misan@ra.abo.fi (Annika Forsten DC) (03/21/91)
Here's a short report on our trip to northern Norway (Varangerfjord)
13-19.3.91.
We started from Turku (south-west Finland) and drove up via Vasa (where we
spent the first night) to Nuorgam (northern-most town of Finland) (where
we spent the second). Then on to Vadso and Vardo (third night). And then
back again. Fourth night in v. Jakobselv (just west of Vadso) and the
last night in Ivalo.
Weather: First day in Norway sunny with wind not too hard, rather cold.
About 70cm - 1m snow on the ground. Second day partly overcast and later
local blizzards. Road covered by flying snow, but the roadside 'snowsticks'
made driving possible. We didn't have a meter, but I estimate that the
temperature was between -5C and -20C (the wind made it icy of course).
Norway:
Diver, Gavia sp. 1
Shag, P. aristotelis 150 at Vardo
Cormorant, P. carbo a few here and there
Mallard, A. platyrhynchos 14
Eider, S. mollissima 2200
King Eider, S. spectabilis 1730
Steller's Eider, P. stelleri 5000
Long-tailed Duck, C. hyemalis small flocks
Red-breasted Merganser, M serr a few
Purple Sandpiper, C maritima 625
Herring Gull, L. argentatus 3500
Glacous Gull, L. hyperboreus 30 of which allmost all at Vardo
Iceland Gull, L. glaucoides 1 first-winter at Vardo
Great Black-backed, L marinus 380
Kittiwake, R. tridactyla 10.000 at Vardo
Guillemot, U. aalge 500 at Vardo
Brunnich's Guillemot, U. lomvia 10 at Vardo
Razorbill, A. torda 500 at Vardo
Black Guillemot, C. grylle 70 at Vardo
Puffin, F. arctica 6 at Vardo
Alcidae sp. 2000 at Vardo
Rock Dove. C. livia 4 at Vardo
Waxwing, B. garrulus call + 3
Willow Tit, P. montanus 1
Magpie. P. pica common
Hooded Crow, C. cornix common
Raven, C. corax common
House Sparrow, P. domesticus a few birds in most villages
Bullfinch, P. pyrrhula 1
We dipped on the Ivory Gull, P. eburnea, which had been present the day
before we arrived in Vadso. Another Iceland Gull was also seen in Vadso,
but we didn't see that one either.
Finland:
Goldeneye, B. clangula 1 Utsjoki
Golden Eagle, A. chrysateos 1 subad Utsjoki
Snowy Owl, N. scandiaca 1 Kauhajoki (twitched)
Three-toed Woodpecker, P. trida 2 Sodankyl{ (twitched)
Dipper, C. cinclus 2 Utsjoki
Siberian Tit, P. cinctus 3 Utsjoki, Ivalo
Siberian Jay, P. infaustus 1 Utsjoki
Pine Grosbeak, P. enucleator 1 Ivalo
Total driving distance 3200 km.
Annika Forsten, Finland