Moffen Island is a small patch of gravel and sand a short ways north of Spitsbergen Island's northwest corner. It is a well known haul out site for walrus and our trip there after dinner proved this point beautifully. At least 100 walrus were in a pile on the beach and perhaps a dozen more in the water directly in front of the main group. The ages varied, as seen from the length of their tusks, from a few years to full adult age of over ten years old. We hovered just far enough away that we could hear them snorting and watched and photographed for about 30 minutes before we continued on our way north. Other highlights of this stop included watching a parasitic jaeger chase a black-legged kittiwake in a dramatic aerial display until the kittiwake gave up the food it was carrying in its beak.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 26 Jul 1999
From the Caledonian Star in Arctic Norway, 7/26/1999, National Geographic Endeavour
- Aboard the National Geographic Endeavour
- Alaska
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