This week's post includes photos of three different Antarctic penguin species, as well as two additional penguin species in the Galapagos Islands and Australia's Macquarie Island.
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.
Early this morning, there was an amazing sunrise over the distant mountains. Eventually when the ship awoke many hours later, we found ourselves parked in the fast ice of Marguerite Bay in Bourgeois Fjord. Shortly after breakfast, we disembarked the “penguin doors” and stepped out directly onto the fast ice. Some took off cross country skiing and others explored on foot. There were many crab eater seals around, perhaps as many as 200, in a variety of groups. It was a spectacular morning with almost no wind and blue skies. After a productive morning, the hotel department treated us to a barbecue lunch and a doughnut bar which some guests chose to eat on the outer decks of the ship, enjoying the amazing scenery. In the afternoon, we made a landing on the rocky terrain of Horseshoe Island to visit British Base Y which was established in 1955 by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey. In the evening, as we sailed north through Marguerite Bay, we enjoyed amazing scenery and after dinner we explored a narrow and scenic passage called The Gullet. It was a most memorable, enjoyable, and adventurous day here in Antarctica, and we’re all looking forward to tomorrow.
Today we enjoyed the island of Santiago. In the morning, we explored Buccaneer Cove by kayak, snorkeling, and even by glass bottom boat. In the afternoon we visited Puerto Egas. The landscape today was full of wildlife and amazing geological formations that offered great opportunities for photography, conversations, and good memories with our dear guests.
This morning, National Geographic Explorer awoke to another bluebird day along the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula. On approach to the morning’s anchorage, we saw a number of humpback whales close to the ship in the Gerlache Strait. After breakfast we opted to either kayak or explore Graham Passage by Zodiac. Lots of ice in the water made for a beautiful outing and the Zodiac cruisers saw humpbacks, an elephant seal, shags, gentoo penguins, and even an Adelie in the mix. Graham Passage is named after an old whale catcher boat that foundered off the coast of Joinville Island in 1924 in a storm of blinding snow with the loss of her ten crew. A lifeboat was subsequently found with a frozen corpse, the only body recovered. Another geographic place name that helps tell the story of the peninsula’s past. After lunch we were hoping to make a landing, but 30+ knots of wind did not allow that to happen, so we headed for Cierva Cove where we did a ship cruise. Beautiful evening light got us back on deck after dinner and we reveled in the beauty of Antarctica and our great fortune with the three cloudless days!
A wonderful day was enjoyed on my home island, Santa Cruz. It holds the largest population in the Galapagos Archipelago. This inhabited island offered not only a wonderful educational opportunity while visiting the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, but also the chance to connect with the local community. There was time to visit Tomas de Berlanga School, a pioneer farm known as El Trapiche, and even to learn how farmers are using new technologies, such as Romer Ochoa at the hydroponic farm. The afternoon was spent observing the Santa Cruz giant tortoises in their natural environment. There were so many tortoises today! What a great way to end a fantastic day!
After 36 hours crossing the infamous Drake Passage, the sight of land this morning brought a wave of excitement. The South Shetland Islands appeared on the horizon, promising our first steps into the wonders of Antarctica. Our morning landing at Barrientos Island was unforgettable. Chinstrap and gentoo penguins surrounded us, their curious waddles and lively calls filling the crisp air. The adventure continued back on board National Geographic Endurance with Photo Instructor Fiona who presented a dynamic smartphone photography workshop. In the afternoon, Eric Guth’s fascinating lecture on the life history of snowflakes made us marvel at the intricate beauty and importance of ice, while Maya Santangelo’s presentation, “The Secret Life of Krill”, underscored the delicate balance of this extraordinary ecosystem. In between the presentations, we all found ourselves captivated by the giant icebergs as we made our way through the Antarctic Sound. The day culminated in a breathtaking evening Zodiac cruise as the sun began to set, followed by a short landing at Brown Bluff. As we stood on the Antarctic mainland for the first time, we were greeted by our third penguin species of the day, the curious Adelie’s.
