The importance of offshore areas in Southern Öresund, Sweden, for staging and wintering sea ducks.

The occurrence of wintering and spring-staging sea ducks
in the southern part of Swedish Öresund was surveyed
from air and ship during the period 2001–2011. Altogether
22 air and 20 boat surveys were made during the
months November–May and here we present the results
regarding five commonly recorded sea ducks. We present
the numbers recorded and the general time pattern of occurrence
during winter and spring in the area. Recorded
numbers are then used for evaluating the importance of
the area, both in relation to national wintering totals as
well as to international (Baltic) totals. Southern Swedish
Öresund is of no larger importance for Long-tailed
Duck Clangula hyemalis in winter and spring. The area
is however of national importance for both Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fusca and Common Scoter Melanitta nigra in
winter. Peak numbers of Common Scoters do also reach
international importance. Southern Swedish Öresund is
of large national and international importance for both
wintering and spring-staging Eider Somateria mollissima
and Red-breasted Merganser Mergus merganser.