National Geographic Sea Bird began the day in Bahia Almejas, the southern part of Magdalena Bay. The morning brought a rare treat for the desert—rain. But the clouds and drizzle didn’t last long and our boats headed out for a round of whale watching. Adult gray whales surrounded us at the mouth of the bay. On the way back to the ship, we stopped to watch frigatebirds dance around in the sky. In the afternoon, the ship headed north and we enjoyed a sunset hike through the beautiful sand dunes to Sand Dollar Beach.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 12 Mar 2019
Bahia Almejas, Magdalena Bay, 3/12/2019, National Geographic Sea Bird
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird
- Baja California
Adam Maire, Undersea Specialist
Explorers Club Member, Polar Expedition Diver, Naturalist, and Historian, Adam Maire is dedicated to exploring around the globe with a goal of researching, documenting, and teaching others about the beauty, the power and the importance of the earth's...
Read MoreDave Katz, Expedition Leader
Dave grew up in a village in the heart of the rural Finger Lakes region of New York and at an early age fell in love with the outdoors. Dave’s mother, a high school earth science and biology teacher turned weekend hikes into informative lessons. The ...
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Baja California: Observing the Whales of Magdalena Bay
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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.