Observations from 1997:
December 1997:
December 21st - Vadsø Harbour; On the darkest day of the year, with the sun never reaching the horizon, there was little to be seen at dawn between 10:30 and 11:00. A lonely 4K Iceland Gull was flying overhead, with 2 ad. Glaucous Gull swimming with Herring Gulls. Ducks were plentiful as usual, with 1.500 Steller's Eider, 18 King Eider and 200 Common Eider. Mallard and Long-tailed Ducks were present as well.
December 14th - Skallelv; An uncommon winter observation was 1 Fieldfare.
Between Kramvik and Vardø there were 370 Glaucous Gull, which is a very high number. 1 Iceland Gull at Kramvik.
December 7th - Kiberg; 50 Glaucous Gull in the Kiberg harbour.
At Svartnes there were 280 Glaucous Gull, and in Vardø 270 Glaucous Gull. This is probably the highest number from Finnmark of this species.
December 6th - Vadsø Harbour; Still present was the pair of Eurasian Wigeon (A.penelope), which is the first winter observation in Finnmark county. Also present were 2 Iceland Gull (L.glaucoides) and 1.900 Steller's Eider.
November 1997:
November 30th - Vardø; 2 Iceland Gull (adult + subadult) in the harbour, and between Vardø and Kiberg appx. 150 Glaucous Gull.
November 29th - Vadsø; In the harbour there were 2 Iceland Gull, 7 Glaucous Gull and 1.300 Steller's Eider.
November 23rd - Svartnes; A high number of appx. 200 Glaucous Gull with one 1K Iceland Gull present in the bay.
At Kiberg there were 4 Iceland Gull (three 1K and one adult).
November 22nd - Vadsø; The pair of Eurasian Wigeon still present, with 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver and 1 ad. Iceland Gull.
November 16th - Vadsø; A late Redwing was seen in town, and in the harbour there were 500 Purple Sandpiper and 800 Steller's Eider.
At Kiberg the immature Lesser White-fronted Goose was still present in the harbour, together with 2 Iceland Gull and 80 Glaucous Gull.
A total of 8.100 Steller's Eider were counted from Varangerbotn to Vardø during this weekend.
November 11th - Nesseby; One 1K White-billede Diver was swimming in the fjord.
At Mortensnes there were 2 Red-throated Diver, and near Varangerbotn another 2 Red-throated Diver, and 800 Steller's Eider.
November 9th - Vadsø Harbour; Surprising this late was a pair of Eurasian Wigeon (A.penelope).
At Kiberg the immature Lesser White-fronted Goose (A.erythropus) was still swimming in the harbour, looking quite healthy. Another surprise here was a female Common Pochard (A.ferina) a rare bird this far north.
A total of 4.340 Steller's Eider were counted from Vadsø to Vardø, mixed with 2 ad. White-billed Diver, 1 male King Eider, 5 Black Scoter (M.nigra) and 50 Velvet Scoter (M.fusca).
At Vardø there were 3 Snow Buntings, as well as 40 Little Auks, 10 King Eider and 5 Brunnich's Guillemot migrating past, seen by birders from Ivalo.
November 8th - Gornitak; In the inner Varanger Fjord there were 1 Red-necked Grebe (P.grisegena) with another unidentified grebe, as well as 4 White-billed Diver, 5 Red-throated Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 male King Eider, 400 Steller's Eider and 2 Common Goldeneye.
At Nesseby there were another 2 White-billed Diver, 1 female King Eider and 800 Purple Sandpiper.
November 2nd - Hamningberg; In very strong northerly winds we had from time 11:30 - 13:30 a surprising number of 2000 Little Auk (A.alle) flying towards the west, accompanied by 4000 Common Guillemot / Razorbill (U.aalge / A.torda). Very late was 2 Pomarine Skua (S.pomarinus) flying towards the west. A steady move of Glaucous Gull (L.hyperboreus) produced a total of 42 adults and immatures. High numbers this late were also 300 Northern Fulmar (F.glacialis) and 750 Black-legged Kittiwake (R.tridactyla).
145 Glaucous Gull (L.hyperboreus) present from Salttjern to Hamningberg, which is much further inside the Varanger Fjord than last week, when it only reached west to Indre Kiberg.
The Lesser White-fronted Goose was not present at Kiberg.
November 1st - Hamningberg; 4 ad. White-billed Diver (G.adamsii) and 1 ad. Great Northern Diver (G.immer) swimming offshore. Also 5 Little Auk (A.alle) flying past.
