Ducks, geese and crows

The last few days have been spent mainly watching seaducks. There are thousands of ducks (mostly common eiders, velvet scoters and long-tailed ducks, with a few common goldeneye, common scoters and red-breasted mergansers). Some good concentrations of late around Hommelvik / Muruvik and Midtsand. This morning (12th April) there were over 3000 mixed ducks in one flock at Midtsandan alone!

Seaducks at Midtsandan

On Sunday evening (10th April) around 9000 Pink-footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus (Norw: kortnebbgås) passed our house, heading for the staging areas a little farther north. It was quite a spectacle to witness from the comfort of one's own home.

Pink-footed geese heading north

And so back to today. What with all the various signs of spring (flowers, migrating birds etc.) it was wonderful to listen to a pair of Hooded crows displaying at Midtsandan today. I stood close to the tree they were in, and heard a fantastic repertoire of sounds, They were calling for ages until they were disturbed.

Displaying Hooded crow