Today was our first full day exploring the waters surrounding Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos. This morning, we explored south of our anchorage and encountered several mom and calf pairs of gray whales in these protected waters. Other special wildlife encounters included a coyote on the beach, dolphins surfing the wake behind our pangas, and a bald eagle perched on the dunes of Isla Magdalena. After a break for a delicious lunch, we headed back out to explore north of our anchorage. We pulled into the calm waterways of a mangrove forest and sighted a wide diversity of bird species and even an oyster farm run by a local fishing cooperative. Single whales swam around us here and there as we returned to National Geographic Sea Bird. A special cocktail hour awaited us on the shore, complete with a campfire and s’mores. We shared stories of the day and watched the sky erupt in flames of color during sunset – the perfect ending to the day’s adventures!
3/4/2023
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Sand Dollar Beach
The day began with an absolute whale of a morning! A gray whale mom-calf pair decided to hang out just off the bow of National Geographic Sea Bird. Within seconds, our pangas arrived and stood off at a respectable distance to observe their interactions. The calf was a bit feisty, swimming from one side of mom to the other, then venturing off for a few minutes, only to swim back to mom’s protective presence, who was pretty laidback about everything. After watching the pair for about an hour, our pangas dispersed to find other whales. One group encountered another mom-calf pair who simply rested on the surface (a behavior called ‘logging’) and slept as whales do (half the brain on low alert, the other half sleeping). It must have been a long night for both, as the pair ‘slept’ on the surface for over an hour with minimal movement. Other pangas in our ‘fleet’ found more pairs, and one experienced a curious calf. With the whales, the flat seas, a clear and sunny sky, and no wind, the day was most memorable. We returned for lunch and sailed south again through the almost unnavigable Hull Canal – but not for the shallow-drafted National Geographic Sea Bird and our skilled local pilot – to Sand Dollar Beach. The canal offered more views of the mangroves, herons, egrets, frigatebirds, cormorants, and dolphins. We dropped anchor midafternoon and made a wet landing on the east side of Isla Magdalena. Then we hiked through the unique dune environment to the beach on the Pacific side. The beach is aptly named, as sand dollar tests (skeletons) ‘litter’ the sand, along with notable items like the skeletal remains of sea lions, pelicans, and sea turtles; a large variety of clam shells; and various forms of drifting flotsam/jetsam. The hikes, either alone or with family/friends, and weather provided a peaceful and serene experience. After the traditional evening recap, we enjoyed another Baja California tradition of N ational Geographic Sea Bird: Mexican Festival Night with traditional Mexican cuisine, music, and decorations. The evening concluded with stargazing from the sun deck. And tomorrow? Another expedition!
