Leaving Kirkenes at at around 10pm, we headed south along the Pasvik Valley, towards our base at Ovre Pasvik campsite at Vaggatem. Birdlife was extremely elusive for the majority of the drive, but things improve as we approached Vaggatem, with sightings of Hawk Owl, Short-eared Owl and the star bird of the day, a Ural Owl, which flew along the road in front of the cars, before vanishing in to dense woodland. We finally arrived at base camp at around midnight and we're treated to further flight views of three Hawk Owl, being quite common this year in Norway, due to an explosion in the Vole population over the past couple of years.
8th August 2015. Day 2
Rising at 4am, we drove another 11 miles south to our ringing base at Nyrud, a police compound very close to the Russian boarder. The first couple of hours were spent exploring the area in search of suitable ringing sights. Once a flew net rides were located, three lines of nets were erected and catching commenced. Willow Warblers were calling all around us and soon began to drop into the nets. By mid afternoon, 66 birds had been trapped and ringed, comprising 11 species, the highlights being Siberian Jay, Siberian Tit and Little Bunting. Other birds observed in the area included Whinchat, Bluethroat, Red-throated and Black-throated Diver, Goosander and over 100 Yellow Wagtails moved through during the session, but only four individuals were ringed.
Ringing totals
Siberian Jay 1
Willow Warbler 37
Chiffchaff 3
Willow Tit 3
Great Tit 4
White Wagtail 1
Reed Bunting 9
Little Bunting 1
Siberian Tit 1
Yellow Wagtail 4
Redstart 2
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