I've just experienced one of those moments, where the unexpected catches you. A first for me up here, and something that I gather is a very rare event in Arctic Bay. A pod of Orca, Killer Whales, or as they are known up here – Arluk Arluit, just spent a couple of hours in Arctic Bay. Leah told me that she has never seen them in Arctic Bay, or heard of them here before. A couple of years ago there was a pod in Victor Bay, hunting Narwhal, but usually they can be found out in Admiralty Inlet.
Arluk Arluit are summer visitors to the Arctic, their tall dorsal fins make them unsuited to life amongst the ice. The pods that visit this area probably winter in the North Atlantic, and although much is known about their cousins on Canada's west coast very little research has been done on these Arctic transients. They prey mostly on Narwhal, and although I've never seen it, the description of Arluk Arluit attacking full grown bull Narwhal and tossing them right out of the water is awe inspiring. They have also been known to attack and kill Bowhead, and of course they take seal when they can.
This group consisted of at least two large males (distinguished by their tall thin dorsal fin), a couple of smaller males and several females and calves. I took several photos, but they were a long way off, and are mostly what Charlie at 10,000 birds refers to as record shots, pictures that record that you saw something and not much else.
Update: I've had my Inuktitut corrected, the proper terms are Arlu = one Killer Whale; Arluk = two Killer Whales; and Arluit = more than two Killer Whales.
Comments
5 responses
Clare, sometimes a photo is more “evocative document” than ‘record shot’ – and your beautifully framed shot is definitely the former.
Yes, I agree with Charlie, way more than a “record” shot. The way the mountains repeat the dorsal fin, rising up to blue is quite beautiful.
Thank you Charlie, of course its much easier to compose a picture these days with photoshop cropping.
Thank you Robin Andrea, the photo is growing on me.
Ooooh…. I must make it up to Arctic Bay some days… you make it look so incredibly beautiful – even if the whales are a rare treat.
Thank you Jennith. I’m greatly enjoying the photos from Baker.