One of the highlights of a cruise around Spitsbergen is often a zodiac cruise near the bird colony of Alkefjellet. This cliff rises straight up out of the water and gives place to around 100.000 pairs of Brunnich’s Guillemot. It looks more or less like a bee hive, with birds swarming everywhere.
This many birds also attract predators. Arctic Foxes run around, trying to catch some unfortunate birds within reach and Glaucous Gulls search for weakened birds they can kill. This Glaucous Gull was feeding on a dead guillemot. Maybe not a nice sight, but that’s how nature is and because of this dead guillemot a Glaucous Gull has a better chance to survive…
Natureview photography 