Observations from 1998:
November 1998:
November 29th - Vadsø; 5 King Eider, 1 male hybrid Steller's Eider X Common Eider, 10 Mallard, 15 ad. + 5 first-year Common Gull, 2 ad. Iceland Gull, 1 ad. Glaucous Gull, 10 Great Black-backed Gull, 450 Herring Gull.
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November 28th - Vadsø; 4 ad. Iceland Gull, 1 ad. + 1 2K Glaucous Gull, 22 Common Gull (5 first-year), 10 Great Black-backed Gull, 500 Herring Gull (50 first year), 700 Steller's Eider, 10 King Eider, 5 Mallard.
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November 22nd - Vadsø; 30 King Eider (8 in the harbour, the rest off Vadsøya in the Varanger Fjord), 1 male hybrid Steller's Eider X Common Eider, 54 ad. + 5 first-year Common Gull, 1 ad. Iceland Gull, 400 Purple Sandpiper.
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November 21st - Vadsø; An adult Kumliens Gull Larus glaucoides kumlieni was seen between Vadsøya and the town during 1 hour, in direct comparison with an "white-winged" Iceland Gull. It was seen flying on several occations, and subspesific characters seen both in flight and resting.
Also seen in Vadsø were 2 ad. Iceland Gull, 1 ad. Glaucous Gull, 30 Common Gull (10 first-year), 10 Mallard.
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November 15th - Vadsø; Cold with minus 10 degrees & arctic sea-fog - 7 King Eider (2 ad. M & 5 F coloured), male hybrid Steller's Eider X Common Eider, 15 Mallard, 14 ad. Common Gull, 2 ad. Iceland Gull.
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November 14th - Vadsø; Cold with minus 10 degrees & arctic sea-fog - 800 Steller's Eider, 2 King Eider (ad. M & F coloured), male hybrid Steller's Eider X Common Eider, 20 Mallard, 5 Common Gull.
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November 9th - Vadsø; 1 first-year Northern Goshawk.
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November 8th - Ekkerøy; An adult Kumliens Gull Larus glaucoides kumlieni (yet no accepted records for Norway) was found in a flock of several Herring & two Glaucous Gulls on the beach. It was seen well, and pictures taken.
At Vadsø there were 2 ad. Iceland Gull as well as the male hybrid Steller's Eider X Common Eider (first time this autumn).
Near Vardø 1 Gyrfalcon.
At Komagvær 500+ King Eider, and several thousand Common Eiders seen between Vadsø and Vardø, seemingly more numerous than usual.
Between Ekkerøy and Vardø there were 100 Glaucous Gulls, mostly adults.
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November 7th - Vadsø; 2 ad. & 1 subad. Iceland Gull, 1 ad. Glaucous Gull, 20 Mallard, 1350 Steller's Eider, 50 King Eider, 200 Purple Sandpiper, 35 Common Gull (at least 8 first-year birds).
Between Vadsø & Vestre Jakobselv there were 100 King Eider.
Between Varangerbotn & Vardø there were 8300 Steller's Eider.
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November 2nd - Svartnes Airport (Vardø); 1 Blackcap (female coloured) capured today. A very late observation for this area, as well as a rare bird here.
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November 1st - Vadsø; 2 ad. Iceland Gull, 3 Glaucous Gull (2 ad. + one 1K), 200 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Eurasean Wigeon (late obs.), 350 Steller's Eider.
Between Salttjern and Vardø there were 400 Glaucous Gull (mostly adults), most of the birds were near Salttjern, only appx. 45 ex. between Kiberg and Vardø.
October 1998:
October 31st - Nesseby church; From 10:00 to 12:15, wind north-east 10-12, overcast. 600-700 King Eider (Very high numbers this early: 600 west, 120 east, 200 on the sea), 30 Steller's Eider, 20 Little Auk east, 50 Alcidae east, 50 Kittiwake east, 15 Gavia sp. east, 15 Red-throated Diver east + one on the sea, 6 Glaucous Gull (5 ad. + one 2K), 2 ad. Black-headed Gull.
In Vadsø there were 1 ad. Iceland Gull, 6 Glaucous Gull, 6 King Eider (5 east + 1 on the sea).
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October 25th - Vadsøya; 1 ad. Black-headed Gull, 1 ad. Iceland Gull, 300 Kittiwake, 2 Snow Bunting, 200 Steller's Eider (several males in near full winter plumage), 20 Long-tailed Duck, 10 Common Guillemot, 1 Shore Lark (at the fish-factory).
