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.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 19 Jan 2023
Boca de Soledad, Sand Dollar Beach, 1/19/2023, National Geographic Sea Bird
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird
- Baja California
Emily Mall, Naturalist
Emily proudly grew up in the state of Michigan, doing whatever she could to experience and get to know our natural world. She carries a degree in zoology and public policy and worked in an agroecology lab throughout her time in school. Discovering th...
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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.