From a spectacular sunrise over Antarctic ice to a rare "green flash" sighting in California's Channel Islands National Park, the skies were especially beautiful this week.
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.
Our first full day on North Island, New Zealand was spent in Napier, the art deco capitol of New Zealand. Many opportunities to fully grasp the splendor of this unique town and surrounding area were afforded to us, including independent explorations (on foot or by bicycle), the National Aquarium of New Zealand, Art Deco Town tours, and of course the Australasian gannet colonies out at Cape Kidnappers Cove. It was truly a glorious day filled with sunshine and warm spring weather. The statue “A Wave Through Time” is modelled on Sheila Williams, daughter of Ernest Williams, one of the notable architects of the post-earthquake rebuild era. The statue also features a greyhound, although Sheila had horses not dogs, images of exuberant women with elegant dogs were a popular theme during the Deco period. Sheila was also the Carnival Queen of the New Napier Carnival in January 1933 to celebrate the town's recovery from the earthquake.
The day began with calm seas as we transited northward towards Napier, our first destination on North Island. The wind was light, so many seabirds, such as albatross and petrels, were seen bobbing on the surface rather than taking flight. We had some lovely presentations onboard, allowing for our expedition staff to shine and highlight their incredible skills and backgrounds on a variety of subjects. As 4 o’clock rolled around, we were joined by a pod of common dolphins who entertained us by riding on the bow wake of National Geographic Orion . We rounded out the evening by having a photo feedback session with National Geographic Photo Expert Jeff and Certified Photo Instructor David. It was a relaxing and informative day at sea.
Española Island is an amazing first destination to visit in the Galapagos Islands because it is a fully immersive experience. Gardner Bay welcomes everyone with crystal-clear waters, white powdery sand, and a bunch of friendly sea lions and mockingbirds. We took part in snorkeling, followed by a beach stroll in this pristine place. Back on board National Geographic Endeavour II, we motored to our next destination at the westernmost point of Española Island. Punta Suarez is where the first documentaries of Galapagos wildlife were filmed in the 70s, and it has retained its appeal and rugged beauty. The juvenile waved albatrosses were a favorite, and an invigorating three-hour walk flew by and left everyone wanting more.
When does night end and day begin in a stunning spot with so little darkness? Last “night” was about the ice, with the ship securely nestled within the sea ice. Our morning was spent exploring this incredible spot in many ways, including skiing, snow shoeing, kayaking, and of course plunging. After lunch, it was time to move along, weaving our way through ice and searching for whales. We encountered many different minke and humpback whales and had especially great views of three individuals. We were also able to identify them by their unique flukes, one has even migrated to the Galapagos Islands and back multiple times!
The last full day of our expedition began with an early wake-up call performed by several troops of howler monkeys. From the bow of National Geographic Quest, several guests gathered to enjoy the majestic howl of these primates. They were announcing, up in the canopy of the trees of Barro Colorado Island, where they had decided to forage. Right after breakfast, we geared up and separated into three different groups. One group of our guests went to explore some of the trails of this island run by scientists of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Another group jumped in one of our Zodiacs and left to explore the surroundings of the island. The last group loaded onto outboard engine boats and cruised to the midpoint of the Panama Canal; from here they rode coach buses to a pristine area in the Soberania National Park. It was a very active morning, loaded with mesmerizing sightings of birds, primates, and reptiles. Afterward, we returned to the ship for lunch. Right after recharging our energy, we went out again and loaded onto local boats to explore other coves and small islets of Gatun Lake. Once back on board, we all gathered to share our thoughts of how amazing our journey has been, exploring the Caribbean coasts of Colombia and Panama.
