(I’ve joined 100 passengers on board a small cruise ship to explore the Eastern coast of Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada. Join me as I see wildlife, phenomenal landscapes and meet friendly locals with Adventure Canada.)
Iceberg after the Polar Bear Sighting, Isabella Bay
Passing through Isabella Bay this morning, we knew this was the area where bowhead whales summer (and which is being developed into a Biosphere Reserve and National Wildlife Area).
On a pervious cruise, a regular passenger commented that she saw four bowheads last year: Shannon Fowler, our ship’s Marine Biologist, counted upwards of 40 today. Every few minutes over the course of an hour, jets of water would spray out of the ocean, often followed by the flick of a flute or an emerging back.
Not long after passing through Isabella Bay, an announcement came over the loudspeakers: we were passing a polar bear lounging on an iceberg. Out I ran with my camera and jacket. Indeed, the majestic creature was just perking up it’s head as it heard our ship nearing.
After hesitation enough for those with telescopic lenses to get some great photos, the polar bear lumbered down the iceberg shelf and began swimming away. Every few seconds it would turn back towards us and look pensively at the crowd that had gathered to ‘ooh and ah’.
It was a great morning for wildlife and excitement pulsed through the passengers as we all compared photos and chattered with glee.
Copyright 2008 Lori Henry
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