2017-06 Eclipse Sound, Nunavut with Black Feather

First Air 737-400C

Our ride from Ottawa in this half cargo, half passenger 737.

Iqaluit, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, June 2, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Airplane View

Baffin Island is 1,000 miles long with a lot of snow coverage.

Iqaluit to Pond Inlet, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, June 2, 2017

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Drum Dancer

We were given a cultural introduction to the Inuit culture of the area.

The Nattinnak Centre, Pond Inlet, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, June 2, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Lip Wrestling

Arctic games, dance and this unusual competition.  Tugging on the opponent's lip until one gives up.

The Nattinnak Centre, Pond Inlet, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, June 2, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Leaving the Hotel

I had no idea how much I would miss this place.

Sauniq Hotel, Pond Inlet, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, June 3, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Common Ravens

Corvus corax

Pond Inlet, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, June 3, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Snowmobiles & Qamutiiks

Pond Inlet, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, June 3, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Houses

Pond Inlet, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, June 3, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Debbie & Qamutiik

Getting ready for our 3 hour ride to the Floe Edge or the Eclipse Sound.  Unfortunately kerosene spilled on one of Debbie's bags.

Pond Inlet, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, June 3, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Lunch Stop

Having a break and something to eat with Bylot Island across the 14 mile wide sound.

Baffin Is, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada. June 3, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Kevin's Qamutiik

Robbie, one of our Inuit guides, driving the snowmobile.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada. June 3, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Ice Crack

The Qamutiiks could span the cracks, but the snowmobiles had to jump the crack, then pull the sled across.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada. June 3, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Ice Crack

Another of the wide cracks.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada. June 3, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Ice Crack

Wide and unusually straight.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada. June 3, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Lounge & Cook Domes

We had to move the domes when we arrived due to meltwater around the edges.

Ice Camp, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada. June 3, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Tents

We had to set up 3 more of these small tents after arriving.

Ice Camp, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 3, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Common Eider

Somateria mollissima, female.

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 4, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

King Eiders

Somateria spectabilis - male & female.

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 4, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Button Point

Whaler's paid a tax here in the past.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 4, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Floe Edge

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 4, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla - best guess id.  If correct, the bird is a bit out of normal range.

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 4, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Canada Geese

Branta canadensis

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 4, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis, male.

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 4, 2017

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Long-tailed Ducks

Clangula hyemalis - feeding at the ice edge.

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 4, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Long-tailed Ducks

Clangula hyemalis

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 4, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Long-tailed Ducks

Clangula hyemalis

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 4, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Long-tailed Ducks

Clangula hyemalis

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 4, 2017

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Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 4, 2017

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Chairs

Chairs set up to view and photograph floe edge animals.

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Snowmobile

Natalie pulling our qamutiik.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Bylot Island

Our ice camp is in the center of the photo 100 yards off the shore.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Ice Crack

Parts of the floe edge breaking away.

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Floe Edge Ice

Chunks of ice came and went with the changing wind direction.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Common & King Eiders

Somateria mollissima & spectabilis

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - photographed at 750mm, most polar bears were wary due to hunting practices.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Thayer's Gulls & Seal Kill

Larus thayeri - drawn to the seal killed by the polar bear.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Panorama

Our camp is near the right side end of the island.

Bylot Island, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Ringed Seals

Pusa hispida - at a breathing, feeding, escape hole in the ice.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - 750mm photo, a bit closer.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Seal Kill

Probably a young ringed seal.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Ice Camp Tents

Bright conditions caused some snow to melt around the sleeping and dome tents.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Ice Camp Domes

More meltwater.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Narwhal

Monodon monoceros

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Narwhal

Monodon monoceros - diving near and under the ice to feed.

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Narwhal

Monodon monoceros - after diving for many minutes, the narwhal spent time at the surface hyperventilating.

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Ringed Seal

Pusa hispida - listening to the underwater seal sounds with a hydrophone was very entertaining.

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Narwhal

Monodon monoceros - diving.

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Black-legged Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Group

Watching and photographing narwhal, seals & birds.

Floe Edge, Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson

Bylot Island

Although the sun never set, it did get low on the horizon like this.

Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada, June 5, 2017

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Larry L. Jackson