At Sea
The Kapitan Dranitsyn has turned its bow toward the south, and we are gently sailing across the Barents Sea, followed by a host of kittiwakes, fulmars, and glaucous gulls. It is hard to believe that our 11 day adventure in Franz Josef Land is over, time has passed incredibly fast on this trip; one has barely been able to catch a breath between the polar bear and walrus sightings, and it was easy to simply get lost in the moment as the spectacular scenery of the archipelago passed by between landing sights.
With two days at sea in store for us, everyone thought that they would be able to start to packing, get their pictures in order, and perhaps take a nap. . . but the action has still not stopped. This morning a pod of killer whales, Orcinus orca, were sighted. The decks soon became crowded with guests and crew alike, watching the graceful ballet of orca rising and falling through the water. At one point the Kapitan Dranitsyn was surrounded by these fantastic marine mammals, as calls went out “there on the bow – no there on the stern!”
Killer whales, also called Orca, are found in all of the seven seas, from the equator to the ice edges of the very highest latitudes. They are not difficult to identify, as the coloration pattern on their bodies and tall dorsal fin are very distinctive. Although called a whale, orcas are actually the largest member of the dolphin family. These animals are extremely intelligent, and have a tight social order, with the females, often mothers, daughters, and grandmothers, staying together in a pod with only a few males. The best female hunter in the pod teaches the young calves how to hunt, often harassing a single seal on an ice floe numerous times, demonstrating hunting techniques. The “killer” part of their name has given them a vicious reputation, but they are indeed carnivores, taking fish, penguins, and seals for food, and have been known to kill other whales.
As the ship regained speed and left the whales behind, many lingered out on deck, watching wistfully at the fading dorsal fins in the distance. Although fantastic wildlife sightings are not an uncommon event on this expedition, one can never tire of them or cease to be amazed at what Mother Nature has to offer.
The Kapitan Dranitsyn has turned its bow toward the south, and we are gently sailing across the Barents Sea, followed by a host of kittiwakes, fulmars, and glaucous gulls. It is hard to believe that our 11 day adventure in Franz Josef Land is over, time has passed incredibly fast on this trip; one has barely been able to catch a breath between the polar bear and walrus sightings, and it was easy to simply get lost in the moment as the spectacular scenery of the archipelago passed by between landing sights.
With two days at sea in store for us, everyone thought that they would be able to start to packing, get their pictures in order, and perhaps take a nap. . . but the action has still not stopped. This morning a pod of killer whales, Orcinus orca, were sighted. The decks soon became crowded with guests and crew alike, watching the graceful ballet of orca rising and falling through the water. At one point the Kapitan Dranitsyn was surrounded by these fantastic marine mammals, as calls went out “there on the bow – no there on the stern!”
Killer whales, also called Orca, are found in all of the seven seas, from the equator to the ice edges of the very highest latitudes. They are not difficult to identify, as the coloration pattern on their bodies and tall dorsal fin are very distinctive. Although called a whale, orcas are actually the largest member of the dolphin family. These animals are extremely intelligent, and have a tight social order, with the females, often mothers, daughters, and grandmothers, staying together in a pod with only a few males. The best female hunter in the pod teaches the young calves how to hunt, often harassing a single seal on an ice floe numerous times, demonstrating hunting techniques. The “killer” part of their name has given them a vicious reputation, but they are indeed carnivores, taking fish, penguins, and seals for food, and have been known to kill other whales.
As the ship regained speed and left the whales behind, many lingered out on deck, watching wistfully at the fading dorsal fins in the distance. Although fantastic wildlife sightings are not an uncommon event on this expedition, one can never tire of them or cease to be amazed at what Mother Nature has to offer.
