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SVALBARD 2019 SEASON REPORT June 14 – September 9 SUMMARY

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SVALBARD 2019 SEASON REPORT June 14 – September 9 SUMMARY SVALBARD 2019 SEASON REPORT June 14 – September 9 SUMMARY In 2019, NozoMojo had a total of 69 field observation days in Svalbard (same duration as in 2018, up from 46, 27 and 31 in 2015-17). This report provides an overview of all mammal species observed in Svalbard during those 69 field days in 2019, and for the birds it is for 60 of the same days. On NozoMojo Svalbard tours, there is a tendency for a few biases in the sightings. We tend to focus on the north and east much more than the south and west, and also to focus a lot on finding Polar Bears. The ma- jority of the large whales are further offshore to the west than we often go. We also spend a proportionately large amount of time in the ice, which means relatively less time on the tundra. This year, with the ice being both compacted but also relatively empty, we ended up spending considerable time in major and smaller fjords in the central parts of Svalbard, which added more pinniped and bird sightings to our lists. In 2019, we observed 16 species on mammal. During 2015-18, the numbers were 14, 15, 16 and 13. Had we just spotted one Bowhead (of which there were many), we would have set a new record in 2019. New live Svalbard species for NozoMojo in 2019 was Narwhal – which brings the total of mammal species we’ve seen alive in Svalbard over the years to 22. We totalled 33 bird species, a good count. Compare that to a high 39 in 2018, but just 28-30 in the three seasons prior to that. The 33 species in 2019 is even better when we consider that a fair number of relatively common species were not seen (few ducks, few shore birds). Among the highlights were no less than THREE rare, vagrant gull species. Highlight days / locations were the north end of Storfjorden, between Sonklar- breen and Hellwaldbukta, on June 17, as well as Adolf- / Nordenskjöldbukta, on June 23. TOURS & DATES NozoMojo was in Svalbard between June 14 and September 9, although most of August we were not. We spent 20 days on M/S Freya, 30 days on M/S Malmö, 10 days on S/V Antigua, and 9 days on M/S Polar Front. We (Morten & Nozomi) guid- ed most of the tours ourselves. Rinie van Meurs was with us on some of those, and additionally, he led tours without us (one on M/S Malmö with Sandra Petrowitz, and one on Polar Front with Mick Brown). Dan- iel Bergmann was with us on one tour on M/S Freya, while Nikita Ovsyanikov was with us on the S/V Antigua. WEATHER The weather was very changeable throughout the season. In June, the temperatures mostly ranged between 4 and 10 degrees C, with a brief dip to near freezing around the 27th. The winds were mostly low, from still on sev- eral days to up to force 3-4 Beaufort most days, mostly from directions which in- cluded some N. Twice it blew up to force 6-7. On about half of the days during the second half of June, it was either partly or completely foggy. The July weather was average a bit colder than June, with a couple of days just below freezing, and many around 1-4 degrees. We did experience a high of 11 de- grees on July 19, when a southerly Föhn blew off a glacier. Nearer to the end of the month, 8-11 degrees was more the norm. The winds were generally low, with many still days or nearly so. And when it blew a little, it was often from the S. Only once did we have a force 7 from the N-NE. Just as in June, about half the days were spent in some degree of reduced visibility, while other days were very clear. Sometimes it changed on the same day from one extreme to the other. In both June and July, the cloud cover was quite heavy about half the time, while approximately half of the remaining days were partly overcast, with the remaining essentially sunny. It only rained and snowed briefly a couple of times. During the latter part of August, and into the beginning of September, the tempera- tures dropped slowly from around 4-8 average to closer to 2-3 average. A deep low pressure system dominated the weather around the beginning of September. The period was mostly overcast, and we had rain on several days. Easterly and NE winds blew fiercely for a few days, then an average force 3-4 from mostly the NW took over. The sun sometimes came out, at other times fogbanks hid everything. ICE The sea ice conditions during the summer of 2019 were quite unusual in a couple of ways. First of all, there was a very large quantity of ice, the entire N and E being blocked by an impenetrable pack. Compare if you