VARANGER, ARCTIC NORWAY PHOTOTOUR WINTER MARCH AND APRIL Taiga: Pasvik/Sør-Varanger municipality Birch forest: Vadso / Vadsø municipality Marine hide: Vadso / Vadsø municipality Hornoya: Vardo / Vardø municipality In general: Finnmark is the northernmost county in Norway, and it has always been an area where east meets west, in culture as well as in nature and geography. Finnmark is also a melting pot where northern and southern, western and eastern species meet in a variety of habitats. More than 250 species of birds are recorded in the county, and depending on the season you may find a large number of interesting species: White-billed Diver/Yellow-billed Loon, Whooper Swan, Bean Goose, King Eider, Steller s Eider, Smew, White-tailed Eagle, Hen Harrier, Osprey, Gyr Falcon, Capercaillie, Hazel Hen, Rock Ptarmigan, Common Crane, Little Stint, Red Knot, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Jack Snipe, Spotted Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Red-necked Phalarope, Long-tailed Skua, Little Gull, Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull, Snowy Owl, Great Grey Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Redthroated Pipit, Bohemian Waxwing, Bluethroat, Ring Ouzel, Arctic Warbler, Siberian Tit, Siberian Jay, Pine Grosbeak and Little Bunting. Almost everything may show up in Finnmark.
The list of rare vagrants includes extraordinary species like Bridled Tern, Egyptian Vulture, Stilt Sandpiper, Little Curlew and Spectacled Eider. Text above: Morten Günther. Pictures of birds and some animals presented in this pdf, under different locations, is what normally is present on those locations. NB: King Eider is normally gone 1th. April from the area where we have our floating hide. Those that absolutely wants to try to get pictures of King Eider using floating hide, should participate on the March-tour. Taiga: (Pasvik/Sør-Varanger municipality. Norwegian/Russian border.)
In Pasvik, we stay at this cabin close to the Russian border (Russia in the background of this picture):
Pasvik cabin facts: Feeder outside. Electricity, outdoor toilet, sauna (no shower). Field-shower in sauna. Cabin location: Pasvik/Norway. View to the Russian border. Short walk from «mainroad» to cabin. Nice place also for photographing Northern Lights. In Pasvik, we have access to two different feeders. Internett: no. IMPORTANT: Your cellphone should be turned of or locked to Norwegian network during a stay here. If connection with Russian network, it can cost you A LOT OF MONEY..
Birch forest: Vadso municipality/vestre Jakobselv. Location: Varanger Birdpark. Stoat / feeding station.
In periods, there has been up to 3 different Stoats visiting the feeder during a day. While photographing Stoat, it is extremely importent that you follow the instructions given by the guide. While waiting for the Stoat to arrive, we use our passerine-hide at another location in Varanger Birdpark and takes pictures of the birds present. 4 persons may use the passerine hide at the same time. Passerine photohide is not heated.
More info at: http://www.varanger.info/?page_id=1894 NB: Boxes for Northern Hawk Owls in Varanger Birdpark. If Mice or/and Lemming present, here should be Owls too
We stay at the Birdpark-cabin during the Birdpark-event (transportation: Snowmobile):
Varanger Birdpark-cabin facts: Feeder outside for Stoat and Passerines. Power-generator in use at night (2 hours) for electricity (charging batteries). Outdoor toilet, sauna (no shower). Field-shower in sauna. Cabin location: Varanger/ Vestre Jakobselv / Norway. Snowmobile-transportation to this location (3 minutes drive from mainroad.) Nice views / Northern Lights. Internett: NO. Location: Varanger fjord / Vadso harbor, Vadso municipality. Floating hide: New movie from the floating hide and other info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llx0ij0rpgm We will use our floating hide to take a closer look at Steller s Eider / King Eider (King Eider normally gone 1.April) and other birds in Vadso harbor. Floating hide info: http://www.varanger.info/?page_id=844
Max three photographers at the same time / floating hide.
Where do we stay? In central Vadso, apartment and/or Birdwatchers lodge, depending on how many persons we are.. High-speed internet in both units. No singleroom. Apartment: http://www.varanger.info/?page_id=894 Birdwatchers lodge: http://www.varanger.info/?page_id=888 Location: Hornoya / Hornøya, Barents sea, (Vardo / Vardø municipality.)
(This last picture is not taken during winter-time) We drive from Vadso to Vardo Hornoya/Hornøya (45 minutes), and takes the first boat out there in the morning. Where do we stay? In central Vadso, apartment and/or Birdwatchers lodge, depending on how many persons we are.. High-speed internet in both units. No singleroom. Apartment: http://www.varanger.info/?page_id=894 Birdwatchers lodge: http://www.varanger.info/?page_id=888 General information: We do have focus on photographing, and less focus on accommodation and food. We do stay close to the photo-objects. The package do include normal Norwegian breakfast, lunsj and dinner. No alcohol-beverages is included. Included is of course use of our passerine-hide, floating hide (about 2 hours), Stoat-setup, feedingstations, Varanger Birdpark and accommodation.
Transportation is done by 9-seated car, snowmobile with sled and boat to Hornøya / Horoya. Tickett to Hornoya is included (one day tour/retour) We have focus all the time on beeing on the right spot to the right time. This PDF says a great deal about the basic-content of this tour. Arntzen Arctic Adventures do have the right at all time to do changes in the program, due to weather-conditions at the moment, weather-forecast, logistic-reasons or of safety-reasons. Everybody that participate is insured by Arntzen Arctic Adventures. You also need your own insurance, typical travel-insuranse. No refound is given due to changes in program of reasons that is out of AAA s control. Example: weather-conditions. You must always pay attention to our guides, and follow instructions given. This time of the year is challenging. In the Birdpark and in Pasvik, the temperature might drop to about 20-25 degrees below zero. (Not often). The average temprature is between 8 13 degrees below zero. Along the Varanger coastline (Ex. Vadsø harbor / Hornoya) it is not so cold as in the inland but it is more moist in the air and wind. Therefor: - Do have proper cloths with you, you might focus on especially feets and hands. - Our tours is not demanding physically (not long walks in the program), but people that do not stand a bit of cold shoud consider if this really is something for them. - People with a heart-condition or trouble with the breath should consider to not book this tour. - We always have access to preheated buildings nearby our obove mentioned locations, exept for at Hornoya. At that location, there is only a shelter for wind at the birdcliffs. Restrictions where to walk on Hornoya. - We can not quarrantee 100% that you will get all the birds presented in this pdf, and the Stoat, but we will certainly do everything possible to get them all. You have to bring your own sleepingbag and general good and warm personal clothing. It is not possible to get single-room at our accommodations. Pick-up in sentral Kirkenes day one early in the morning and retour last day in the morning directly from Kirkenes to Kirkenes airport. 4 nights. Price pp: 12 900,- NOK. tours@arctic-adventures.com https://www.facebook.com/birdwatchingvaranger/ www.varanger.info Phone: +47 90760412 Info about some of the locations we will visit: http://www.bioforsk.no/ikbviewer/content/109485/horn%c3%b8ya.pdf
http://www.bioforsk.no/ikbviewer/content/109461/nesseby_engelsk.pdf http://www.bioforsk.no/ikbviewer/content/109484/vestrejakobselv_engelsk.pdf Checklist Norwegian birds: http://www.bioforsk.no/ikbviewer/content/109312/fugler%20i%20norge%20%20namelist%20- %20ENGLISH.pdf