Polar Bears in Svalbard

Polar Bear standing to get a scent by Heidi Krajewsky

While onboard an expedition passenger ship cruising around Svalbard, the most northerly archipelago of Norway we are always on the lookout for Polar Bears.  Both for our safety as we don't want to travel on land where there are bears nearby but mainly for our curiosity and enjoyment.  These majestic animals really are amazing to see in their environment.... the sea ice!  Here's a few drawings of their postures from a bit of time spent in the company of bears in the ice.

Polar Bear roaming the ice.  They are often on the move looking for hunting opportunities.

Walking away from the ship into deeper sea ice.

Fair Isle, Scotland

Atlantic Puffins!

 



 

Fair Isle is between the Orkney and Shetland Islands in Scotland.  It is wild and beautiful and has many nesting seabirds including Atlantic Puffins.  The following are a few behavior sketches, they must have chicks in the nest now as fish were being brought back to their burrows.