As the morning fog lifted in the half-light of dawn, Magdalena Bay was a mirror. We sipped coffee on deck and met the day as mother and calf gray whales slipped past the National Geographic Sea Bird, leaving nothing but fluke prints and the sound of their breath in the still air.
After breakfast we boarded expedition landing crafts and, with great anticipation, made our way into the bay. Within minutes we had located a mother-calf pair of friendly gray whales. They approached our boat and everyone aboard was treated to close up encounters and photos of these remarkable marine mammals. Why do they come so close? Why do they seek out being touched? We may never know but we are instead reminded to stay in the present and enjoy the gift of these brief yet powerful interactions.
We followed the whales to the Boca de Soledad, the ½ mile wide opening to the sea at the north end of Magdalena Island, and joined them in the rush of the outgoing tide. During these late weeks of the season, mother whales bring their calves to the Boca to exercise them in preparation for their upcoming 5,000 mile journey to the arctic. The whales swam hard in the rushing tide while our expedition landing craft drivers skillfully drove nearby providing great views for all. On the way back to the ship we stopped to view a magnificent frigatebird roost and admire a very handsome male showing off his inflated neck pouch. Muy guapo amigo!
We rounded off the day with walks on the dunes of Magdalena Island, with some of us walking all the way to the Pacific to take in the crashing surf. A fiesta dinner with music provided by Los Coyotes de Magdalena was the perfect end to the day. More adventures await tomorrow, but tonight we will dream of whales.
