Arctic

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The mighty Walrus on ice – Svalbard 2019

The mighty Walrus on ice – Svalbard 2019

The mighty Walrus on ice. It is always special to see Walrus hauled out on ice floes. It was comical to see the youngster rubbing itself on the ice. In the second clip blood can be seen running down the tusk of the mother. It was unclear what had caused the damage but...

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Two polar bears vie for a seal carcass – Svalbard 2019

Two polar bears vie for a seal carcass – Svalbard 2019

Two polar bears vie for a seal carcass. Getting food is tough in the Arctic! On the ice near Svalbard, this large male polar bear had killed a beared seal and you can see from the state he is in that he had been feasting on the kill for some time. The younger male...

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Polar bear on a seal kill – Svalbard 2016

Polar bear on a seal kill – Svalbard 2016

This male polar bear looked well fed after consuming most of the seal kill. It is interesting to seeing the bear eat blood-soaked ice. The digestive after effects of eating seal meat becomes obvious.

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Polar Bear on pack ice – Wrangel Island 2018

Polar Bear on pack ice – Wrangel Island 2018

The Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) is the iconic species of the Arctic. They are normally found near the floe edge where they hunt seals most notably Ringed Seals. On this trip we found several bears on Walrus kills and saw very few seals. Polar Bears will also take...

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Two young Polar Bears play in the sea – Wrangel Island 2018

Two young Polar Bears play in the sea – Wrangel Island 2018

It seems likely that these young bears had only recently left the protection of their mother and would be soon going their separate ways. The Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) is the iconic species of the Arctic. They are normally found near the floe edge where they hunt...

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Three Polar Bears near a Walrus Carcass – Wrangel Island 2018

Three Polar Bears near a Walrus Carcass – Wrangel Island 2018

Close to Wrangel island, we came upon three Polar Bears near a Walrus Carcass.  This was the third Walrus kill we had seen. Surprisingly we had seen few seals so the bears had had to resort to taking young Walrus. The Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) is the iconic species...

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Inquisitive Polar Bear – Wrangel Island 2018

Inquisitive Polar Bear – Wrangel Island 2018

Just south of Wrangel Island in the Russian Far East we came across two young Polar Bear siblings. This one was curious and came to check us out before heading off to play with his sib. A wonderful encounter. The Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) is the iconic species of...

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Playful Polar Bears – Wrangel Island 2018

Playful Polar Bears – Wrangel Island 2018

Just south of Wrangel Island, these two Polar Bears entertained us with their playful antics. It seems likely that these young bears had only recently left the protection of their mother and would be soon going their separate ways. The Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) is...

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Polar Bear on a large ice floe – Wrangel Island 2018

Polar Bear on a large ice floe – Wrangel Island 2018

South of Wrangel Island we found this beautiful Polar Bear on a very large ice floe. The Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) is the iconic species of the Arctic. They are normally found near the floe edge where they hunt seals most notably Ringed Seals. On this trip we found...

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Walrus in the mist – Wrangel 2018

Walrus in the mist – Wrangel 2018

These animals were very relaxed. The Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is the largest of all the Arctic pinnipeds and the the only larger pinnipeds are the Elephant Seals. Here in the Bering sea, the Pacific subspecies O.r.divergens have longer tusks, up to 100cm (in males),...

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Polar bears with cubs – Svalbard 2018

Polar bears with cubs – Svalbard 2018

The Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) is the iconic species of the Arctic. They are normally found near the floe edge where they hunt seals most notably Ringed Seals. On this trip we found several bears on Walrus kills and saw very few seals. Polar Bears will also take...

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Type C Orca checking out the ice edge – Antarctica 2018

Type C Orca checking out the ice edge – Antarctica 2018

A large male Type C Orca checking out the ice edge. We had sailed from the Ross Ice shelf into McMurdo Sound. We visited the historic huts of Scott and Shackleton (outstanding experience!) and then headed to the ice channel created by the icebreaker Polar Star to...

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Ross Ice Shelf – Antarctica, 2018

Ross Ice Shelf – Antarctica, 2018

We arrived in the early morning getting our first glimpse of Ross Island and Mount Terror and soon after the ice shelf could be seen. This was named “The barrier” by the early Antarctic explorers since it represented an impenetrable barrier to their progress. The ice...

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Antarctic Minke Whales – Antarctica 2018

Antarctic Minke Whales – Antarctica 2018

Antarctic Minke Whales. As we sailed along the Ross Ice Shelf we spotted the distant blows of Antarctic Minke Whales feeding just in front of the ice cliff. As we approached we realised there were about 30 of these animals and they were feeding on the upwelling of...

