St Jonsfjorden & Poolepynten

Another dull, grey day.

Northern Fulmar

Black Guillemot

Arctic Tern

It is 8th June & we are at GPS position: 78, 31, 1 N  012, 51, 0. E.  After breakfast we set off for a three hour hike across the tundra. The weather was dull with a little snow falling.

It is pretty wild country here!

Barnacle Goose

They had just arrived & were feeding on any area 
cleared of snow.

Great to see them on their breeding grounds.

Pink footed Goose

Common Eider

Arctic Skua

Purple Sandpiper

This individual had been colour ringed.

Our footprints in the snow.

Alexi, Delana & Mariam

We hiked up here to get views of the general area.

Svalbad Reindeer

Svalbad Ptarmigan

This race is endemic to Svalbad.

Snow Bunting

Female

Paired up & already on territory.

Delana, enjoying just being here
 in this amazing scenery!

Yours truly!

It was a nice morning out.

Poolepynten, the point & beach extends

 to the right of the photo.

Transferring from the ship to the beach.

This beach is full of trees which have been cut

 in Siberia! Ocean currents mean that lost trees 

have a habit of ending up here!

In the afternoon we went to the Walrus beaching point at Poolepynten.

These are all males. The females & young have
 already left for eastern Svalbad.

Coming ashore.

This male was getting a little upset by having 
his snooze disturbed!

Providing one is quiet, they are very 
curious animals!

Great Skua

Arctic Tern

Calling for its mate.

In the very short time available one has to

 get down to business!

It's a Blue Whale!

Got a little excited by this sighting!

What an ending to the day!

We went back on board the ship & started sailing in the open sea, when a Blue Whale was spotted! Unfortunately, only a small fraction of this enormous creature could be seen at any one time above the surface. A brilliant sighting though!

Best birds:

Red throated Diver 2; Northern Fulmar 45; Pink footed Goose 4; Barnacle Goose 8; Pale bellied Brent Goose 6; Common Eider 30; King Eider 2; Ptarmigan 1; Purple Sandpiper 5; Arctic Skua 2; Great Skua 2; Sabine's Gull 1; Glaucous Gull 25; Kittiwake 250; Arctic Tern 250; Brunnich's Guillemot 300; Black Guillemot 20; Little Auk 35 & Snow Bunting 2.

Mammals:

Walrus 35; Blue Whale 1; Svalbad Reindeer 12.