Rubbish Wildlife?

Ringed Seal on ice floe Svalbard - image © Mike Haynes

Things that happen on expeditions remain clear in our memories, some are glamourous and others much less so. Still, they are each treasured and help to make us who we are. Ian Frearson, Founder of the ARG, recalls one such memory of an unexpected wildlife sighting in Rindersbukta 1990.

"Once Base Camp had been established we set about exploring our immediate surroundings.  Clive, our cameraman and photographer, was already out and perched just below a ridge of ice cored moraine with the video camera obviously running and his face screwed to the eyepiece. 

Without looking back at us he gesticulated for us to keep down so we crept across to him to see what was afoot, he made it clear that we had to keep very still and quiet, so it was easier to just back off and wait for him to finish his filming and show us the footage. 

Some time later Clive was sitting in the Base Tent with a mug of tea chatting away as if nothing had happened.  One of us asked if he had managed to film something exciting but it was a while before he would admit that he had managed to capture forty minutes of video showing the limited and slow movements of a black plastic bag, which he'd assumed to be a seal".

Ian Frearson FRGS

Founder Arctic Research Group