A variety of animal babies made memorable appearances for guests in the Galápagos islands this week, including a sea lion pup that was apparently literally minutes old, as well as freshly-hatched blue-footed booby chicks. Meanwhile, in the Arctic, spectacular sightings of bearded seals, polar bears, and a pod of beluga whales were among the highlights.
For more dispatches from the field, check out our Daily Expedition Reports.
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Christiansø, Denmark
Navigating theBaltic Sea, May 27, 2022
A view from a window of the Small Tower on Christiansø. The main islands of [Christiansø and Bornholm] are straight out of a picture book: sturdy fortifications, a gentle hotel, a police station, yellow houses with red tiled roofs, pretty gardens, and an astonishing array of wildflowers everywhere. You would expect Pippi Longstocking to pop up at any minute. —Koen Kleijn
Cascade Creek, Alaska
Wild Alaska Escape:Juneau to Ketchikan, May 27, 2022
In the early afternoon, we deployed two Zodiacs. The first Zodiac took three members of our crew to explore Thomas Bay. The second Zodiac transported the rest of our crew to the base of the trail at Cascade Creek, which leads to a series of spectacular waterfalls. Naturalists Eric Guth and Kelly Morgan led the second hiking group along the trail at a slower pace, providing insights into the flora and fauna of a classic Southeastern Alaska forest. —Luke O'Neill, Expedition Leader
Spitzbergen, Svalbard, Norway
Land Of The Ice Bears:An In-Depth ExplorationOf Arctic Svalbard, May 30, 2022
The final day of our voyage around Svalbard started off bright, with the sun’s rays glinting off the floes of pack ice surrounding the ship. In such ideal conditions, it didn’t take long for us to spot what we were all hoping for – a gorgeous polar bear on the pack ice. The animal proved inquisitive and approached National Geographic Resolution as she sat in position, our cameras at the ready on all the outer decks. It was a beautiful male in good condition, and it came to within 200 meters of the ship, giving us a lovely opportunity to observe it with the naked eye. —Jon Fuhrmann, Naturalist
Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska
Exploring Alaska'sCoastal Wilderness, May 31, 2022
Two bald eagles on an iceberg. —Kelly Coursey-Gray, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Mariahamn, Åland Archipelago, Finland
Navigating theBaltic Sea, May 29, 2022
Viewed from National Geographic Explorer’s aft deck, the sunset over the Pommern was a very special moment. —David Cothran, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Fern Harbor, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Wild Alaska Escape:Juneau to Ketchikan, June 1, 2022
Intrepid guest exploring a salt marsh with the Fairweather Mountains in the background. —Larry Prussin, Expedition Leader (photo by Eric Guth)
Cerro Dragon, Galápagos
Galápagos AboardNational Geographic Endeavour II, June 1, 2022
Zigzag spider eating butterflies. —Christian Saa, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Cascade Creek, Alaska
Exploring Alaska'sCoastal Wilderness, June 2, 2022
Sunrise into the mist of Cascade Creek in Thomas Bay. —Patrick Webster, Undersea Specialist
South Plaza Island, Galápagos
Wild Galápagos &Peru Escape, June 2, 2022
Galapagos yellow warbler and Sesuvium sp plant on South Plaza Island. —Paulina Saa, Naturalist
80° N off Svalbard, Norway
Norwegian Discovery:Svalbard and theNorthern Fjords, June 2, 2022
Bearded seal sunbathing at 80 degrees North, off Svalbard. —Carlos Navarro, Undersea Specialist
Genovesa Island, Galápagos
Galápagos AboardNational Geographic Endeavour II, June 3, 2022
Large ground finch! This tiny bird was actively looking for breakfast. A ground finch’s diet is mainly seeds. Finches on Genovesa have extra-large beaks. —Felipe Wittmer Naranjo, Naturalist
Edgeoya, Svalbard, Norway
Land Of The Ice Bears:An In-Depth ExplorationOf Arctic Svalbard, June 4, 2022
A beluga whale engages in a classic “spy hop,” raising its head well above the water’s surface to get a look around. —Doug Gould, Expedition Leader (photo by Lisle Gwynn)
Rabida Island, Galápagos
Galápagos AboardNational Geographic Endeavour II, June 5, 2022
At Rabida Island, we walked by the brackish water lagoon. We got to see thirteen greater flamingos, three of them nesting. Their nests look like small cones with a single egg on top. Just amazing! —Vanessa Gallo, Naturalist
North Seymour Island, Galápagos
Wild Galápagos Escape, June 6, 2022
Blue-footed booby chick and egg on North Seymour Island. —Paulina Saa, Naturalist
Santiago Island, Galápagos
Galápagos AboardNational Geographic Endeavour II, June 8, 2022
On Santiago Island, our guests had the privilege of seeing a mother sea lion interact with her newborn while the placenta was still fresh beside them. —Africa Berdonces, Naturalist (photo by Paola Luque)