Wow!!! What a spectacular day of cetaceans and wonder! This was one jam-packed day, a gray whale extravaganza in all its glory. Our full day was spent with two 2.5-hour panga trips in search of gray whales and boy oh boy did we search for, find, and for many of us, touch whales today. It was truly an incredible honor to simply be welcomed into their habitat, let alone to witness their boisterous behavior; spy-hopping, rolling, and the occasional breach, while also getting the chance to reach out to give them a scratch. And in Kimberly Wood’s experience, also to snatch off an amphipod (whale lice) to bring aboard and show our guests under the microscope. Wow! How lucky are we to be here?!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 05 Mar 2024
Bahia Almejas, Isla Santa Margarita, 3/5/2024, National Geographic Sea Lion
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion
- Baja California
Alex Rubenstein, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Alex grew up surrounded by the endless outdoors of Portland, OR, his summers filled with nature day camp, hiking, basketball, mountain biking, and more basketball. After working as a nature day camp teacher with Portland Parks & Recreation through hi...
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Baja California: Observing the Whales of Magdalena Bay
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3/15/2025
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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
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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.