A curious whale investigates a small tourist boat in Baja’s Magdalena Bay. Every spring the bay fills with migrating whales, dolphins, pelicans and other birds — but very few people. Photo by Don Mankin Kayakers circle El Hongo (the mushroom), a sandstone rock near La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico. The small, historic city is a perfect home base for a whale watching excursion. © Isabella Biava | Dreamstime.com The large gray whale drew close to our boat.