As the sun rose over the Baja Peninsula, guests gathered on the bow of National Geographic Sea Bird to enjoy mimosas and prepare for another day of observing the gentle giants that flock to the lagoons of Baja California Sur. With the calmest conditions of our trip yet, we witnessed new behaviors between mother and calf gray whales and had some of our closest encounters yet. The idyllic conditions persisted through the afternoon as we explored the coastal mangroves by kayak and expedition landing craft, gaining a firsthand understanding of a vital and unique ecosystem.