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...
Arctic
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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...
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...
Polar Bear and two cubs on a Walrus kill – Wrangel Island 2018
The bears looked healthy and well fed. They were completely unconcerned by our presence and we were able to stay with them for more than an hour. The Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) is the iconic species of the Arctic. They are normally found near the floe edge where...
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),...
Gannets – Bempton Cliffs, UK 2018
It was very windy at Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire! The Gannets took full advantage and were soaring and wheeling in the breeze. These magnificent birds are highly social and nest in large colonies on steep, rocky cliffs. With a wing span of up to 1.8m they are...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
Southern Elephant Seals – Macquarie Island – Antarctica 2018
Sailing south from The Auckland Islands we were heading to one of the jewels of the Subantarctic Islands: Macquarie Island. Australia’s Macquarie Island is home to a wealth of wildlife which is now flourishing since the eradication of introduced species like rabbits,...
King and Royal Penguins – Macquarie Island, Antarctica 2018
Sailing south from The Auckland Islands we were heading to one of the jewels of the Subantarctic Islands: Macquarie Island. Australia’s Macquarie Island is home to a wealth of wildlife which is now flourishing since the eradication of induced species like rabbits,...
Royal Penguins – Macquarie Island, Antarctica 2018
Sailing south from The Auckland Islands we were heading to one of the jewels of the Sub Antarctic Islands: Macquarie Island. Australia’s Macquarie Island is home to a wealth of wildlife which is now flourishing since the eradication of induced species like rabbits,...
Skuas of Enderby Island – New Zealand 2018
We had sailed from Bluff on the south coast of New Zealand’s South Island heading towards the Subantarctic Islands. Enderby Island is one of the northerly islands of the Auckland Islands. This archipelago was formed from two volcanoes and the remains of the calderas...
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.
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.
South Polar Skua – Antarctica 2018
The South Polar Skua is large gull-like Skua with very striking white primary flashes. They would glide effortlessly around the ship.
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
Triplet Polar Bear yearlings – Svalbard 2017
Triplet Polar Bear 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 the most...
A Walrus haul out – Svalbard 2017
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 most amazing encounters. . We also...
Various whales and Dolphins – Baja, Mexico 2017
Our almost annual trip to Baja is a highlight of our year. Here is a compilation of some of the highlights from 2017