Although there were countless stars in the night sky at the end of our beach barbecue and walk last night, some clouds rolled in overnight. They stayed around for most of the day today, leading to a partly cloudy and cooler day. We pulled anchor and moved south down the bay a bit, and headed to shore shortly after breakfast for walks on the island of Santa Margarita. Kayaking was also an option, as was “stationary hiking” on the beach. The afternoon was spent with the gray whales again, enjoying their playful antics both above and below the water. This will be the last day we all spend together, so the evening was celebrated with a preview of the video chronicle guests will be able to take home with them, and a guest slideshow featuring everyone’s wonderful photography during the voyage. What a fun and memorable trip it has been!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 15 Feb 2020
Southern Bahía Almejas, Baja California Sur, 2/15/2020, National Geographic Sea Lion
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion
- Baja California
John Pachuta, Naturalist
John’s passion is lifelong learning and sharing what he learns about the natural world with explorers young and old. He grew up in rural Ohio and graduated from Marietta College with a BA in Recreation Management. Wanderlust hit when John decided t...
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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.