It's almost a given that any Photos of the Week post from October to March will include at least one beautiful photo of penguins in the Antarctic. This week's post includes photos of three different Antarctic penguin species, as well as two additional penguin species in the Galápagos Islands and Australia's Macquarie Island.
But penguins weren't the only black-and-white beauties capturing the attention of field staff: killer whales in Antarctica, and seabirds in the Galápagos, were also among the week's standout shots.
Snow Hill Island, Antarctica
Voyage to Antarctica, November 26, 2024
After lunch, we headed out again, this time to walk on the sea ice. To our amazement, two emperor penguins decided to join us on the ice. It was such a delight to witness the bonding of this pair, the most elusive of all Antarctic penguins. —Pelin Asfuroglu, Historian
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Weddell Sea, Antarctica
Voyage to Antarctica, November 27, 2024
Penguins watch as a killer whale passes by. —Stephen Fisher, Historian
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Chinese Hat, Galápagos
Exploring Galápagos, November 28, 2024
We motored to the next island and marveled at the magnificent landscape of Chinese Hat Islet. We snorkeled and explored the coast. We were pleased to discover a small group of Galapagos penguins enjoying the last moments of the day. —Gilda Gonzalez, Naturalist (photo by Charles Wittmer)
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Snow Hill Island, Antarctica
Voyage to Antarctica, November 28, 2024
Midnight sunset in the Weddell Sea. Note the abundant sea ice and massive tabular icebergs. —Dave Katz, Expedition Leader
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Orne Harbor, Antarctica
Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage 8-Day, November 29, 2024
National Geographic Explorer in the background. —Maria Intxaustegi, Historian
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Genovesa Island, Galápagos
Exploring Galápagos, November 29, 2024
A young red-billed tropicbird calmly sits in a small cave in the middle of our path. —Anahí Concari, Naturalist
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Macquarie Island, Australia
Southern Odyssey: New Zealand and the Subantarctic Islands, November 29, 2024
A pair of royal penguins endemic to Macquarie Island emerge, walking up the beach at Sandy Bay. —David Cothran, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
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Drake Passage
Voyage to Antarctica, December 1, 2024
Antarctic prions made some incredible acrobatic maneuvers in the wind. —Phil Chaon, Naturalist
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Ulva Island, New Zealand
Southern Odyssey: New Zealand and the Subantarctic Islands, December 2, 2024
Recovering from many decades of commercial exploitation, the New Zealand sea lion is one of the rarest pinnipeds in the world. This female seemed totally unconcerned about our presence, as she flicked sand at the sand flies. —Conor Ryan, Naturalist
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Cuverville Island, Antarctica
Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage 8-Day, December 4, 2024
Watching a pod of almost two dozen type B orca whales wrapped up our day. —John Pachuta, Naturalist
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