The immature Lesser White-fronted Goose (A.erythropus) was still present at Kiberg, sitting on the shore.
A high total of 190 Glaucous Gull (L.hyperboreus) and 1 ad. Iceland Gull (L.glaucoides) from Kiberg to Hamningberg, with the highest concentrations at Svartnes.
October 1997:
October 26th - Kiberg; The biggest surprise today was an extremely late immature Lesser White-fronted Goose (A.erythropus) sitting together with 5 Glaucous Gull on the kelp, feeding. It was minus 3 degrees Celsius outside, with strong northerly winds and snowshowers. The latest observation I can find for Norway was a female in Oslo, October 1853 (Haftorn 1971).
Other interesting observations were 1060 Steller's Eider from Vadsø to Hamningberg, 71 Glaucous Gull from Indre Kiberg to Persfjorden, 15 Little Auk, 10 Brünnich's Guillemot and 2 Skua sp. (probably Pomarine Skua) all flying towards the west at Hamningberg, and 45 Snow Bunting along the main road. 4 ad. Common Gull still present in Vadsø.
October 25th - Nesseby; 5 Dunlin (C.alpina) still present, feeding with 800 Purple Sandpipers. Also 10 Little Auk and 6 Red-throated Diver offshore.
October 24th - Vadsøya; 1 ad. Black-headed Gull (L.ridibundus) swimming in the harbour is both very late and uncommon around Vadsø.
October 19th - Vadsø; 3 Twite (C.flavirostris) are uncommon here. Also seen were 350 Purple Sandpiper and 6 Dunlin.
October 18th - Nesseby; Surprising today was 3 female King Eider (S.spectabilis) this far inside the fjord. Also present were one late imm. Common Shelduck (T.tadorna) and 120 Steller's Eider (P.stelleri).
October 14th - Vadsø town; One male Eurasian Blackbird (T.merula) in the graveyard. A very uncommon bird here.
October 12th - Vadsøya; 2 Little Auk (A.alle) and 7 Shore Lark (E.alpestris).
October 10th - Nesseby; 1 Buff-bellied Pipit (A.rubescens) was observed and photographed by Håkon around noon. If accepted, it represents the first observation of this species in Norway. The bird was not seen later the same day, nor the day after.
Another first for the Varanger area was 1 Eurasian Hoopoe (U.epops), on the green fields near Nesseby church.
October 5th - Mortensnes; 1 imm. Little Gull flew by, and 50 European Greenfinch (C.chloris) was nice.
At Nesseby there were 2 imm. Little Gull (L.minutus).
October 4th - Vadsø town; One Eurasian Sparrowhawk (A.nisus) in town is very uncommon here.
October 2nd - Vadsø town; One Northern Goshawk (A.gentilis) is uncommon here, as was one Hedge Accentor (P.modularis).
September 1997:
September 29th - Nesseby; 8 Barnacle Goose (B.leucopsis) by the pond, and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit (L.lapponica) was late.
Other interesting observations were 42 Shore Lark (E.alpestris) and 9 Steller's Eider (P.stelleri) on Vadsøya.
September 28th - Hamningberg; 1 Barnacle Goose (B.leucopsis) flying overhead, 1 ad. White-billed Diver (G.adamsii) in summer plumage swimming offshore, surprisingly early was one 1K Iceland Gull (L.glaucoides). Other observations were 2000 Northern Fulmar (F.glacialis) and late 1 imm. Arctic Skua (S.parasiticus) and 1 White Wagtail (M.alba alba).
Other interesting observations were 5 Barnacle Goose (B.leucopsis) at Skallelv and 1 White Wagtail (M.alba alba) at Vadsøya.
September 27th - Mortensnes; Very nice was an observation of 1 Sooty Shearwater (P.griseus) and 1 Great Skua (S.skua).
September 20th - Hamningberg; 5 ad. White-billed Diver (G.adamsii) in summer plumage.
Another good observation was of a Yellowhammer (E.citrinella) in Persfjorden, very uncommon in the Varanger area.
September 17th - Mortensnes; One 1k Pomarine Skua (S.pomarinus) flew by, one of the very few autumn observations here.
September 14th - Nesseby; 1 ad. White-billed Diver (G.adamsii) in summer plumage, flying eastwards, 8 Barnacle Goose (B.leucopsis) still present.
Other interesting observations were 35 European Greenfinch (C.chloris) at Mortensnes, and at Ekkerøy we had 1 ad. White-billed Diver (G.adamsii) swimming in the eastern bay. The first 1K Glaucous Gull (L.hyperboreus) was sitting on the roadside at Ekkerøy, and 180 Steller's Eider (P.stelleri), female coloured swimming offshore in three flocks.
