Navy vet Neil O'Connor was a guest aboard National Geographic Orion this past season. Here is the story of this 91 year old's poignant return to the island of Attu in the Aluetian Islands chain.
See spectacular wildlife photos taken aboard National Geographic Orion in the Bering Sea. National Geographic photographers captured brown bears, arctic fox, killer whales, bald eagles and many other animals in the region.
The islands and coasts that ring the Bering Sea are teeming with birdlife and fascinating land mammals like muskox, arctic fox, and brown bears; while the surrounding waters are churning with whales, seals, otters, and more.
Inhabited mainly by wildlife and strikingly picturesque, the Kuril Islands are a land of extremes—of snow and volcanoes, of sea lions and arctic foxes. Learn more about this remote and remarkable place.
We commenced our day with a short journey by boat for a fascinating exploration of Binh Thanh. We watched villagers weave reed mats, visited the home of a local elder, and walked to the temple. After wandering the island, it was back on the local boat for a cruise around the island looking at the floating fish farms, famers collecting water hyacinth, and watching all the boat traffic and activity on the river. After lunch, we sailed to a major fruit and vegetable region of the Mekong Delta and visited a cooperative that makes a range of products, from rice wine to coconut candy.
Today was another memorable day with a variety of surprising and enjoyable educational experiences. We awoke this morning on National Geographic Venture as it cruised north along the outside of Isla Margarita. Many delightful sightings of birds included masked boobies, western gulls, and Brandt's cormorants. The highlight of the morning was seeing the first California grey whales of the trip, which we witnessed at La Estrada, the mouth of Magdalena Bay that marks the northern end of Isla Margarita and the southern end of Isla Magdalena. In the afternoon, we set to shore and split into a variety of interest groups. Some went on a long, fast-paced hike while others went birding in the mangroves or on natural history or photo walks in the sand dunes. Some groups crossed over to the other side of the island and enjoyed the scenery of the wild beach that measures over ten miles long. Big waves and the sound of surf, sanderlings along the shoreline, and a light wind made for a great environment for beachcombing. We’re looking forward to the coming days here, exploring this fascinating part of a wonderful country.
This morning and afternoon, we spent several hours among dozens of gray whales in Bahia Almejas. It was fascinating to observe gray whale behaviors in a breeding lagoon. We watched pairs and trios of whales surface and roll near one another. We listened to them breathe and we felt the misty air from their exhalations. At times, gray whales swam very close to our small boats, and it was thrilling!
The time had come to cast off lines and head to southern lands. We watched in awe as Captain Martin navigated the swirling eddies and challenging wind of White Narrows. With only a few meters of margin, National Geographic Resolution slid through at slack tide when the waters are still and easier to predict their effect on the ship. Our afternoon activity was spent hiking to the Bernal Glacier, our first sighting of ice on the voyage! This glacier is easily accessed by a path along the moraine where guests marveled at the colors of the exposed rocks and the vivid greens of the flora. Antarctic beech trees and kettle ponds made for interesting photo subjects, as well as a few cute birds, like the tufted tit-tyrant. It was a lovely introduction to Chilean Patagonia.
After crossing the Panama Canal last night, we awoke this morning with calm waters on the Pacific side of Panama to later anchor near Iguana Island, a small tropical paradise known for its white sandy beaches and vibrant marine life. Eager to explore, we disembarked with our trusty Zodiacs and stepped onto the shore to walk along narrow trails, spotting iguanas basking in the sun and many magnificent frigatebirds hovering above our heads in the sky. After a short exploratory walk, we returned to the beach, where some chose to relax under the shade of palm trees while others prepared for snorkeling. The clear turquoise water revealed a stunning underwater world. Schools of colorful fish darted around the coral, and a few lucky snorkelers spotted rays gliding gracefully along the ocean floor. As the afternoon passed, we all returned to National Geographic Quest tired but satisfied. The experience today was a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. As our vessel pulled away from the island, many of us stood on deck watching the sun begin to set over the Pacific, grateful for another unforgettable day.
