As the dense cloak of early morning fog slowly lifted, it revealed the mountainous desert landscape of Isla Margarita and the calm waters of Bahia Almejas—our destinations for the day. Guests experienced the dry landscape and shell-filled beaches of Isla Margarita on naturalist-led walks, fat-tire bikes, and photo workshops that unveiled a surprising level of diversity in a seemingly harsh environment. On the water, we rode in local pangas to search for the few gray whales that hadn’t yet begun their 6,000-mile migration back to their Arctic summer feeding grounds. With the help of our pangueros, we came upon one cow-calf pair and as many as five juvenile male gray whales—all within feet of our boats. A fantastic day highlighting the variety and abundance of Baja California.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 26 Mar 2019
Magdalena Bay, Baja California, 3/26/2019, National Geographic Sea Bird
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird
- Baja California
Alex Krowiak, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
A childhood surrounded by the woods and streams of Pennsylvania initially sparked Alex’s curiosity about nature. That curiosity eventually led him to pursue degrees in biology and environmental studies at Boston College. During his time there he cond...
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Baja California: Observing the Whales of Magdalena Bay
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3/15/2025
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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.
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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.