Ducks and geese in Vilsandi National Park and on the peninsulas of Tagamõisa and Ninase, Estonia
Observations from March 28th, 2018
On March 28th, Steller’s Eiders were to be the highlight of the day. Some hundred of them spend the winter on the coast of Saaremaa. To observe them, we drove to the northern part of Vilsandi National Park and walked along the coast from Metsaküla (across the peninsula of Harilaid) to Undva pank.
Vilsandi National Park consists of more than 100 islands as well as several bays of the western coast of Saaremaa. About 250 different bird species have been observed here, and the diverse vegetation offers juniper and more than 30 different species of orchids.
It was one of the rare calm days at the coast, and we got to see many birds – although most of them far from the coast. Directly at our first observation point, we saw four male Steller’s Eiders. They were sleeping out on the sea in a flock of different ducks like Long-Tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Mallard and Tufted Duck. We could only watch them with a spotting scope. Closer to the coast were Mute Swans, Black-Headed Gulls and Common Mergansers.
At Undva pank, there were dozens of Mute Swans swimming way out on the sea. Here, I observed my first Common Shelducks, most of them resting or grooming. Mallards, Common Goldeneyes, Common Mergansers and Black-headed Gulls were also present. Two Common Eiders flew by in the distance, and two Snow Buntings flew inland, coming from the sea. It was a beautiful, but short moment, since unfortunately, they didn’t land. A flock of about 20 Taiga Bean Goose flew directly above us along the coast.
Our next stop was the port of Saaremaa on the peninsula of Ninase. It was built especially for cruise ships. On this day, a cargo ship was being loaded with wood chips. Far behind it, dozens of Steller’s Eiders were floating on the sea in a huge flock of Tufted Ducks and Greater Scaups. Unfortunately, because of the work going on, we were not allowed to go on the quay to get a closer look.
On the quay, some Great Cormorants were resting and grooming. In the port basin, we could watch Long-Tailed Ducks (mostly males), Common Goldeneyes, Common Mergansers and three Eurasian Coots. A single female Velvet Scoter swam among the Goldeneyes. We went back the next day, but the Steller’s Eiders were still too far out on the water, and the ship was still being loaded. We observed the same species as the day before.
At sunset, we went to the springs of Odalätsi, looking for owls. We didn’t hear or see any, but we observed a White-Throated Dipper resting at one of the ponds. It blended in with the surroundings and was very calm – even though 13 people with cameras and spotting scopes were observing it from a distance of only about three to five meters. Up until that day, I have never seen a resting Dipper!
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