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: 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