17/09/16
Today one of our team members headed home, and as a result,
we decided rather than driving the 100km to the airport and then turning
around, we would continue north around the fjords and across the tundra,
through Varangerbotn and across to our other ringing site at Nesseby. From
this, as well as seeing lots of interesting species, was to check how migration
was evident at this site, to allow for an active comparison with our current
ringing at Nesseby.
Our journey up took longer than expected, with many scenery
photos, viewing locations and emergency stops for crossing Reindeer. A foray
across the border into Finland added a country tick to a few peoples ‘lists of
places visited’ before we made the journey back east. Once at Nesseby, good
numbers of Arctic and Common Redpoll were in evidence, a species that is almost
lacking in Pasvik currently. Other than Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings, all
seemed quiet here too on the passerine front, hinting that many of the migrant
have already gone from the north.
Some excellent birds were seen on our roadtrip though,
multiple White-Tailed Eagles (including a stunning view of a bird carrying prey
at Nesseby!) and hundreds upon hundreds of seaducks. By far the most numerous
on the inner varangerfjord were Red- Breasted Merganser and Common Eider, with
lesser numbers of Long-Tailed Duck and Common Goldeneye
White-Tailed Eagle- Nesseby
Reindeer roadblock
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