On our final day aboard National Geographic Sea Bird, everyone woke up to another beautiful sunrise in Baja California. Some guests soaked in the rising rays while stretching on the sundeck with wellness specialist Ava, and other guests had one last relaxing morning before heading back to the busy bustle of their lives. Not wanting to waste any time in this beautiful region, our first adventure for the day was taking out local pangas for another opportunity to view gray whales. A mother and her calf were spotted in the lagoon, and we got to see their close connection. As we headed back to the ship, we came across some coastal bottlenose dolphins. After returning to the ship, we enjoyed a delicious meal cooked by head chef Eric Seabury and his wonderful galley. The fun was not over yet, and we headed out to Sand Dollar Beach. Guests had the opportunity to walk across rising and falling sand dunes or bike along the beach. To end the evening, the officers and crew were introduced and thanked for their time and expert skills. During final recap, we wished expedition leader Alberto Montaudon a happy birthday.
3/15/2023
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Boca de Soledad
Today our guests ventured to the northern end of Magdalena Bay known as Boca De Soledad, where we were treated to multiple mother and calf pairs. One particular calf kept lifting its head out of the water with every exhale, giving us great looks at the whale's eye and cute little face. These babies were practicing swimming in the bay’s opening with its challenging, swift moving water. They need to build the vital muscle mass required for the long migration against the California current back to their feeding grounds for the summer. At this point in the season, these calves have grown quite a bit, drinking the rich milk (over 50% fat) that mom produces and gaining close to 100 pounds a day. After an eventful morning, we transited the Hull Canal, where we observed pelicans, herons, and a coyote! We even spotted bow-riding bottlenose dolphins with a little calf. We ended our afternoon at Sand Dollar Beach. Some guests hiked to the Pacific, some lounged on the beach, and some searched for unique shells and animals. As we end our trip tonight, we will watch our collaborative guest slideshow and reflect on the incredible weather, the friendly whales, and the new friends made during this amazing trip.