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Norway & Finland, five trips.
Norway 2013, Musk Ox & Snowfields. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

Musk Ox 

 

 

 

A mini expedition to seek out Musk Ox on the frozen snowfields of Dovrefjell mountains, an epic little trip combining stunning landscapes, extreme weather and an iconic species in the European mammal fauna.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 17 March 2013 )
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Arctic Summer, Norway & Finland. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

Red-necked Phalarope

 

After several trips to Norway and Finland in recent years, including an amazing winter visit to Varanger last year, I yearned to see the stunning Varangerfjord in all its summer glories - Long-tailed and Arctic Skuas on the tundra, Brunnich's Guillemots bobbing on the waters, waders galore. Had to be bonkers, but fancying a weekend away, I cashed in my air miles for a nice freebie north. A madcap non-birder decided to accompany me, little did he realise I had plans for no sleep, no stops for food and to do nothing but birding!

 

 

Straddling four days and chewing up 2540 km sandwiched between two flights and capped off by an extra 600 km through the Baltics, so followed action-packed 24-hour birding adventures, all under the joys of round-the-clock sunshine, or cloud as the case sometimes was!

 

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 July 2009 )
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Finland, bears and rares! PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

Brown Bear

 

 

 

Fantastic, no other words! In a trip that fulfilled my lifetime ambition to photograph Brown Bears, I couldn't have asked for more on this short break.

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 22 April 2020 )
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Winter adventures in the Arctic. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

Steller's EidersAn Arctic odyssey, taking in the best of northern Finland and the Varanger peninsula in Norway. In temperatures that touched minus 26 C, the birding was simply superb, the winter landscapes spectacular and the trip nothing but a success.

Flying into Oulu, then driving overnight to the far north, this short whirlwind tour of the northern taiga forests and icy Barents Sea notched up 2350 km, a journey that started at feeders dripping in Pine Grosbeaks and Siberian Jays, then moved on to the stunning fjords that harboured flocks of Steller's and King Eiders, plus white-winged gulls, Brunnich's Guillemots and other specialities such as Gyr Falcon and Ptarmigan.

In addition to some amazing birds, the trip also was memorable for its mammals, no less than nine species recorded, included a fantastic Wolverine, three Otters, a Harp Seal and a few Red Squirrels.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 26 June 2008 )
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Finland, the hunt for owls. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

 

Ural Owl

Some months earlier, as winter had gripped northern Europe, I had eyed my northern neighbour with envy - the entire southern half of Finland was being swamped with Hawk Owls, not mere dozens, but literally hundreds! I waited and hoped, maybe a few would turn up down in Lithuania, but it wasn’t to be. So a plan began to take shape - perhaps a trip north might be in order! I sent messages up to friends in Finland, maybe some of the birds were lingering? As spring came and the memories of the owls began to fade, a call came from middle Finland - not only had a Hawk Owl settled down, but there was also a nestful of Ural Owls in the offering. Perhaps I might want to pop up? Not half did I want!
 

Last Updated ( Thursday, 26 June 2008 )
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