A day at the Fayre.

Today dawned bright, cool and still with us all having a much needed lie in until 4am. Nets were opened before 5am and soon we were catching steadily, but with no great rush at either the main site or at the 'marsh site'. However numbers began to build and it became obvious that there were 2 main species on the move--Redpoll and Reed Bunting. Highlights included re-trapping one of the Little Buntings, and the Blue Tit--something of a rarity in itself up here. With only 7 individual Dunnocks ringed today, this represented a phenomenon not really known in Britain-- a passage of Dunnocks--we had the same type of thing last year at the same time.
A Merlin spent much of the morning terrorising all sorts of birds but especially the waders which really cut down the numbers staying around and hence reduced the catch a lot.
Nevertheless our total of 300 birds ringed is very good by any standards, and was paced such that we were able to collect data on most of the birds.
I have included a pic below of one of the Bluethroats we caught today, an adult male clearly showing the 'red spotted' throat patch which gives this northern race its title.

After lunch we mosied down to Varangerbotn where the annual Sami craft and food fayre was being held. This regularly attracts visitors from a wide geographical area and gives the Sami people a chance to demonstrate their skills, show off their costumes and catch up with old friends. Here are a few pics from the event.

 This group of young people shows how strongly the tradition of owning and wearing their ethnic costumes and jewellery is held.

 This man had a stall selling dried meat--including some of the dried moose and reindeer heart we sampled last year. It's a shame we wouldn't see any of our local butchers wearing traditional costumes like this.

The old meets the new. Traditional costumes on the left--digital till and modern wear in the foreground and on the right.

We had a great time at the fayre, and bought some cool gifts--we hope--and this rounded off yet another superb day in Varanger. Sipping a gin and orange as I write, I am looking forward to having a halibut chowder for dinner--but not looking forward to hearing the Walsall score when it comes through.......more tomorrow.

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