We awoke in a different anchorage than that of previous days, in an area called El Barril on Magdalena Island. Colors of sunrise were an advice of a sunny and beautiful day in Baja California Sur. During the morning, we had the opportunity to kayak, cruise along the mangroves in an expedition landing craft, and test our balance on stand-up paddleboards. In the afternoon, we went ashore to Magdalena Island, where we had the opportunity to walk across the sand dunes to the Pacific Ocean side of the island where there is a large, sandy beach called Bahia Santa Maria or Sand Dollar Beach. We returned happy and thirsty and were rewarded on the beach with a beverage stand manned by National Geographic Sea Bird staff. What a great way to finish our stay in Magdalena Bay.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 28 Mar 2019
El Barril and Sand Dollar Beach, 3/28/2019, National Geographic Sea Bird
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird
- Baja California
Octavio Maravilla, Naturalist
Octavio was born in Mexico City and moved to La Paz at age 19, to study Marine Biology at the Baja California Sur State University. He began his field research on California sea lions, working at Los Islotes, a small rookery close to La Paz City. Lat...
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Baja California: Observing the Whales of Magdalena Bay
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3/15/2025
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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.