Photos of the Week, September 30, 2022

Last week in British Columbia, guests and staff were surprised and delighted by a trio of bow-riding Dall's porpoises. Naturalist Jim Pfitzer chronicled the event and took a series of photos of the porpoises swimming alongside the reflection of National Geographic Quest.

Our field staff's photos this week also included images of the Sea Cloud and its “pool” (aka the Mediterranean Sea) and close-ups of remarkable birds in the South Pacific, Galápagos, and Peruvian Amazon. 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.

Seymour Narrows, British Columbia

Treasures of the Inside Passage: Alaska and British Columbia, September 13, 2022

“They’re turning!” With those words, everyone on deck runs to the prow of the ship, leans over the rail, and looks down into the dark, still water. As we scan the water, the ship’s hull and a couple dozen little faces are mirrored back to us on the surface of the water.

What we anticipate is a trio of Dall’s porpoises. Black and white, seven feet long, and made of 300 pounds of muscle bent on playing, these tiny-toothed whales are aiming for our bow, where a pressure wave creates the perfect conditions for underwater surfing. —Jim Pfitzer, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

Sifnos, Greece

Sailing the Greek Isles aboard Sea Cloud, September 12, 2022

The reclining cats of Kastro embody the idyllic nature of this sleepy little medieval village. —David Brotherson, Cultural Specialist

Taha’a, French Polynesia

Easter Island to Tahiti: Tales of the Pacific, September 15, 2022

The Pacific golden plover is a special bird known for its different plumages in the breeding and non-breeding adult. They nest in the Artic and sub-Arctic Alaskan tundra, and may winter on islands in the Pacific Ocean as far south as Australia and French Polynesia. —Cristian Moreno, Undersea Specialist (Photo by Jose Calvo)

Ithaka, Greece

Under Sail: Greece to the Dalmatian Coast aboard Sea Cloud, September 16, 2022

A view of Sea Cloud in the harbor from a viewpoint by Panagia Kathariotissa Monastery. —Anna Mazurek, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

Porto Palermo, Albania

Under Sail: Greece to the Dalmatian Coast aboard Sea Cloud, September 17, 2022

Sea Cloud's pool at sunset from Porto Palermo castle. —Paula Tagle, Expedition Leader

Makatea, French Polynesia

Easter Island to Tahiti: Tales of the Pacific, September 17, 2022

This white tern gave us a lovely welcome when we arrived at a vista. —Cristian Moreno, Undersea Specialist (Photo by Jose Calvo)

Flatey Island, Iceland

East Greenland: Wild Shores of the High Arctic, September 19, 2022

Flatey is only two kilometers long and about one kilometer wide. National Geographic Endurance guests had the chance to walk just about the whole area of the charming island. —Nathan Kelley, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

Clavero Lake, Peru

Upper Amazon Aboard the Delfin II, September 19, 2022

Yellow-headed caracara. —Juan Carlos Avila, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos

Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, September 20, 2022

Giant tortoises feed on green grass, green leaves, and pretty much anything they can catch. It’s been proven that tortoises have a developed sense of taste. When guavas and poisonous apples are available, tortoises will choose those over grass and leaves. —Bernardo Jacome, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

Supay Creek, Peru

Upper Amazon Aboard the Delfin II, September 22, 2022

Amazon kingfisher. —Christian Saa, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

Blomsterbugten, East Greenland

Iceland and Greenland: Wild Coasts and Icy Shores, September 25, 2022

Two muskoxen are accompanied by a snow bunting that is ready for migrating south. —Serguei Ponomarenko, Naturalist (Photo by Jonathan Fuhrmann)

North Seymour Island, Galápagos

Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, September 25, 2022

A male frigatebird at North Seymour Island. Both magnificent and great frigatebird males have a red gular pouch, which is connected to the respiratory system. Frigatebirds can inflate the pouch during nesting season to attract the attention of females. —Gianna Haro, Naturalist (Photo by Anahi Concari)