Into the Pack Ice!

Early hours on the 5th June.

As we slowly progressed northwards, 

the ice got thicker.

Kittiwake

Very common here.

Arctic Tern

They had made it, right to the edge of the pack ice!

Brunnich's Guillemot

Little Auk

Black Guillemot

Dressed for the occasion!

I was up at 4.20 am on 5th June! I looked out across thin ice covering the sea but with plenty of empty sea as well. It was a dull, grey morning, freezing cold with plenty of snow blowing into your face from the icy northerly wind. Our GPS position was 79, 51, 9N; 010, 38, 9E. There were thousands of Brunnich's Guillemots & Little Auks both flying by & resting on the sea.

Bearded Seal

Minkie Whale

As we slowly traveled north the pack ice got thicker & thicker & the snow heavier! We saw our first Bearded Seal & a Minkie Whale put in a brief appearance.

Ivory Gull

Glaucous Gull

Little Auks flying across ice.

Brunnnich's Guillemot

Fulmar, a light blue phase.

Polar Bear, but so far away in a snow storm!

Footprints! They are enormous!

In the afternoon the weather deteriorated even further with reduced visibility caused by heavy snow showers. After much searching we eventually saw two different sightings of Polar Bears. The first sighting was so far away walking even further away from us. However, we did see Polar Bear footprints on the ice next to the ship!

Completely at home in the water!

Now classified as a marine mammal!

The second sighting was a little better as we watched it swim about 500 metres & walk away from us on the ice. It was fantastic seeing them, but the views were far from ideal.

Ivory Gull

What an ending to a great day!

Just as the day was drawing to a close an Ivory Gull flew by. This individual still had some spots on it, so not quite a full adult. What a first day in the ice: 2 Polar Bear sightings and an Ivory Gull!

Birds:

Northern Fulmar 400+; Ruddy Turnstone, one flying around the ship away from land! Arctic Skua 2; Great Skua 3; Glaucous Gull 35; Kittiwake 300; Ivory Gull 3; Arctic Tern 12; Brunnich's Guillemot 4,000+; Black Guillemot 150; Little Auk 9,000.

Mammals:

Northern Minkie Whale 1; Bearded Seal 17; Ringed Seal 2; Harp Seal 5; Polar Bear 2.

It is the 6th June & we are still here!

Slowly forcing our way through the ice!

Fulmars at this latitude 

were mainly of the very dark

 blue morph.

We awoke to find ourselves still very much in the ice! GPS position 79 55, 5N; 010 59, 2 E. Weather was very cold & snowing hard at times. Visibility not too good. But it was good to be here on the lookout for birds & mammals.

Bearded Seal

Brunnich's Guillemot

A closer look!

Black Guillemot

Glaucous Gull

Fulmar

Great Skua

Kittiwake

Ivory Gull

Arctic Tern

Best birds:

Northern Fulmar 250; Great Skua 2; Glaucous Gull 50; Kittiwake 200+; Ivory Gull 1; Arctic Tern 6; Brunnich's Guillemot 2,000; Black Guillemot 200; Little Auk 1,000; 

Mammals:

Bearded Seal 3; Ringed Seal 2; Harp Seal 5; Polar Bear 1.