Zeevogelonderzoek en aanwezige flora en fauna in de Baai van Kandalaksja (Kandalaksjkaja Guba, Noordwest-Rusland) van 16 mei – 20 juli 1994

The author assisted in ornithological research of Dr A.S. Koryakin in Kandalaksha Bay (Kandalaksjkaha Guba) in North West Russia (coordinates approximately 67°05’N, 32°45’E) in the summer of 1994. The size of this bay is approximately 208,000 ha and contains over 860 islands, of which quite a number is covered with taiga and sometimes with tundra. Present tree species are, for example, Pinus sylvestris, Abies obovata and Betula nana Also a diversity of mammals live in the Bay and on the nearby Kola Peninsula. Species like: Brown Bear Ursus arctos, Reindeer Rangifer tarandus, Blue Hare Lepus timidus Bearded Seal Erignatus barbatus and Beluga Delphinapterus leucas can be seen. The beginning of the bird research dates from the 19305. The main part of the job in which I took part, consisted of inventories of seabird colonies, investigations of nesting sites and eggs and chicks of seabirds. Besides this, also observed seamammals were registered. Among the more common breeding species of this area are: Eider Somateria m. mollissima (approximately 9500 breeding pairs) and Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus longipes (600-700 pairs) (Grimmett 1991). A few of the other seabird species that breed in the area are: Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres. Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea, Razorbill Alca torda and Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle. Observed species that were less common are: Black-Throated Diver Gavia arctica, Golden Eagle Haliaeëtus albicilla and the also for this area rare Brünnich’s Guillemot Uria lomvia (two non-breeding specimen were seen).