16 Jun 26 - From The Biggest To The Smallest Expedition Cruise Day 7 - A White Surprise On Jan Mayen Island

After landing on Jan Mayen Island, it was no surprise that I decided to visit the Little Auk colony, rather than go for a longer walk on the island where I wasn't likely to see much wildlife. After walking across a long ash field, I reached the tall Brielletarnet pinnacle.

The Brielletarnet pinnacle

There was a good view of the bay from the Brielletarnet pinnacle

Looking right, there was a long beach

Little Auk: There were Little Auks on the lower rocky slopes next to where the path reached the sea

I hadn't hurried to the Little Auk colony as I had been trying to get some photos on the way there. This worked out really well, as many of the passengers had already been and left. I had just arrived and was watching and starting to photograph the Little Auks, when there was a shout from Chris Collins 'there is a close Beluga Whale swimming left'. I spun around and the Beluga Whale was obvious about sixty metres offshore.

Beluga Whale: It really wasn't far off the beach

Beluga Whale: They are an unobtrusive Whale with a weak blow, as they surface with their heads just appearing above the water

Beluga Whale: After getting some air, the Beluga Whale quickly dipped its head back below the water

Beluga Whale: Looking down on the Beluga Whale meant that it was possible to easily follow it in the water

Beluga Whale: They have a large melon, obvious flippers, the dorsal fin is no more than a slight bump on the top of the body and a noticeably large tail

Once the Beluga Whale had swum past and out of sight, I switched back to photographing the Little Auks.

Little Auk: They watched from the rocky hillside completely unconcerned about our presence

Little Auk: This is the nominate alle subspecies which breeds from Baffin Island, Greenland, North Iceland, Jan Mayen Island, Svalbard to Novaya Zemlya

I was enjoying watching the Little Auks after photographing them, when Expedition guide Jess shouted 'the Beluga Whale is now heading right'. Turning round I saw it was the same distance off the shore. It was time for some more photos.

Beluga Whale: They look to be a long Whale, but in reality the males are only about five and a half metres long, with the females being about a metre shorter

After a final look at the Little Auks, it was time for the three-quarters of a mile walk back across the ash field.

Looking back across the ash field

Finally, I was back overlooking the landing site. However, I wasn't ready to head back to the Plancius yet, as there was one more site I wanted to visit.

Back at Puppebu Bay

The Plancius was now bathed in sunshine: This was a stark contrast to when we landed, when we could hardly see her in the mist

The yacht was moored in the Puppebu bay: Travelling in such a small yacht will be a very different experience to a small expedition ship like the Plancius

There was a memorial cross on the hillside close to our landing site in Puppebu Bay. It was only a few minutes' walk to get there. The memorial cross is to remember seven Dutch whalers who tried to overwinter in 1633 to protect their early whaling base, after whaling bases were destroyed in the previous winter by Basque whalers. They were found to have died when the whalers returned the following Spring, with scurvy being the suspected cause.

The memorial cross

A recent commemorative stone plaque

I had really enjoyed the time ashore on this remote Norwegian territory. It was finally time to head back to the Plancius and to recharge the fluid levels before we departed Jan Mayen Island. I was hoping we might get some more Cetaceans in the surrounding waters as we left. I didn't expect the views to be as good as they were.