Dana was born with a curious nature, which endures to this day. At a very young age she developed a love of wildlife and being outdoors. Although she loves all aspects of nature, it was seeing her first Humpback whale that was the impetus to pursue a...
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On our fourth day aboard National Geographic Sea Bird , we awoke in Lopez Mateos town and early in the morning we headed out to Boca de Soledad to look for gray whales. On our way, our local pangueros stopped for us to see some bottlenose dolphins and beautiful birds on top of the mangroves. Cormorants, white ibis, frigates, and white pelicans were easily seen, so our guests could take pictures and appreciate them. At one point we even saw a coyote! After cruising, the firsts spouts were seen. The whales were scattered and enjoying the surf of the sandbars at the entrance of the lagoon. It was wonderful watching them. In the evening, after cruising the Hull Canal, we made it to the bay side of Sand Dollar Beach where guests enjoyed a sunset walk along the dunes.
Today we awoke to find ourselves strategically positioned very close to the mangrove complex called El Barril. We launched into activity groups and began kayaking and Zodiac tours. The red and black mangrove complex did not disappoint as we found many interesting bird species, including the belted kingfisher, white ibis, and little blue heron. Back on board, we enjoyed yet another delicious meal and then weighed anchor. National Geographic Sea Bird then motored through the exciting Hull Canal with local pilot Sergio (aka Shaggy) guiding us every step of the way. We enjoyed a sunny afternoon with excellent birding, including great sightings of tricolor herons and canvasback ducks. After the ship anchored, we were treated to a quick outing on the Lopez Mateos sand dunes for golden hour photography. When we returned to the ship, the dining hall and lounge had been converted into a Mexican fiesta complete with local dancers and the ranchero band, Los Coyotes. Everyone started dancing, and we were all one big family.
We spent the day enjoying a variety of activities in Puerto Magdalena on Magdalena Island. Some explored the seashore, and others made the hike across the island to spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, observing the endemic cactus species along the way. Still others went for a bike ride on the other side of town. After our excursions, we all met at Chejo’s restaurant to enjoy drinks and snacks and a Q&A with Chejo, learning more about the lives of the locals. After a full day spent outdoors, we headed back to National Geographic Sea Bird for cocktail hour, and there was a spectacular sunset. We look forward to another day of fun tomorrow!