Today began with an early wake-up call to go out and spend some quality time with the gray whales of Magdalena Bay. In the rosy glow of pre-dawn, we ventured out on expedition landing craft to see if we could connect with our cetacean friends. We were not disappointed. Several adult females with calves allowed us to approach closely. At close range, we were able to observe interesting behaviors in these animals and even touch them at times. It was a truly magical experience. The first half of our day was spent out on the water with whales and relaxing aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird.
Following an excellent lunch, we pulled anchor and headed south through Hull Canal. Along the way, we got more looks at the birdlife of the area. Brown pelicans, magnificent frigatebirds, double-crested cormorants, and royal terns were some of the highlights.
We anchored along a narrow, sandy section of Magdalena Island in the afternoon. There, we were shuttled ashore for some time for personal exploration. This part of the island is a vast landscape of gorgeous dunes. Most of us took off our shoes and made the journey through soft sand to the far side of the island—the side facing the Pacific Ocean. The beach there I called Sand Dollar Beach and it is aptly named. It goes on for miles to the north and south and is littered with sand dollars and other fascinating flotsam from the sea.
What a wonderful last full day aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird!
