The morning’s sunrise was accompanied by the presence of a grey whale swimming lazily past the bow of National Geographic Sea Bird. Cotton clouds floating above a coral pink sky make for a beautiful backdrop for the stretch class at 7 am. After breakfast, our Zodiac drivers arrive at the stern to take guests out for a second day of whale watching. The gentle blows of a mother and her week-old calf are a stark contrast to the frantic mating ritual experienced days before in Almejas Bay. After a few hours of whale activity, the guests retire to the ship to enjoy lunch and an afternoon siesta. Later, Zodiacs take everyone to shore for the week’s Beach BBQ, where guests enjoy a delicious meal prepared by our head chef Neal. We end the BBQ by making smores as the sun sets on another beautiful day in Baja California.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 28 Jan 2023
Boca De Solidad , 1/28/2023, National Geographic Sea Bird
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird
- Baja California
Kyle Bowman, Naturalist
Kyle was born and raised in North Carolina and now lives, year-round, in the mountains of Alaska. As a child he became enamored with birds and wildlife while camping or hiking with his family. He attended the University of North Carolina and spent ti...
Read MoreShare Report
Baja California: Observing the Whales of Magdalena Bay
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
3/15/2025
Read
National Geographic Sea Bird
Puerto Magdalena
Walks in the desert can hold a plethora of surprises, and today was no exception. From clusters of scarlet Palo Adan flowers, the gems of the morning, to purple and white striped passion flowers. The numerous fruits on the vine attested to a series of flowers earlier this month. A diminutive bird, the verdin, was also interested in the Palo Adan flowers. The verdin’s short beak cannot reach the nectar, so this bird approaches the base of the flower, nips it open, and takes a nectar reward; pollination of the flower is thwarted in this thievery. The exoskeleton of a tarantula was found under the scrub, an indication of a spider that has molted and grown a bit bigger. At the end of the trail, we were all rewarded with a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean. Good things come to those who venture outdoors.
3/14/2025
Read
National Geographic Sea Bird
Boca de la Soledad
Today we woke up in the northernmost part of Magdalena Bay. In the morning, we went whale watching at Boca de la Soledad, where we came across a mother and calf. Later, we went to Estero Chivo at high tide, where we observed a variety of birds. We were particularly interested in the numerous shorebirds, egrets, and herons. We raised anchor to continue our day. While transiting Hull Canal, we spotted bow-riding bottlenose dolphins. National Geographic Sea Bird set anchor in front of Magdalena Island. The wind was blowing, causing the dunes to come alive. After walking among dunes and desert plants, we arrived at the Pacific coast of Magdalena Island. We enjoyed walking along the beach and observing various shells, snails, and sand dollars. In the distance, we spotted the carcass of a beached gray whale and contemplated both life and death. These animals begin their lives on the coast of Mexico, and their cycle also ends here.