will the below two ice charts – the first from June 5, 2018; the second from June 11, 2019. Secondly, the main pack was not only impenetrable, but also as far as the eye could see from the edge, almost void of life. We spent many days traversing the edges, particularly N of Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet, as far E as Sjuøyane, but also to a lesser extent to the E of Olgastretet, S of Austfonna. In both areas, we struggled to find very many bears, seals, or even seabirds. Come early July, the pack to the N as well as the SE had let go of the shore enough to let shipping through. But from Sjuøyane, as well as Freemansundet, it was still stop to the E. At the southern end of Hinlopenstretet, there was also no relief. This was one of the main reasons we ended up spending a full 10 days straight in the central parts of the Hinlopen Strait during our 20-night voyage. By the end of August, and into September, the northern parts were mostly clear of the main pack, while a substantial amount of ice still lay along the S and E shores of Nordaustlandet. SPECIES ACCOUNT Our 2019 observations of mammal and bird species are detailed in the following. MAMMALS Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus) 2019 was a huge year for this species in Svalbard, with very many sightings, including of large groups not otherwise found in these waters in recent historical times. It will be very interesting to see what 2020 brings. NozoMojo unfortunately did not manage to spot any Bowheads, we seemed to be just a little distance removed from the concentrations throughout the season. When they were seen to the W, we were farther E, and when they were seen in the Hinlopen, a storm prevented us from accessing the area. Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 4 sightings of 7 individuals July 2, 1 just S of the mouth of Hornsund. July 29, 4 in Hinlopenstretet. August 8, 1 in Hinlopenstretet. August 30, 1 in Isfjorden. Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) 7 sightings of 13 individuals Seen both off the W coast of Spitsbergen, in Isfjorden, and in Hinlopenstretet. Fin Whale lunge feeding Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) 12 sightings of 17 individuals A doubling of observations relative to the later years. Rather spread-out sightings from the W to the E, from N to S, one time of 3 individuals, otherwise generally singly or in pairs. One was seen spy-hopping in dense ice. Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) 6 sightings of 634+ individuals The numbers are all approximations, but also minimum. There may be repeaters among some of the sighted whales. On June 16, a pod of at least 80 individuals, including very many young animals, were foraging at the ice-edge near Wichebukta. On the same day, one lay dead on the ice with 11 polar bears around. One June 23, we spent an entire day in the company of among others at least 100 Belugas, in Adolfbukta. This pod contained very few young animals. A super-pod of at least 200-250 whales was seen on July 10, passing from W to E along the N Beluga Whales shores of Isfjorden. On July 23, a similar super-pod was seen entering into Adventfjorden. Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) 7 sightings of 9 individuals Not many at all: 4 sightings in or near Isfjorden, 2 in Storfjorden, the last in Hinlopenstretet. Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) 1 sighting of 3 individuals On July 7, we spent the entire day along the ice-edge N of Spitsbergen. At 80,77 N and 016,62 E, what was presumably three animals, and presumably females, were briefly seen swimming at first parallel with the ice-edge in a westerly direction, then disappearing N into the main pack. Thanks to crew member Jonathan Persson, we have documentation for this rare sighting. After having seen dead Narwhals on the pack-ice three times in the last two seasons, this was the first ever NozoMojo sighting of live Narwhal in Svalbard. Narwhal . © Jonathan Persson White-beaked Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) 1 sighting of 4 individuals On September 4, crew on board the S/V Antigua observed 4 dolphins in the night, near the entrance of Kongsfjorden. Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) Walrus Walrus male 46 sightings of 567+ individuals Not being able to penetrate very far E this year, our sightings were limited. But fortunately, the animal is increasing its numbers and expanding its presence. With an average of just 12/sight- ing, it goes without saying that we had many sightings of single or few animals.
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