September 13th - Vestre Jakobselv; 1 imm. Gyr Falcon (F.rusticolus) sitting by the roadside.
Other interesting observations were 12 Bean Goose (A.fabalis) and 1 ad. Glaucous Gull (L.hyperboreus) at Mortensnes. The Glaucous Gull has been here since June. At Nesseby the 8 Barnacle Goose (B.leucopsis) were still present.
September 12th - Vadsøya; 2 Arctic Tern (S.paradisaea) fishing in the harbour. Late observation.
September 7th - Mortensnes; As many as 3 imm. Sabine's Gull (X.sabini) flew past.
September 6th - Nesseby; One observation of one adult Peregrine Falcon (F.peregrinus). Same as on August 17th?
August 1997:
August 31st - Nesseby; 1 Northern Goshawk (A.gentilis) still present.
August 30th - Nesseby; 8 Barnacle Goose (B.leucopsis) was the first this year, and the birds stayed well into September.
Other interesting observations at Nesseby were 5 Northern Gannet (M.bassanus) fishing offshore and 1 Northern Goshawk (A.gentilis).
August 29th - Vadsøya; 9 Steller's Eider (P.stelleri) again present after the summer absence.
August 24th - Hamningberg; An extensive seabird watch produced 1 Sooty Shearwater (P.griseus) and 3800 Northern Fulmar (F.glacialis) moving towards the west.
August 19th - Vadsøya; 3 Purple Sandpiper (C.maritima) again present after the summer absence.
August 17th - Nesseby; 1 Broad-billed Sandpiper (L.falcinellus) present all afternoon on the mudflats. Also a Snowy Owl (N.scandiaca) flying overhead, one adult Peregrine Falcon (F.peregrinus), as many as 700 Dunlin (C.alpina), and 5 Red-throated Pipit (A.cervinus).
At Vadsøya there were 100 Red-necked Phalarope (P.lobatus) in the pond.
August 16th - Nesseby; 3 Manx Shearwater (P.puffinus) seen in the afternoon. Also 1 Northern Gannet (M.bassanus) and 250 Northern Fulmar (F.glacialis) flying towards the east. One third-summer Iceland Gull (L.glaucoides) still present at Bergebyelva.
Other interesting observations at Vadsøya were 1 imm. Peregrine Falcon (F.peregrinus) hunting for young Oystercatchers in the morning, and 1 Shore Lark (E.alpestris), which is the first at Vadsøya this autumn.
August 14th - Nesseby; 2 Manx Shearwater (P.puffinus), one flying eastwards at app. time 19:00, maybe seen again from Vadsøya?
August 14th - Vadsøya; 1 Manx Shearwater (P.puffinus) flying eastwards at time 20:22 (same as seen from Nesseby?). Also 200 Northern Fulmar (F.glacialis) flying towards the east, and 200 Red-necked Phalarope (P.lobatus) in the pond.
August 13th - Hamningberg; A very good seabird-day with 1 Manx Shearwater (P.puffinus), 1 Great Skua (S.skua), 4 Pomarine Skua (S.pomarinus), 450 Arctic Skua (S.parasiticus), 5500 Northern Fulmar (F.glacialis) and 4 Little Auk (A.alle). It is with interest that we note the total absence of Fulmars one week (none present on August 3rd), and several thousands the next week.
August 9th - Mortensnes; 1 imm. Little Gull. At Bergebyelva the same third-summer Iceland Gull (L.glaucoides) that has been here since June was still present.
August 7th - Nesseby - Bergebyelva; The 3 adult Sabine's Gull (X.sabini) still present, a bit further west.
August 6th - Mortensnes; An amazing number of 3 adult Sabine's Gull (X.sabini) with the flocks of Kittiwakes.
August 3rd - Nesseby; Lots of passerines present, among them this years only 2 ad. Sedge Warbler (A.schoenobaenus) feeding young, 20 ad. + imm. Yellow Wagtail (M.flava thunbergi) and 3 Red-throated Pipit (A.cervinus). High number this far inside the Varanger Fjord was 50 Atlantic Puffin (F.arctica).
Other interesting observations were 1 Eurasian Skylark (A.arvensis) at Kramvik, which is scarce in the Varanger area. Also 40 Steller's Eider (P.stelleri) at Hamningberg, with a lone Purple Sandpiper (C.maritima) in the western bay, uncommon along the coast during summer.