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Off Cape Bird – Ross Island, Antarctica 2018

Off Cape Bird – Ross Island, Antarctica 2018

As we rounded Cape Bird en route to Cape Royd (Shackleton’s hut) and Cape Evans (Scott’s hut) with its large Adelie Penguin colony, we ran into some dense pack ice. The Captain took the Spirit of Enderby gently and skillfully through the ice. We enjoyed the...

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Crabeater Seals lounging on the pack ice – Antarctica 2018

Crabeater Seals lounging on the pack ice – Antarctica 2018

Crabeater Seals lounging on the pack ice. After sailing south for four days, we arrived off Cape Adare early in the morning. The sea was calm and the sun was shining. The ship was surrounded by ice bergs glistening in the bright sunshine. The peaks of Antarctica were...

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Adelie Penguins on ice floes – Antarctica 2018

Adelie Penguins on ice floes – Antarctica 2018

Numerous Adelie Penguins occupied the ice floes: everyone’s idea of the archetypal penguin. After sailing south from Macquarie Island for four days, we arrived off Cape Adare early in the morning. The sea was calm and the sun was shining. The ship was surrounded by...

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Off Cape Adare – Antarctica, 2018

Off Cape Adare – Antarctica, 2018

After sailing south from Macquarie Island for four days, we arrived off Cape Adare early in the morning. The sea was calm and the sun was shining. The ship was surrounded by ice bergs glistening in the bright sunshine. The peaks of Antarctica were visible ahead of us....

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Antarctic Petrel – Antarctica 2018

Antarctic Petrel – Antarctica 2018

The Antarctic Petrel is often gregarious and will form large flocks. They are often seen near the pack ice and icebergs. They have a wing span of abut 1m and weigh 675g. Performs distinctive stiff winged glides.

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Greater Snow Petrel – Antarctica 2018

Greater Snow Petrel – Antarctica 2018

These stocky little birds have a wingspan of about 75-95cm and are very similar to the Lesser Snow Petrel. That feed mostly on fish, crustacea and cephalopods by surface diving, surface seizing and contact dipping. They are monogamous and form long-term pair-bonds.

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A Polar Bear scavenging at the ice edge – Svalbard 2017

A Polar Bear scavenging at the ice edge – Svalbard 2017

A Polar Bear scavenging at the ice edge. Our fifth trip to these amazing Arctic Islands. This was a very special trip: a private charter aboard the M/S Malmo for twenty nights. This gave us the maximum time possible in the pack ice as we searched for Polar Bears. We...

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A Polar Bear plays with a Narwhal’s penis – Svalbard 2017

A Polar Bear plays with a Narwhal’s penis – Svalbard 2017

A Polar Bear plays with a Narwhal's penis. Our fifth trip to these amazing Arctic Islands. This was a very special trip: a private charter aboard the M/S Malmo for twenty nights. This gave us the maximum time possible in the pack ice as we searched for Polar Bears. We...

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Two Polar Bear cubs play with a block of ice – Svalbard 2017

Two Polar Bear cubs play with a block of ice – Svalbard 2017

Two Polar Bear cubs play with a block of ice. Our fifth trip to these amazing Arctic Islands. This was a very special trip: a private charter aboard the M/S Malmo for twenty nights. This gave us the maximum time possible in the pack ice as we searched for Polar Bears....

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Polar Bears with a male Narwhal carcass – Svalbard 2017

Polar Bears with a male Narwhal carcass – Svalbard 2017

Polar Bears with a male Narwhal carcass. Our fifth trip to these amazing Arctic Islands. This was a very special trip: a private charter aboard the M/S Malmo for twenty nights. This gave us the maximum time possible in the pack ice as we searched for Polar Bears. We...

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A polar bear family take time out – Svalbard 2017

A polar bear family take time out – Svalbard 2017

A polar bear family take time out. Our fifth trip to these amazing Arctic Islands. This was a very special trip: a private charter aboard the M/S Malmo for twenty nights. This gave us the maximum time possible in the pack ice as we searched for Polar Bears. We had the...

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A Polar Bear with triplet yearlings – Svalbard 2017

A Polar Bear with triplet yearlings – Svalbard 2017

A Polar Bear with triplet yearlings. Our fifth trip to these amazing Arctic Islands. This was a very special trip: a private charter aboard the M/S Malmo for twenty nights. This gave us the maximum time possible in the pack ice as we searched for Polar Bears. We had...

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