We can always expect to see multiple striking close-ups of wildlife in our Daily Expedition Reports. This week, though, our photos from the field included multiple memorable animal photos from a greater distance, including spy-hopping whales in Baja California, a flock of birds in the Amazon, and flamingos in the Galápagos Islands (an underrated highlight of the islands!).
Clavero Lake, Peru
Upper Amazon Aboard the Delfin II, January 29, 2024
Our first full day exploring the Amazon started at Clavero Lake, a blackwater oxbow lake, where we spent time enjoying both gray and pink river dolphins and many birds. —Carlos Navarro, Undersea Specialist
Weddell Sea, Antarctica
Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent, January 31, 2024
A stunning sunrise with a tabular iceberg in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. —Justin Hofman, Undersea Specialist
Cockburn Island, Antarctica
Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent, February 1, 2024
National Geographic visiting scientists retrieve their sampling instruments during a stunning afternoon cruise around Cockburn Island. —Chelsea Korbulic, Naturalist
Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos
Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, February 1, 2024
Santa Cruz giant tortoise enjoying the morning sun. —Omar Adrian, Naturalist
Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, Belize
Wild Belize Escape: Wildlife, Reefs, and Rivers, February 1, 2024
The intricate grove of smooth brain coral. —Rachel Crane, Undersea Specialist
Nauta Creek, Peru
Upper Amazon Aboard the Delfin II, February 2, 2024
We arrived at the very remote lagoon called “Renacal” with a large carpet of floating vegetation, a true paradise for reptiles. —Socrates Tomala, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Macquarie Island, Australia
Epic Antarctica: From the Peninsula to the Ross Sea & Beyond, February 3, 2024
The swell was small enough to permit a safe landing at the beach while still providing a spectacular setting to photograph and observe penguins commuting to and from the sea, including this fearless royal penguin. —Conor Ryan, Naturalist
Floreana Island, Galápagos
Wild Galápagos Escape, February 4, 2024
Flamingos feeding at the lagoon. —Ramiro Adrian, Naturalist
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Vietnam and Cambodia: Along The Mekong River, including Angkor and Saigon, February 4, 2024
We came upon the Russey Keo suspension bridge on the Tonle Sap River shortly after sundown. —Linda M. Burback, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia
Vietnam and Cambodia: Along The Mekong River, including Angkor and Saigon, February 5, 2024
Our tuk-tuk ride takes us across the farming communities of Kampong Chhnang, where we see traditional crafts, harvesting, and food production. —David Brotherson, Cultural Specialist
Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico
Wild Baja California Escape: The Whales of Magdalena Bay, February 6, 2024
Sunrise over Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico. —Bryan Holliday, Naturalist
Bahia Almejas, Baja California, Mexico
Wild Baja California Escape: The Whales of Magdalena Bay, February 6, 2024
On each of our morning and afternoon panga cruises, we saw more than 50 whales and many of the classic behaviors: spyhopping (hundreds of examples, sometimes with two or three in the same photo frame), breaching (eight times), rolling with flukes and/or flippers breaking the surface, logging or “napping,” panga-bumping and panga swim-bys. Many of the spyhopping whales eyed us, as if they were panga-watching while we were whale-watching! —Jim Coyer, Undersea Specialist
Mekong River, Vietnam
Vietnam and Cambodia: Along The Mekong River, including Angkor and Saigon, February 7, 2024
The waters were turned to papaya orange by the sun as it set behind the fishermen in the Tan Chau Canal. —Linda M. Burback, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
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