Category: Photo safari

  • Killer whale – Wrangel Island

    Killer whale – Wrangel Island

    A beautiful killer whale spotted from the boat, while cruising far from the coast. Orca, or killer whale (Orcinus orca), orque, ou épaulard.Wrangel Island, Russia.August 2018.

  • Polar bears of Wrangel Island

    Polar bears of Wrangel Island

    When you want to see polar bears in the wild, there is a name that keeps popping up: Wrangel Island. It is quite famous for having the highest density of bear dens where female congregate to give birth to polar cubs in December. It is definitely difficult to reach (less than 6 expeditions are reaching…

  • Snowy owl – Wrangel Island

    Snowy owl – Wrangel Island

    A shy bird. Long distances. Somewhat insufficient light. A couple of nice shots. Snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus), Harfang des neiges.Wrangel Island, Russia.August 2018.

  • Ground squirrels – Wrangel Island

    Ground squirrels – Wrangel Island

    A few rodents from the Sciuridae family, very similar to tree squirrels and marmots. Ground squirrels (Sciuridae family), marmottins.Wrangel Island, Russia.August 2018.

  • Pika – Wrangel Island

    Pika – Wrangel Island

    Those little rodents are thought to be nearer to rabbits than to mice and rats. I have to admit that scientists noticed the large ears and long feet. Pika (Ochotona princeps), pika, ou ochotone.Wrangel Island, Russia.August 2018.

  • Breaching humpback whales – Wrangel Island

    Breaching humpback whales – Wrangel Island

    The whale whose song is so elaborate, the humpback whale, is the easiest to observe in the cold waters of North-Eastern Russia (it lives in all oceans and seas of the world). It is quite easy to approach humpbacks, which makes them a nice and easy subject for wildlife photography. But we were very lucky…

  • Pelagic cormorant – Wrangel Island

    Pelagic cormorant – Wrangel Island

    Pelagic cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus), Cormoran pélagique.Wrangel Island, Russia.August 2018.

  • Gray whales – Wrangel Island

    Gray whales – Wrangel Island

    Gray whales have been hunted to extermination in the Atlantic Ocean. But you can still find some in the Pacific Ocean (and the Behring Straits). These very quiet monsters may even jump out of the water (Is it a game? Is it communication? Nobody really knows). Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), Baleine grise.Wrangel Island, Russia.August 2018.

  • Dunlin – Wrangel Island

    Dunlin – Wrangel Island

    Dunlin (Calidris alpina), bécasseau variable.Wrangel Island, Russia.August 2018.