This week's photos from the field include shots from National Geographic Endurance in South Georgia Island, a pod of dolphins in the Galapagos, and landscapes in the Pacific Northwest.
This week's photos from the field included antics from sea lions in the Galápagos Islands, stunning panoramas on both coasts of Canada, and a beautiful view of Sea Cloud's riggings as she sails for the Croatian coast.
Nothing inspires new adventures or fresh perspectives like a new year. As you plan for 2024, consider checking off some of these unforgettable bucket-list experiences offered on our expertly crafted itineraries.
National Geographic Sea Bird docked in Hood River, Oregon this morning so we could visit the famous Multnomah Falls. A light rain allowed us to have the waterfall all to ourselves! Beacon Rock State Park and the Columbia River Museum were additional highlights today where guests had the opportunity to explore trails though the temperate rainforest, discover the history of the region, and enjoy a local wine tasting.
Buses transported us from the dock in Aysen to three different hiking sites in this region. Snowy mountaintops surrounded a spring landscape glowing in shades of green. Brilliant kelly-green grasses flourished in cleared pastures that intermixed with hunter-green pine plantations and hillsides of native southern beech forests which glittered in hues of emerald and jade. Scattered splashes of bright red revealed a plethora of blooming firebush trees, while other trees and shrubs had boughs decked in white blossoms. Three destinations for hiking were offered: Coyhaique National Reserve, Aysen Valley, and Aiken del Sur. Along some trails, we encountered enchanted forests of sixty-foot-tall southern beech trees draped with haunting billows of usnea lichens. Sharp-eyed flower watchers noted the colorful blooms of calafate, wild current, orchids, lady slippers, and oxalis. Magellanic woodpeckers, Andean condors, and various caracaras were among the birds we saw. After the hikes, we enjoyed a typical Patagonian barbecue, known as an asado. Freshly barbecued mutton with potatoes, vegetables, calafate drinks, and local red wine were served along with a festive dance performance and live music.
Happy Halloween! Today we were at sea and had time to edit photographs, journal, and learn from the natural history team as we sailed south along the west coast of Te Waipounamu, or the South Island of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
It was a memorable first day in South Georgia. The island emerged from the mist as dawn broke and we sailed into the beautifully sheltered cove of Elsehul. Our Zodiac cruise was an overload for the emotions as we explored the shoreline littered with an abundance of wildlife. Grey-headed and light-mantled albatross flew overhead, and the beaches were alive with the sounds of breeding elephant seals, hauled out fur seals, and nesting penguins. It was a short sail over lunch to our afternoon destination of Salisbury Plain. Home to over 70,000 pairs of king penguins. It is a spectacular sight. The beaches are overloaded with penguins and seals, and it is impossible to know where to look. Despite the howling wind coming off the nearby Grace Glacier, it was an unforgettable experience spending the afternoon amongst the birds and seals of Salisbury. The excitement did not end once the two excursions had finished, we were treated to a special Halloween dinner followed by an amazing performance by the ship’s band, The Shackletunes. Many of us got dressed up for the occasion and there was a competition for the best Halloween display and costume. The crew put on an incredible show, and we danced the night away as we sailed on to our next destination.
The coast of southern Chile is home to an intricate network of archipelagos, channels, and fjords, comprising countless islands that are a delight to explore by expedition ship. Our morning plan was to visit the southernmost coast of Chiloe Island. This area has been visited so infrequently that precise charts are lacking – but this does not stop National Geographic Resolution , and our Ice Pilot Johan went ahead in a Zodiac to take depth sounding measurements that ensured our safe passage. Climate and sea conditions in this remote part of the planet are unpredictable – a dense morning fog and southerly winds meant that, ultimately, we could not safely land in the area. But our experienced captain, expedition leader and staff soon came up with an alternate course – sail on to the Guaitecas Archipelago for an afternoon of Zodiac exploration. This gave us the opportunity to enjoy a fascinating talk on discovering new dinosaur species in Patagonia by Paleontologist Diego Pol. After lunch, calm seas and sunny conditions were perfect for our new plan, and we lowered our fleet of Zodiacs to explore the coasts, inlets, and channels of the small islands. We enjoyed wonderful sightings of many bird species, southern sea lions, and even two dolphin species! Photos by Emma Ridley and Diego Pol