August 1st - Mortensnes; An excellent day, with 4 ad. GreyPhalarope (P.fulicaria), 1 Leach's Storm-Petrel (O.leucorhoa), 3 Manx Shearwater (P.puffinus), 1 Great Skua (S.skua), 2 Pomarine Skua (S.pomarinus) and 700 Northern Fulmar (F.glacialis).
July 1997:
July 30th - Mortensnes; 1 Leach's Storm-Petrel (O.leucorhoa) flying eastwards close to shore at time 22:35.
Other interesting observations were 500 Northern Fulmar (F.glacialis) off Nesseby, most flying eastwards between time 21:30 - 22:00. Both dark and light colour-morphs. This is a high number for Nesseby. Up to 250 ex. seen up to August 16th. at Nesseby.
July 27th - Mortensnes; 1 Manx Shearwater (P.puffinus), 1 Sooty Shearwater (P.griseus) and 1000 Northern Fulmar (F.glacialis) moving towards the east.
July 26th - Persfjorden; High number of 6500 Common Eider (S.mollissima).
July 22nd - Nyborgplatået; 1 Snowy Owl (N.scandiaca) was reported by some Germans, but when we arrived it had already moved on. Other species of interest were 40 ad. Long-tailed Skua (S.longicaudus) and 15 ad. Arctic Skua (S.parasiticus).
July 21st - Båtsfjord; A report by a reliable French birder of an American Catharus-thrush seen the day before near Båtsfjord Airport got Heggland and myself moving. After a thorough search all night it was not seen. We await further information and description by the French chap.
July 16th - Ekkerøy; A female Grey Phalarope (P.fulicaria) was seen on the small ponds by the main road. It was discovered on July 15th, and was seen again on July 17th.
July 4th - Vadsøya; 380 Red-necked Phalarope (P.lobatus) in the pond during strong wind was a high number. Only 170 ex. were present the day before.
June 1997:
June 25th - Kramvikmyra; On some fields above Kiberg there was a flock of 85 Bean Goose (A.fabalis), 3 Pink-footed Goose (A.brachyrhynchus) and 1 Greylag Goose (A.anser). 1 male Snowy Owl (N.scandiaca) was reported here earlier today.
June 24th - Mortensnes; Still present was the adult Sabine's Gull (X.sabini) in the afternoon.
June 22nd - Mortensnes; One adult Sabine's Gull (X.sabini).
June 21st - Hamningberg; A male subadult King Eider (S.spectabilis) swimming in the harbour. Also present were 6 Brünnich's Guillemot (U.lomvia), 1 Red-throated Pipit (A.cervinus), 1 Sky Lark (A.arvensis) and 1 imm. Sanderling (C.alba).
At Skallelv we had 5 Lesser White-fronted Goose (A.erythropus) and 1 "Tundra" Bean Goose (A.fabalis rossicus).
At Kramvik we had 200 Steller's Eider (P.stelleri), which was a fairly high number.
At Ekkerøy I had an adult European Robin (E.rubecula), a rare bird east of Tana. This bird was discovered by a group of British birders the day before, and they also had one Spotted Flycatcher (M.striata), another very uncommon bird here. The Spotted Flycatcher was also seen by Agris Celmins on the western beach at Ekkerøy on June 18th.
June 19th, 20th and 21st - Vadsø Harbour; A flock of 1 Common Swift (A.apus), 4 Northern House-Martin (D.urbica), 4 Barn Swallow (H.rustica) and 2 Sand Martin (R.riparia) stayed together both days. This was the only Common Swift on the Varanger Peninsula this year.
June 20th - Nesseby; 4 Pomarine Skua (S.pomarinus), 3 Long-tailed Skua (S.longicaudus) and 48 Steller's Eider (P.stelleri).
June 19th - Skallelv; 1 Lesser White-fronted Goose (A.erythropus), also present there the day before, and 1 "Tundra" Bean Goose (A.fabalis rossicus) and 2 Pink-footed Goose (A.brachyrhynchus).
June 17 and 18th - Vestre Jakobselv camping; One male Eurasian Woodcock (S.rusticola) displaying. An uncommon bird here.
At Kramvik, a second calendar Great Northern Diver. (A.Blomdahl).
At Hamningberg, 1.000 Northern Fulmar migrated west, a high number.
On the 18th, one adult Grey Phalarope was seen at Nesseby, together with the Red-necked Phalaropes. Also one Pomarine Skua and 1 Little Auk. (A.Blomdahl).
