Photos of the Week, April 21, 2023

Los Islotes, Baja California, Mexico

Baja California: A Remarkable Journey, March 22, 2023

Upon return to the ship, we enjoyed a delicious brunch, followed by an afternoon of cruising the Gulf of California in search of charismatic megafauna. We hit the jackpot with a super pod of long-beaked common dolphins, with an estimated number of individuals near a thousand, though it could easily be more. —Bryan Holliday, Naturalist

 

Apia, Upolu, Samoa

Fiji and Tahiti Adventure: Vibrant Reefs and Cultural History, March 30, 2023

Talofa (Greetings) from Apia, Samoa! Today, our grand ship National Geographic Orion slipped into Apia Harbour on Upolu Island in Samoa, previously known as Western Samoa. To our surprise, we were met by local dancers to welcome us to their shore. —Tua Pittman, Cultural Specialist

 

Bartolomé Island, Galápagos

Wild Galápagos Escape, April 1, 2023

Black-necked stilt. —Jonathan Aguas, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

 

Nauta Caño Creek, Peru

Upper Amazon Aboard the Delfin II, April 3, 2023

Just as it was time to return to the ship, one of the skiffs radioed to let us know that they spotted some night monkeys. This was definitely a highlight of our day, and we spent a few minutes observing three individuals, likely part of a family group. The monkeys were nestled into the hollow of a tree trunk, and they frequently looked down on us. —Dave Katz, Expedition Leader

 

Bartolomé Island, Galápagos

Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, April 6, 2023

During both the morning and afternoon, we enjoyed incredible opportunities to see Galapagos penguins in action. As long as they were of the correct size, schools of black-striped salemas and sardines were prey for these fast swimming birds. The adult penguins have thin, white lines curving around their cheeks, while juveniles have pale cheeks without the line. —Cindy Manning, Expedition Leader

 

Makatea, French Polynesia

Easter Island to Tahiti: Tales of the Pacific, April 7, 2023

Makatea is rare because it has potable water. Some of our guests had the opportunity to refresh themselves inside a natural pool in the grotto of Makatea. —Cristian Moreno, Undersea Specialist

 

Genovesa Island, Galápagos

Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, April 7, 2023

Swallow-tailed gulls are endemic to the Galapagos. They are the only gulls that go out in the open ocean at night to find food. It is amazing to stand on the outer decks at night and watch the gulls follow the ship. —Walter Perez, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

 

San Ildefonso Island, Baja California, Mexico

Exploring the Gulf of California: A Living Sea & Desert Isles, April 11, 2023

San Ildefonso is home to a large number and variety of birds, and we delighted at the sight of red-billed tropicbirds, eared grebes, Craveri’s murrelets, yellow-footed gulls, and ravens. Something diverted our attention from the birds, though: a humpback whale! We all had excellent views of the whale. —Carlos Navarro, Undersea Specialist

 

At Sea Toward Mangareva, French Polynesia

Easter Island to Tahiti: Tales of the Pacific, April 12, 2023

Masked booby juvenile. —Margrit Ulrich, Naturalist

 

Santiago Island, Galápagos

Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, April 12, 2023

Marine iguanas are found all over the archipelago. Special adaptations allow the iguanas to be the only seagoing lizards on our planet. They can swim, they live along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, and they forage at sea. —Walter Perez, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

 

Porto, Portugal

Culture and Cuisine: From Porto to Basque Country, April 13, 2023

A tour of Lello Bookstore gave us the chance to see the beautiful interior of the incredible bookstore that has been said to inspire the Harry Potter books. Rowling denied this several times, but she was in Porto before writing the books. After visiting the bookstore and observing local students wearing robes, I can certainly see resemblances to the books, but who really knows? —Kelly Coursey Gray, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

 

Santiago Island, Galápagos

Wild Galápagos Escape, April 13, 2023

A blue-footed booby fishing in the bay in front of our ship. —Ramiro Adrian, Naturalist

 

Puerto Los Gatos, Baja California, Mexico

Exploring the Gulf of California: A Living Sea & Desert Isles, April 15, 2023

Many flowers were sighted on the afternoon desert walks. Despite nasty spines and the prickly reputation of cholla cactus, they have beautiful blossoms. —Lee Moll, Naturalist