Bahia Almejas and Puerto Magdalena, 2/26/2025, National Geographic Sea Bird
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Bird
Baja California
Our day aboard National Geographic Sea Bird began with a wonderful gray whale watching adventure in Bahia Almejas. Aboard our pangas driven by local captains, we were surrounded by spy-hopping whales. In the afternoon, guests enjoyed hikes, fat-tire bike rides, and beverages and ceviche in Puerto Magdalena. What a wonderful way to start our trip!
Melissa Heres is a diver, captain, marine biologist, and hydrographer. Growing up on a farm in a landlocked portion of Germany, she explored the natural world surrounding her which translated into a fascination with the sea and travel.
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We welcomed our day with an early whale search. On our way to Boca de la Soledad, we observed double-crested cormorants, magnificent frigatebirds, white ibis, and great and snowy egrets perched on the white mangroves at the north end of Isla Magdalena. Our panguero, Carlos, pointed out a massive bald eagle nest where an adult was guarding the surroundings. As we passed in front of Isla Pelícano, we saw a large flock of American white pelicans standing out among dozens of brown pelicans. As we got closer to La Boca, we spotted gray whale rainblows, spy hops, and a female with its calf. On our way back to National Geographic Sea Bird , Carlos took us to visit the oyster farm by the abandoned phosphorite mine facilities where we found three osprey nests, and one was active with a chick and an adult. We ended our ride observing a pod of bottlenose dolphins. In the afternoon, we hiked the dunes towards Sand Dollar Beach. Our guests enjoyed the beauty of the landscape. We found tracks of different creatures like coyotes, dune bugs, and birds. After dinner we enjoyed the traditional guest slide show. It was a perfect end to a great day.
National Geographic Sea Bird and all her inhabitants began the morning in El Barril, a network of channels lined with mangroves. The mangrove ecosystem is a critical habitat for a myriad of species. Mangroves provide protection and nutrients for many tropical fish who spend their early lives in this environment before entering the Pacific Ocean. The leaves of the mangrove drop from the trees year-round and are fed on by fungus and bacteria, changing a carbohydrate into a useable protein, and providing the necessary food for small tropical fish and many invertebrates. The trees themselves are often called land makers and provide protection from storms for the land they inhabit. This is also a habitat for many species of birds who hunt for fish and nest in the mangroves. Both Zodiacs and kayaks were dropped from our mothership, and everyone had a chance to see the mangrove environment. Our afternoon was spent transiting the Hull Canal and spending the afternoon whale watching in the Boca de Soledad. Bahia Magdalena remains an extraordinary habitat for bird life and after some time in the Pacific waves we returned to calmer waters for more bird watching, as the sun approached sunset.