On the 17th, one Great Skua was seen at Nesseby. (A.Blomdahl).
June 15th - Mortensnes; Surprising was one adult male Spectacled Eider (S.fischeri) flying by, and 2 Grey Phalarope (P.fulicaria).
At Persfjorden was 1 Great Northern Diver, also present the next day. (A.Blomdahl).
June 13th - Komagvær; One White-billed Diver. (A.Blomdahl). Also one Gyrfalcon seen in the Varanger area. One second-year Iceland Gull was seen in Kiberg Harbour the day before.
June 10th - Ekkerøy; On the small pond by the main road in the evening there were 1 Lesser White-fronted Goose (A.erythropus) and 1 Greater White-fronted Goose (A.albifrons) swimming together.
June 9th and 10th - Skallelv; 1 Bewick's Swan (C.columbianus bewickii) sitting on a grassy field by the main road, with 1 "Tundra" Bean Goose (A.fabalis rossicus) and 1 Greylag Goose (A.anser).
June 9th - Tomaselv; A night trip in the birch forest brought 1-2 male Eurasian Woodcock (S.rusticola) snorting overhead, an uncommon bird on the Varanger Peninsula. Other species included Long-tailed Skua, Common Sandpiper, Red-throated Pipits, Bluethroats and Bramblings.
June 8th - Vadsøya; A total of 31 species were seen between 21:00 and 23:00 hours, like 1 Iceland Gull (L.glaucoides) who have been here since March 9th. Also seen were 9 Steller's Eider, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Little Stint, 8 Temminck's Stint, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 54 Red-necked Phalarope, 9 Arctic Skua, 1 Long-tailed Skua, 500 Black-legged Kittiwake, 500 Arctic Tern, 3 Common Tern and 22 Razorbill.
In the Jakobselv Valley earlier I had 3 Spotted Flycatcher (M.striata), an uncommon bird here.
June 7th - Hamningberg; A seabird watch between 13:30 and 14:00 hours produced 2000 Northern Fulmar (F.glacialis) a high number, and 15 Steller's Eider, 50 Purple Sandpiper, 6 Brünnich's Guillemot and a singing Sky Lark. Surprising was a female Eurasian Blackbird (T.merula), a rarity this far east.
June 1st - Ekkerøy; One Broad-billed Sandpiper (L.falcinellus) flying by.
May 1997:
May 30th - Ekkerøy; On the dam by the main road at 22:30 hours there was 3 Lesser White-fronted Goose (A.erythropus), with 8 Greylag Goose (A.anser) and 1 Bean Goose (A.fabalis fabalis).
Earlier, at 01:45 hours at night at Skallelv, there was also 3 Lesser White-fronted Goose, perhaps the same as later on Ekkerøy.
May 29th - Komagvær; A lot of ducks were gathered, among them 25 adults and immatures King Eider (S.spectabilis) and 50 Long-tailed Duck (C.hyemalis).
At Ekkerøy at 00:45 hours there were 4 Lesser White-fronted Goose (A.erythropus), 1 Bean Goose (A.fabalis fabalis) and 8 Greylag Goose (A.anser).
At Skallelv at 23:00 hours there were 3 Lesser White-fronted Goose (A.erythropus).
May 25th - Kramvik; The adult Pectoral Sandpiper (C.melanotos) still present.
May 25th - Ekkerøy; One adult Pectoral Sandpiper (C.melanotos) on the beach.
May 25th - Persfjorden; Three Common Crane (G.grus) is quite rare here, as is a Yellowhammer (E.citrinella) in Sandfjord.
May 25th - Vardø to Hamningberg; High number is 60 Glaucous Gull (L.hyperboreus) along the road.
May 24th - Kramvik; One adult Pectoral Sandpiper (C.melanotos) on the beach. This adds to the other Pectoral Sandpipers seen in the Varanger area around 24.-26th May in earlier years.
Observations by Esko Lavikka:
24.-29.05.97:
Karlebotn-Hamningberg:
Steller's Eider: 1489
King Eider: 212
Purple Sandpiper: 3378
Glaucous Gull: 165
Iceland Gull: 4 immatures
Shore Lark: 33
White-tailed Eagle: 6
24.05.97 (Esko Lavikka):
Store Ekkerøya: 2 Lesser White-fronted Geese (ad. M+F)
Krampenes-Langbunes:
White-billed Diver: 1,
White-billed/Great Northern Diver: 1
25.05.97 (Esko Lavikka):
Hamningberg:
Pomarine Skua: 141
Long-tailed Skua: 28
Arctic Skua (incl. Stercorarius sp.): 215
Great Skua: 2
Hamningberg-Persfjorden:
White-billed Diver: 15 ad. + 1 sub ad.
