Dead Sperm Whale

The summer holiday in Northern Norway is now, unfortunately, over with the long (1200km) journey home starting.

I had a final visit to Klungsetvika and finally the large numbers of ducks had moved further into the fjord and closer to land allowing me to grill them, or at least the ones not sleeping. There were ca.1700 sea/diving ducks with 700 Common Eiders (nearly all males), 600 Velvet Scoters (80% males), 200 Goldeneye, 150 R-b Merganser, a newly arrived flock of 26 male Tufted Ducks, 10 Common Scoter, 2 Long-tailed Duck, a male King Eider and the male Surf Scoter.

A summer plumaged Red-necked Grebe was new in alongside 25 Slavonian Grebes, 40 R-t Diver and 20 B-t Diver.

We also visited a Sperm Whale corpse but unfortunately chose high tide when it was mostly submerged. When down wind of it it was difficult to be unaware of its presence although out in the bay it could easily be overlooked as a rock.

The Sperm Whale was apparently 8m long but was mostly submerged when we were there

There were 2 square holes in the side of the body that must be made by a human produced instrument but I am at a loss to explain how they got there