Today was our first expedition day of the voyage! After a day of sailing across the sea from Ushuaia, Argentina, we arrived at Stanley in the Falkland Islands this morning. As we approached, we began to have great sightings of the wildlife that calls this region home (at least for part of the year), including sei whales. Once cleared into the port, we ventured out for the day to enjoy the area of Stanley. We enjoyed the highlights of the city and explored the scenery and wildlife in the surrounding area at nearby Gypsy Cove. Wildlife highlights included a large variety of seabird species, from Magellanic penguins to Upland geese and steamer ducks. As we made our way out of Stanley, we were treated to views of Peale’s dolphins around the ship, perhaps a good sign of the ample wildlife ahead of us as we began to journey across the ocean towards South Georgia.
3/13/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea Towards the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia
A gently swaying National Geographic Endurance greeted the day. The wind and waves that our guests had become accustomed to during this voyage were nowhere in sight. Instead, a light breeze and calm seas lifted our spirits as we prepared for our final day on the ship. Sei whales, albatross, and dolphins welcomed us into the Beagle Channel before long. In between packing and reclaiming our passports, several presentations were given with a wide range of topics. First up, our undersea team shared footage from several dives in the Falklands, including a notable visit from some rather playful southern sea lions. Secondly, our National Geographic photographer spoke about photography and how it can be used to inspire conversation about wild places. Wrapping up our presentations for the day was our guest speaker, Mensun Bound, who provided a loose Q&A session on Shackleton. Captain Oliver and Expedition Leader Russ shared a few words about our epic voyage and sent us off to dinner. A day full of education and sightseeing – a great way to say farewell to our incredible guests.