White-billed/Great Northern Diver: 17 ad.
26.05.97 (Esko Lavikka):
Hamningberg:
White-billed Diver: 5 ad. + 2 sub ad.
White-billed/Great Northern Diver: 5 ad.
Langbunes-Kiberg:
White-beilled Diver: 19 ad.
White-billed/Great Northern Diver: 6 ad.
27.05.97 (Esko Lavikka):
Hamningberg:
White-billed Diver: 10 ad. + 3 sub ad.
White-billed/Great Northern Diver: 5 ad. + 2 sub ad.
28.05.97 (Esko Lavikka):
Hamningberg:
White-billed Diver: 11 ad. + 1 sub ad.
White-billed/Great Northern Diver: 1 ad.
29.05.97 (Esko Lavikka):
Kiberg-Krampenes:
White-billed Diver: 5 ad. + 1 sub ad.
White-billed/Great Northern Diver: 1 ad.
May 17th - Hamningberg; On our national holiday we had 20 ad. White-billed Diver (G.adamsii) in summer plumage, swimming offshore. Also seen were 5 King Eider, 250 Steller's Eider, 500 Long-tailed Duck, 60 Arctic Skua and 2 Brünnick's Guillemot.
At Sandfjord we had all of Europe's divers, with 2 White-billed Diver, 2 Great Northern Diver, 2 Black-throated Diver and 2 Red-throated Diver. Another immature male King Eider was found in Finnvik.
At Skallelv, there was 1 "Tundra" Bean Goose (A.fabalis rossicus) and 2 Bean Goose (A.fabalis fabalis), and at Kariel there was 1 "Tundra" Bean Goose and 1 Bean Goose (A.fabalis fabalis).
One Common Kestrel (F.tinnunculus) near Krampenes is quite uncommon this far east.
May 16th - Vadsøya; First this year was 2 Arctic Tern (S.paradisaea), coming in very high from the south, as well as 2 Horned Lark (E.alpestris). Uncommon this far east were 2 Black-headed Gull (L.ridibundus).
May 14th - Vadsøya; An adult Pomarine Skua (S.pomarinus) flew overhead towards the east, and Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Common Redshank, Ruddy Turnstone, Dunlin and Arctic Skua were all first for this year here.
May 6th - Vadsøya; Two Common Shelduck (T.tadorna) landed in the bay, and they are very rare here. Steller's Eider are still common, with 250 individuals present in the bay.
April 1997:
April 20th - Vadsø Town; One Arctic Redpoll (C.hornemanni) and a singing male European Greenfinch (C.chloris) brightened an otherwise cold day. The Iceland Gull on Vadsøya is still present.
April 19th - Vadsøya; The first two Eurasian Oystercatcher (H.ostralegus) in the bay. Iceland Gull still present.
April 6th - Vadsø Town; 4 Arctic Redpoll (C.hornemanni) feeding in a garden.
At Vadsøya there were 7 King Eider, 500 Steller's Eider and the male what looks like hybrid Common- / Steller's Eider.
April 5th - Vadsøya; The earliest ever for Varanger Black-headed Gull (L.ridibundus) stayed in the harbour.
March 1997:
March 23rd - Vadsøya; 100 King Eider (S.spectabilis) and 750 Steller's Eider (P.stelleri). Also 3 Glaucous Gull (L.hyperboreus).
At Mortensnes we had 1 Great Northern Diver (G.immer) and 5 King Eider (S.spectabilis). Near Varangerbotn there were 40 King Eider and 50 Steller's Eider, and a winter/spring observation of Little Auk (A.alle).
February 1997:
February 21st - Vadsøya; Very wintery outside, but the first adult and imm. Common Gull (L.canus) was present, with 40 King Eider, 500 Steller's Eider and the hybrid Common- / Steller's Eider.
February 11th - Vadsøya; The first King Eiders arrived today, with three adult males present.
January 1997:
January 26th - Vardø Harbour; 300 ad. King Eider (S.spectabilis) and 800 Steller's Eider (P.stelleri). At Svartnes we had 20 ad. and imm. Glaucous Gull (L.hyperboreus).
In Vadsø Harbour we had 10 Mallard, 300 Common Eider, 700 Steller's Eider, 50 Long-tailed Duck, 50 Purple Sandpiper and 10 Common Raven.