38. Steller's Eider (Polysticta stelleri)

The Steller's Eider is a true Arctic duck, breeding in parts of Alaska and Russia, and is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to rapid declines in its Alaskan population. Part of the Russian population winters around Varanger and I feel very privileged to have seen these amazing ducks whilst at Gullfest.

Steller's Eider, ©Tormod Amundsen/Biotope.

Steller's Eider sketch.

Time for another drawing of a bird in flight today. I've made him a bit fat and misjudged the amount of space available for wings, oh well! Think I've got the wing length more in proportion to the body at least compared to previous attempts.

Here are some more of my Gullfest photos with a Steller's Eider theme!

I was walking down Kaigata in Vardø on the first full day of Gullfest starting to think about lunch (which happens a lot) when I bumped into Ian Lewington, who told me there was a Steller's Eider in the harbour, only a few metres out! As I had never seen a Steller's before I shot down there pretty quicksharp.

My first ever Steller's Eider, just metres away in Vardø harbour! Thanks Ian!

Another one from the King Eider vortex:

The King Eider vortex - spot the Steller's.

One of the best places to see Steller's Eider was the beautiful and slightly desolate Kiberg harbour, which was a short drive westward from Vardø along the Varanger peninsula:

Kiberg harbour.

Kiberg harbour.

Raft of Steller's Eider in Kiberg harbour.

Amazing light at Kiberg harbour.

Now whenever I think of King and Steller's Eiders, they are synonymous in my head with Vardø and Varanger. It's no surprise that Destination Varanger have made the very special and iconic Steller's Eider into their logo:

They should make badges of this. I would totally buy one.

37. King Eider (Somateria spectabilis)

This incredible photo is another of Tormod's, taken from the floating photo hide at Båtsfjord which seems to be gaining somewhat of a legendary status due to the opportunity it allows you to get amazingly close to seaducks! Alas I didn't have time or funds to visit it during my Gullfest trip, but maybe next year....

King Eider, ©Tormod Amundsen/Biotope.

King Eider drawing, pencil and coloured pencil crayons.

Yeah! Colours! I would do all my drawings in colour if I had time, it's so much more satisfying. Pretty pleased with this one!

King Eider was another new species for me at Gullfest, they look so improbable that I wasn't ever quite sure they were even real until I actually saw one. Well, until I saw more like 10,000, as my first King Eider experience was in the so-called (by Tristan Reid) 'King Eider vortex'! This described very aptly the swirling clouds of Eider that surrounded our boat during the King Eider safari, it was hard to know which direction to look in, it was a completely overwhelming birding experience in the best possible way.

King Eiders on the King Eider safari trip.

The King Eider vortex!

King & Common Eiders take off.

36. Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)

Today is a double-duck bonanza as I didn't have time last night to do a drawing.....we still hadn't watched this week's Game of Thrones so that needed rectifying, priorities and all that. Plus I knew I would have plenty of time this evening!

Today's photo is reproduced with the kind permission of Tormod from Biotope, organisers of the awesome Arctic Gullfest in Vardø, Norway - the event that inspired me to start drawing and blogging.

Common Eider, ©Tormod Amundsen/Biotope

Common Eider sketch.

A fairly common seaduck, nonetheless Common Eiders are still a handsome bird, just look at that fine profile! I enjoyed drawing it, those smooth clean lines are most pleasing.

The numbers of Eiders up in Varanger during the Gullfest were pretty awe-inspriring, here are a few of my photos of the King Eider safari in which we went out in a fishing boat to the mixed rafts of Common and King Eider (plus the odd Steller's and Long-tailed Duck).

Gives some idea of the density of the Eider flocks which frequently surrounded our boat.

Eiders + Vardø.

Common + King Eiders.

Expect more Gullfest-related ramblings and photos as I work my way through the Eiders!