Birding the beautiful “Land of the Midnight Sun”

Guide: Nigel Moorhouse

The area around Varangerfjord in northern Norway offers a mixture of beautiful scenery and excellent birding. At this time of year, it is the 'Land of the Midnight Sun', with 24 hours of daylight. Steller’s Eider is one of Europe’s most sought-after species, its northerly distribution makes it scarce in most of Europe, but it has a regular large population at Varangerfjord in winter, with smaller numbers remaining throughout the year.
As well as this species, there are also King Eider, Common Eider, Long-tailed Duck, White-billed Diver, Red-throated and Black-throated Divers and Brünnich’s and Black Guillemots present. Our trip takes place at a time of year when there are still good numbers of the Steller’s present, as well as the arrival of breeding species as winter fades away. We will also be able to look for northern birds, including Arctic Warber, Little Bunting, Siberian Tit, Siberian Jay, Pine Grosbeak, Gyrfalcon and Ptarmigan, and we may even be lucky enough to find Great Grey and Hawk Owls. Waders should be passing through on their way to their frozen breeding grounds, including Temminck’s Stint, Bar-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank and Broad-billed Sandpiper. Overhead, we will look out for Raven, White-tailed Eagle and Rough-legged Buzzard. In addition to the birdlife, Reindeer herds will be commonly seen, and luck may bring the scarcer Elk.