We sailed through the night around the southernmost point of Baja California Sur and headed north along the Pacific side of the peninsula. Spending our morning at sea, we were rewarded with wonderful wildlife sightings, the beast though was a pod of hundreds of long-beaked common dolphins! We were fortunate to spend quite a bit of time with them as they were porpoising, bow riding, and vocalizing around the ship. After lunch we landed at Sand Dollar Beach where we lead various walks and spent free time exploring a bit of the island and sand dunes. We enjoyed a cocktail hour bonfire on shore during sunset as wonderful way to cap the night.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 12 Feb 2020
At Sea & Sand Dollar Beach, 2/12/2020, National Geographic Venture
- Aboard the National Geographic Venture
- Baja California
Amy Malkoski, Undersea Specialist
Amy was raised near Cape Cod in coastal Marion, Massachusetts, and her relationship with the ocean and nature has always been an active one. Her parents, avid divers and marine biologists, introduced her to the underwater world when she was very youn...
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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.