June 08 - Svalbard

 June 08 - Svalbard 

Unfortunately the sea swell from yesterday continued on this morning so consequently this meant no beach landings only zodiac rides. 

Expectations were high though as, once out on the water, a Polar Beer was spotted almost immediately out on the ice. It soon took off though and unfortunately that was last we saw of it.  However, we did keep looking and, although unsuccessful, we did ride through some beautiful seascape. 

Once back on board another Polar Bear was spotted. It was a fair way away, but still easily seen with binoculars. It was interesting to note that it was a lot darker in colour than those we’d previously seen and it almost looked dirty. Strange! 

Due to the sea we were still unable to make land this afternoon so off out again on the zodiacs.  Some guides on this trip are really passionate about their subject of expertise and our one today, a geologist, is one of them, he’s really good.  As such we were given an interesting talk on glaciers while out, and, although we’re now both a bit more knowledgeable than we were this morning, I’m not sure that I can tell my ‘tertiary period’ from a ‘metamorphic’ or even a ‘moraine’! 😂

On our travels we came across a colony of Kittiwakes. The smallest of all the ‘Gulls’ in this part of the world and, along with Fulmars, are just about everywhere.