A Snow-White Drape a milky ‘scape a snow-white drape a cunning ruse effect Reynard moves swift through icy drifts so little to detect … its prey just won’t suspect ~ Poem and Arctic Fox capture, A Snow-White Drape © Jerry L. Ferrara
A Shade of Orange It was quite a surprise when it exited the chilled Arctic brine. The Svalbard Polar Bear didn’t wear a milky mantle. Instead, it sported a coat a shade of orange … probably due to minerals in the local waters. ~ Anecdote and Polar Bear capture, A Shade of Orange © Jerry L. Ferrara
Arctic Fox In the wilds of Norway, a young Arctic Fox gives pause. ~ Anecdote and Arctic Fox capture, Arctic Fox © Jerry L. Ferrara
Fortress of Ice Late light on a glacial face … Fortress of Ice. ~ 6:25PM. 9/7/22. 79° 42′ 79.962″ N by 21° 52′ 39.39″ E, Norway © Jerry L. Ferrara
Those Icy Stairs The polar glacial cold Holds a creature in its folds It’s there a spectral bear Footslogs those icy stairs The bruin seems a ghost The chill a perfect host ~ Poem and Polar Bear capture, Those Icy Stairs © Jerry L. Ferrara, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway
79° 15′ 26.34″ N x 22° 51′ 44.62″ E Recorded 8:42:29 PM [local time], 9/7/22, © Jerry L. Ferrara
On The Fly Catching this Atlantic Puffin on the fly as it hurtled through the Svalbard air space was both challenging and fun. The foot-long, fast-moving feathered fury is capable of flight speeds near 50mph as it zips to and from its shadowy cliffside roost and the salty sea. ~ Anecdote and Atlantic Puffin capture, On The Fly © Jerry L. Ferrara
A Dapper Pose Resting on a small platform of floating ice in the Svalbard Archipelago, a Bearded Seal strikes a dapper pose showing off its lavish vibrissae. ~ Anecdote and Bearded Seal capture, A Dapper Pose © Jerry L. Ferrara
This is part two, a continuation from the previous story, Assault. The Misappropriated Meal From the towering cliffside area it was hunting, the Arctic Fox paused purposefully and gazed toward the sea. Hearing the raucous clamor developing from that direction, the canny canid bolted toward the sounds of death. Within seconds it reached the spot where the Glaucous Gull had just delivered its coup de grâce to the Black-legged Kittiwake. The gull, spying the approaching fox, quickly moved its dispatched victim back into the water in an attempt to foil the fox’s intentions. It was to no avail, though, for the fox continued its pursuit and entered the icy water. Losing its nerve, the gull flew off giving the swimming fox the misappropriated meal. ~ Anecdote and Arctic Fox and Black-legged Kittiwake capture, The Misappropriated Meal © Jerry L. Ferrara. Svalbard, Norway
This is a two-part story, the first installment appearing today: Assault We were cruising in the zodiac when a large Glaucous Gull attacked a much smaller juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake overhead in midair. The action came without warning and was as fast as it was frenzied making photographic acquisition of the action, framing and tracking it challenging, especially from the moving boat. Mortally injured, the Kittiwake plummeted to the water’s surface where the Glaucous Gull followed in vicious pursuit seizing its prey and dragging it to shore. Once there, the predator continued its assault until the murder was consummated. What happened next was as stunning as what had just occurred. STAY TUNED for part two, The Misappropriated Meal. ~ Anecdote and Glaucous Gull and Black-legged Kittiwake capture, Assault © Jerry L. Ferrara, Svalbard, Norway