Boca de Soledad, Hull Canal, Sand Dollar Beach, 3/3/2022, National Geographic Sea Bird
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Bird
Baja California
We awoke to a thick fog that did not burn off until late morning when we returned to the ship, which made finding gray whales particularly challenging today. Persistence and good local knowledge from our panga drivers paid off, however. We finally found some whales far out in the Soledad (solitude) where the sea breaks its back on the shallow, sandy bottom of the Boca (mouth/entrance to the bay).
After lunch, we made our way south through the narrow and shallow Hull Canal. With the help of a local pilot driver, we made it to our afternoon destination at Sand Dollar Beach. This is the narrowest part of the barrier island Isla Magdalena. We walked across some barchan sand dunes to access Bahia Santa Maria, a beautiful beach on the Pacific Ocean side of Baja California.
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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Today was the last day of the Baja California season for National Geographic Sea Bird . We had a very nice day of whale-watching. The weather was pleasant, and grey whales were getting ready for their long migration north. Some of today’s highlights were the birds we found as we headed towards Canal de Rehusa, where we encountered California grey whales. Among the birds, we observed a majestic juvenile bald eagle, apparently in its third year of age. We spotted an immature peregrine falcon just behind a myriad of pelicans, gulls, and cormorants. We can certainly see a lot when we stop to look!
We awoke in Boca de Soledad to a clear and sunny day. With high winds and large swells, morning whale-watching trips were challenging. We ventured forth and finally spotted a whale. It spyhopped near one of our pangas and then slowly approached so we could get an up-close-and-personal view. It was magical. The whale led us on a merry game of hide-and-seek, popping up here and there for the next hour. Of course, the whale was destined to win this game! We returned to National Geographic Sea Bird via a calm mangrove area. We viewed several species of wading birds and the skeletal elements of a long-dead whale that were partially buried in the shallow sediments. During our whale-watching, some of us went ashore to the nearby beach to ride fat-tire bikes and/or to walk among the dunes. It was a special treat to watch two eaglets attempt their first flight under the watchful eyes of their parents. It was obvious that the lessons would continue tomorrow, and perhaps for another day or so! After lunch, we went back to the Boca for another round of whale-watching in challenging conditions, but we did not see any whales. No matter…it was relaxing to simply bounce around in a panga. Again, we watched for birds on the way back to the ship. We saw large numbers of terns, brown and white pelicans, juvenile gulls, and cormorants on a sandbank. In a different mangrove area, we were able to get very close to juvenile and adult (male and female) frigatebirds. After returning from our whale watch, we went ashore. Some of us walked among the dunes or along the beach, either with or without a naturalist. Others rode the fat-tire bikes on the hard-packed intertidal sand. The wind and swells forced us to relocate the traditional beach BBQ to the ship’s dining room, where we were entertained by Los Coyotes de Magdalena. A guest and a crewmember celebrated their birthdays by bashing the traditional piñata. The treasure trove of goodies within elicited a wild scramble! After dinner, most of us went to the beach. We enjoyed a final walk and a traditional bonfire with s’mores. Another day drew to a close with memories burned into our minds.
When someone says, “I think today was the best day of my life,” you tend to think the trip is off to a good start. Today we spent our first day by immersing ourselves in the vibrant beauty of Mexico. We explored via kayaks, paddleboards, motorboats, by ship, and on foot. I gave a talk about travel photography, and then guests were able to put tips into practice while hiking across the island to the Pacific Ocean.
