Quest For the Lords of the Artic

A great day out on the Tundra. This is our first day aboard the tundra buggy and what a spectacular day it is. Our morning started with a beautiful sunrise over the Hudson Bay. The temperature is cold 23f but no wind making viewing from the outside platform very comfortable. Our first sighting of the day was a Gyrfalcon. It is the largest and most northerly of North American falcons.

Next we watched a group of Willow Ptarmigans running about. 

An hour into our journey we spotted what we came all these miles for 2 Polar bears napping in the morning sun. 
Once our buggy stopped it got them curious to come over & check us out. For the next hour the 2 entertained us, coming up to the side of the buggy, going  underneath the grated  platform, & providing everyone with some great photos. 

We are guessing they are about 3 years old, one male & the other female, possibly siblings. 
It was amazing watching them. They appear so gentle. One was fascinated by the light under the  buggy platform and spent some time licking it & trying to remove it.

There were 3 other buggys parked and the bears checked out each one. 
They sat under the platforms, stood up to the windows, checked the tires and finally laid down. 

Working at the light under the buggy

Then all of a sudden they were done with us & moved towards the willows out of site. 

 Along the trail some distance from where we first saw them we spotted them again this time playing. 

 Before lunch we saw a good size Polar Bear taking a nap in the willows. 

 
  Lunch is served on board catered by the Gypsy Bakery. It was very good.

In the afternoon we saw a bear lying on a rock eating kelp.

 As we were heading back to the tundra station we spotted 2 bears up in on the rocks. We stopped to take pictures and they decided to walk down to check us out. Our guide thought they were the same bears as the morning. This time one of them spent considerable time under the platform. He was smelling every one's boots, especially Jill's. 

He actually raised up and put his paws up. After that excitement he wondered over to the side of the buggy and was licking the drain from the sink that had hot chocolate in it. 

Drinking Hot Chocolate from the drain

Someone whose name shall not be revealed,  had emptied her cup in the sink. (guide did not tell us that only water should go in the sink)  He sure did enjoy it as it was all over his nose. 

They certainly seemed to like their pictures taken. We had to leave so they wondered off across the tundra. Hope to see them again tomorrow.