Wow, what a day here in the Falkland Islands on the National Geographic Endurance. We spent the morning on Steeple Jason Island enjoying close sights of the world’s largest black-browed albatross colony. With approximately 160,000 breeding pairs it was truly a sight to behold. The afternoon was spent on Carcass Island where we were able to spot Magellanic penguins on the beach—our 8th penguin species of the trip—and enjoyed Commerson’s dolphins bow riding on our return to the ship. What a time to be alive.
11/29/2022
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea
National Geographic Endurance set sail from the western edge of the Falkland Islands late last evening, and we enjoyed a relaxing day at sea. Guests were treated to smooth seas with plenty of albatrosses soaring about the vessel. The morning was full of educational opportunities. The undersea team shared photos collected while exploring the diverse underwater environments that the Falkland Islands provide. Next came a presentation by marine biologist Connor Ryan who spoke about the dynamics of how plankton and seabirds dictate the ecological rhythms of the upper layer of the ocean. Such a trip as we have had is certainly hard to summarize. Over the past three weeks, we visited some of the most spectacular and densely populated wildlife regions on our planet. Today was a day of reflection, photo editing, fine food, and contemplation of all that has occurred.