Today was our first full day exploring the waters surrounding Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos. This morning, we explored south of our anchorage and encountered several mom and calf pairs of gray whales in these protected waters. Other special wildlife encounters included a coyote on the beach, dolphins surfing the wake behind our pangas, and a bald eagle perched on the dunes of Isla Magdalena. After a break for a delicious lunch, we headed back out to explore north of our anchorage. We pulled into the calm waterways of a mangrove forest and sighted a wide diversity of bird species and even an oyster farm run by a local fishing cooperative. Single whales swam around us here and there as we returned to National Geographic Sea Bird. A special cocktail hour awaited us on the shore, complete with a campfire and s’mores. We shared stories of the day and watched the sky erupt in flames of color during sunset – the perfect ending to the day’s adventures!
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.
