Field Notes by Nur Tucker (Team Leader)
Location: 14th July Glacier, Julibukta
The weather couldn’t have been better—bright sunshine lit up the fjord, casting a warm glow over the icy expanse. Jeff was our Zodiac driver today, and he steered us toward the 14th July Glacier in Julibukta. Though the glacier itself has retreated significantly—ice now almost absent—the landscape remains breathtaking. Volcanic ash painted delicate patterns across the slopes, cascading down the hillsides like nature’s brushstrokes. We even caught sight of the “hanging garden,” a quiet green marvel suspended amidst rock and ice.
Our first outing from Aurora was rich with birdlife. We spotted black guillemots, little auks, puffins, kittiwakes, and common eiders. The highlight, without question, was a glaucous gull tending to two fuzzy chicks—a tender scene against the wild Arctic backdrop.
Jeff also managed to haul in a giant ice block from the fjord, destined for the ship’s bar later this evening—complete with ancient, time-trapped air bubbles. A little taste of glacial history in every clink.
The flora added unexpected pops of colour to the tundra palette: vibrant purple moss campanula and brilliant bursts of sunburst lichen peeked through the rocks.
Our Zodiac team was excellent—spirited and sharp-eyed. I do wish we could pause a bit longer whenever birds are spotted. Photographing with a long lens from a moving Zodiac is already a challenge; at speed, it becomes almost impossible. A few more moments of stillness would make all the difference for those of us trying to capture these fleeting Arctic wonders.