Early this morning, swallow-tailed gulls were spotted. These gulls, known mainly from the Islands, are unusual in that they are often found far out at sea (most gulls rarely venture far from shore), and that they are nocturnal. Their nighttime activity derives from their diet (they feed on squid, which come near the water's surface at night), and their need to avoid the kleptoparasitic magnificent frigatebirds with which they share their range. Throughout lunch, a great egret flew along our starboard side -- rather unusual, since we were about one hundred and thirty miles from land at the time.
In the morning and the afternoon, the naturalist staff presented lectures about the Panama Canal (we will be transiting the Canal the day after tomorrow), the underwater world of the Eastern Pacific Ocean and, to cool us down, Alaska.
Almost every evening during this voyage, we have enjoyed the sunsets. We have even seen the Green Flash a few times. As the photo shows, this evening's sunset was subtle but lovely.
