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  • 23 Jun 2023

Photos of the Week, June 23, 2023

"Discovery" is a word we use often on our expeditions, but it's especially exciting when literal discovery happens. Last week, our naturalists and guests observed a pod of whales off the coast of southwestern Svalbard, six of which had never before been identified. See our new cetacean friends below, and check out the rest of our favorite photos from the field!  Get Inspired By Photos, Videos, Webinars, Stories, And Exclusive Offers. Sign Up

For more dispatches from the field, check out our Daily Expedition Reports.

Have you recently traveled aboard one of our ships? Send us your favorite photo! We'd love to feature your favorite memory of your expedition.

Samiria River, Peru

Wild Peru Escape: Amazon & Machu Picchu, June 1, 2023

capped heron in front of full moon

A capped heron chooses the perfect perching spot as an almost full moon rises during our journey up the Samiria River. We were on our way to search for caimans but couldn't help stopping for such a spectacle. —Morgan Heim, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

 

Værøy, Lofoten, Norway

Norway's Fjords and Arctic Svalbard, June 3, 2023

hiker on top of cliff

View from the hike to Måstadfjellet on Værøy. —Kirsa Nørregaard, Naturalist

 

Tahanea, French Polynesia

Pearls of the Pacific: Exploring The Society and Tuamotu Islands, June 6, 2023

sunset over the water

A beautiful sunset ended a wonderful day exploring the Tuamotus. —Maya Santangelo, Undersea Specialist

 

Salt Chuck Bay, Alaska

Wild Alaska Escape: LeConte Bay, Wrangell & the Misty Fjords, June 7, 2023

sea lion and whale tail

A Steller sea lion watches as the whale dives. Flukes up! —Ross Weinberg, Video Chronicler

 

Espumilla Beach, Santiago Island, Galápagos

Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, June 7, 2023

blue-footed boobies diving

Blue-footed boobies fishing early in the morning. —Paulina Saa, Naturalist

 

Edgeøya, Norway

Norway's Fjords and Arctic Svalbard, June 7, 2023

two walruses in the water

Curious walruses watch us as we watch them. —Jacqueline Weston, Naturalist (Photo by Doug Gould)

 

Fakarava Atoll, French Polynesia

Pearls of the Pacific: Exploring The Society and Tuamotu Islands, June 7, 2023

two white birds glaring at the camera

White terns perched in Fakarava. —Mike Rigney, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

Eastern Svalbard, Norway

Norway's Fjords and Arctic Svalbard, June 8, 2023

polar bear

Sometimes the most magical moments happen when we least expect them to. Most of the ship was fast asleep when our expedition leader’s voice came over the PA at 01:37 a.m. There was a polar bear just off the bow of the ship, our second one in less than twelve hours. A parade of pajamas and fresh faces came scuttling out of the cabins towards the outer decks and the bridge to find the polar bear right in front of the ship. No binoculars required. —Eva Prendergast, Naturalist (Photo by Anne Hedlund)

 

Horsund, Norway

Land Of The Ice Bears: An In-Depth Exploration Of Arctic Svalbard, June 9, 2023

eiders in flight with ship in background

National Geographic Endurance and common eiders in flight. —Giulia Ciampini, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

 

Punta Suarez, Española Island, Galápagos

Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, June 11, 2023

two waved albatrosses sitting in the grass

Waved albatrosses reunite with their lifelong mates for their yearly mating cycle. —Jason Heilmann, Undersea Specialist

 

Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness, June 12, 2023

guests on the deck of a ship with labeled mountain peaks in the background

Bow scene with guests. The mountains in the distance are labeled using Peak Finder. —Katie McConnell, Naturalist

 

Dover, England

North Sea Voyage: Northern Europe and the Normandy Beaches, June 15, 2023

field of wildflowers with lighthouse in background

On a hike along the White Cliffs of Dover, our route was flanked by large meadows. The birdlife was a real treat, with superb views of peregrine falcons, goldfinches, fulmars, and more. We spent time at South Foreland Lighthouse, the first in the world to be electrified. —Conor Ryan, Naturalist

 

Hornsund, Norway

Land Of The Ice Bears: An In-Depth Exploration Of Arctic Svalbard, June 16, 2023

six whale tails

As always, life on board National Geographic Resolution is peppered with surprises, and this morning in Hornsund did not disappoint! We arose from our beds to find the soft blows of humpback whales surrounding our ship. Later, fluke identification through “Happy Whale” (happywhale.com) showed that we had spotted six humpback whales never before identified! New whales to science! What a magnificent start to the day. —Tim Martin, Naturalist

Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness, June 16, 2023

bow of ship with mountains in the background

The view from Jaw Point. —Andy Putnam, Naturalist