Isla Magdalena, Sand Dollar Beach, Canal de Soledad, and Northern Magdalena Bay
Our first morning got off to a great start in Magdalena Bay. In the earlier hours, we boarded Zodiacs, departing for Isla Magdelana. Here, leisure strolls took our small groups across sand dunes filled with plant life and evidence of animal life. The naturalist staff is enthusiastic in pointing out many different kinds of tracks (including coyote) and explaining various kinds of fauna, clinging to life in the harsh desert climate. Some notable ones to name were the succulents: sand verbena (sprouting gorgeous pink flowers), and sea purslane (stems red in color), and poisonous “loco” weed, that, if eaten, will make you crazy and can cause death! We also saw two edible plants, pickle weed and iodine bush, which can be used to spruce up salad with their salty flavor. There was a vibrant evening primrose bush in bloom, within range of an intricate wood rat den covered by a very thorny mass of wolf berry (also called box thorn).
In the process of crossing the textured dunes and approaching the other shore, groups took notice of many piles of exposed shells that could be considered shell middens. Within view of the Pacific shoreline, Bahia Santa Maria extends 60 miles with high mountains on either side. A stunning view!
Upon a second look, one will observe sand dollars littering the sandy beach, giving this area its simple name. Our time was spent photographing the shore and life of Sand Dollar Beach, walking in the surf, and – for two adventurous souls – even swimming. Finally, we all made the trek back to the National Geographic Sea Bird for lunch in the plentiful sunshine.
As lunch got underway our vessel was met by a Zodiac carrying Alejandro Camacho and his son, who will pilot the ship for the afternoon into the narrow Canal de Soledad. As we traveled, Larry Hobbs gave a humorous presentation on the pertinent information of gray whales, including how to order a girdle for a whale. Then, we all hit the decks in search of wildlife in the form of birds and, most importantly, gray whales! We had amazing luck spotting 29 pairs of mothers and young!
