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 get pictures of King
Eider using floating hide, should participate on the March-tour.
Taiga: (Pasvik/Sør-Varanger municipality.
Norwegian/Russian border.)
Photos above, Øyvind Zahl Arntzen, Arntzen Arctic Adventures.
In Pasvik, we stay at this cabin close to the Russian border (Russia in the background of this picture):
Pasvik cabin facts: The cabin is build in the end of 1960.
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 area, 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.
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…
Birdpark passerine-hide. Passerine photohide is not heated.
Outside passerine hide, Varanger Birdpark. Picture taken mid April 2017.
Short tour in the Birdpark area for everyone with snowmobile (not everybody at the same time),
looking for Willow Grouse and other birds.
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, hotel. 400,- NOK extra for singelroom pp.
Location: Hornoya / Hornøya, Barents sea, (Vardo / Vardø
municipality.)
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, hotell. 400,- NOK extra for singleroom.
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 our passerine-hide, floating hide, Stoat-setup, feeding-stations, Varanger Birdpark and
accommodation.
Transportation is done by 9-seated car, snowmobile with sled and boat to Hornøya / Horoya. Ticket
to Hornoya is included.
We have focus all the time on beeing on the right spot to the right time.
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 or other things out of our control.
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 above 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 out in the woods.
Pick-up in sentral Kirkenes day one early in the morning – and retour last day in the morning to
Kirkenes airport.
Not included: Airplane tickets and arrival-night in Kirkenes.
Where stay:
3 nights in Varanger Birdpark cabin
2 nights in the Pasvik Cabin
2 nights hotel / Vadsø
e-mail: [email protected]
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