a treasure of lifetime experiences. For many, a chance to look into the eye of a curious and sentient being, floating just at water level, gave pause to think, to reflect and for some of us to connect to a part of a web of life that includes all living things. All too soon, the Sea Lion began lifting her anchor and preparing to move south, cruising with the wind, heading for Hull Canal and an afternoon in the Mangroves located in the southern part of Bahia Magdalena. Just after lunch, Zodiacs were dropped along with kayaks and preparations were made to explore yet another new ecosystem found in Baja California. The El Norte continued to blow, but once inside the shelter of dense Mangrove forests the Zodiacs found reprieve from the wind and a wonderful community of birds who also were enjoying the peace and a break from the constant blowing. Yellow-crowned night herons, Green herons, Great blue herons, Snowy egrets, were just a few of the birds seen, while cruising. Even the voice of a Mangrove warbler was heard, though, hidden from view, deep in the foliage.
Everyone was back aboard for sunset. Dressed and ready for our farewell dinner, we watched from the windows of the lounge, the bow and top deck as the sun set over the dunes of Isla Magdalena, ending our day and the voyage, but not the memories we would all carry home from this splendid desert by the sea, called Baja California, Sur.
The El Norte, a common winter wind in Mexico, blew across the Boca de Soledad as our expedition leader, Sue Perin, made a slightly early wake up this morning. We would be doing our last two rounds of whale watching before heading south down Hull Canal this afternoon. The Sea Lion was divided into two groups, and at 7:00am, Zodiacs were positioned off the fantail and ready for loading. A squadron of black, low-riding boats could be seen moving slowly out into the choppy waves heading for several blows seen a short distance from the Sea Lion. Wind and tide carried us out near the lighthouse, marking the entrance to this northern end of Bahia Magdalena where several sets of cow/calf pairs of Gray whales were enjoying an early morning of frolicking. A particular baby whale had obviously just learned to spy hop and continued lifting its head and then rolling over its mother. Both mother and baby approached several Zodiacs and gave us a long look and then returned to their relaxed morning of rolling, spy hopping, showing pectoral flippers and an occasional baby Gray whale fluke. Through out the morning each Zodiac had an opportunity to spend time with this same cow/calf pair, enjoying the obvious bond, and this baby Gray whale who seemed very interested in watching its observers.
The second round of whale watching brought much of the same experiences for both guests in Zodiacs and cow/calf pairs. The wind continued blowing a steady fifteen knots making the northern trip out into the Boca de Soledad just a bit wet and the return rides back to the Sea Lion warm and pleasant. Our two days in the Gray whale nursery area of Bahia Magdalena had been filled with a treasure of lifetime experiences. For many, a chance to look into the eye of a curious and sentient being, floating just at water level, gave pause to think, to reflect and for some of us to connect to a part of a web of life that includes all living things. All too soon, the Sea Lion began lifting her anchor and preparing to move south, cruising with the wind, heading for Hull Canal and an afternoon in the Mangroves located in the southern part of Bahia Magdalena. Just after lunch, Zodiacs were dropped along with kayaks and preparations were made to explore yet another new ecosystem found in Baja California. The El Norte continued to blow, but once inside the shelter of dense Mangrove forests the Zodiacs found reprieve from the wind and a wonderful community of birds who also were enjoying the peace and a break from the constant blowing. Yellow-crowned night herons, Green herons, Great blue herons, Snowy egrets, were just a few of the birds seen, while cruising. Even the voice of a Mangrove warbler was heard, though, hidden from view, deep in the foliage.
Everyone was back aboard for sunset. Dressed and ready for our farewell dinner, we watched from the windows of the lounge, the bow and top deck as the sun set over the dunes of Isla Magdalena, ending our day and the voyage, but not the memories we would all carry home from this splendid desert by the sea, called Baja California, Sur.
