The Caledonian Star today explored north east Spitsbergen. After a fabulous trip through Hinlopen we approached Leifdefjord, named by the Dutch whalers in early 1600. On our way into the fjord we saw our first polar bear -- and plenty of little auks, or "dovekies," as they are called in American books, flew past the ship. They are busy feeding young. We went all the way into the fjord and were able to reach the glacier face. Some of us went out with the Zodiacs but others preferred to stay on board and see Captain Leif Skog bring the Caledonian Star almost all the way into to the glacier front. On the way out through the fjord we did a Zodiac landing for a long walk on the tundra at Reindearflay.
On the way back to Zodiacs we found a polar bear to which we were able to get very close. We saw it first relaxed, studying this group of strangers. Later on it went for a "bird hunt," raiding the nest of a pair of snow buntings.