At Hamningberg there were 17 White-billed Diver on the sea (12 ad. in full summer plumage, 1indet. age in near full summer plumage, the rest adults in partial winter plumage) , 40 King Eider (several eclipse males, several ad. males in near full winter plumage), 50 Little Auk west, 50 Alcidae west, 200 Kittiwake west + 100 east, 200+ Purple Sandpiper.
At Persfjorden 3 White-billed Diver (1 ad. full summer plumage, 2 ad. in partial winter plumage).
At Svartnes 60 Glaucous Gull (48 ad., 5 first st cal., 5 sec.cal, 2 subadult).
At Skallelv 25 Shore Lark.
At Ekkerøy 1 ad. Gyrfalcon allowed close view.
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October 24th - Vadsø; 3 Dunlin (1st cal.), 1 ad. + 1 2nd cal. Glaucous Gull, 20 ad. Common Gull, 300 Steller's Eider.
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October 23rd - Vadsø - Vardø; 270 Glaucous Gull (170 ad. and 20 1st cal.), 4 Iceland Gull (3 ad. + 1 subad.), 2 Snow Bunting (Komagvær), 3 Dunlin (1st cal., at Kiberg and Vadsø).
Details: Glaucous Gulls 119 ex. at Svartnes, 43 ex. at Kiberg, 37 ex. at Indre Kiberg and 39 ex. at Vardø.
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October 18th - Vadsøya; Snow on the ground, a lot of birds had left. 3 Dunlin, 350 Purple Sandpiper, 170 Steller's Eider, 20 Mallard, 2-3 Gølaucous Gull, 1 1K Gannet east, 4 Shore Lark, 5 Snow Bunting, 30 Common Redpoll.
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October 17th - Vadsøya; Wind easterly breeze, zero degrees, overcast & sleet. 1 first cal. Red Phalarope in the bay below Lailas Hotel, in almost full winter plumage. Feeding mostly on the mudflats with the other waders, 16 Dunlin, 600 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Meadow Pipit (late), 2 Iceland Gull (early - one adult and one 1st year), 11 Glaucous Gull (7 ad., 1 subad., 2 1st cal., 1 sec.cal.), 10 Kittiwake, 3 Common Guillemot, 5 Little Auk, 10 Common Redpoll, 160 Steller's Eider, 30 Mallard, 120 Long-tailed Duck, 5 Black Guillemot, 4 Shore Lark.
At Nesseby between 13:30 and 15:00 - Two very late Arctic Terns, 350 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 350 Little Auk (320 east & one in full summer plumage), 20 Alcidae east, 5 Bruunich's Guillemot east, 5 Atlantic Puffin east, 70 Kittiwake, 1 ad. Black-headed Gull, 50 Long-tailed Duck, 22 Mallard.
Nesseby between 12:10 - 14:20; 3 Red-throated Diver, 25 Great Cormorant, 100 Long-tailed Duck, 8 Velvet Scoter, 600 Purple Sandpiper, 55 Common Eider, 1 ad. Glaucous Gull, 6 Black-headed Gull, 520 Kittiwake, 200 Little Auk, 10 Common Guillemot, 1 Black Guillemot, 15 Atlantic Puffin.
At Bergeby; 2 Glaucous Gull (1 ad & 1 sec.cal).
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October 16th - Nesseby; Wind easterly 12 m/sec., a short stop. 1 Gannet, 10 Northern Fulmar east, 20 Little Auk east, 50 Alcidae sp. east, 50 Kittiwake, 1 King Eider.
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October 11th - Nesseby; The fun continues for Håkon! From 10:00 to 13:15, overcast, wind from the east at 12 m/sec., +4 degrees: 2 1st year Pomarine Skua east at 11:30, 1 1st year west a little later, 1 Sooty Shearwater east at 11:00 (photographed), 2 1st year Arctic Tern east (very late obs., last year it left 12.September), 11000 Atlantic Puffin east (extremely high number), 4500 Alcidae sp. east (mostly Common Guillemot, some Razorbill, few Brunnich's), 350 Little Auk east (much reduced from yesterday), 5 Brunnich's Guillemot east (one almost full summer plumage), 300 Northern Fulmar east (much reduced from yesterday), 500 Kittiwake east, 50 Long-tailed Duck east, 5 Velvet Scoter east, 10 Red-throated Diver east, 5 Gavia sp. east, 1 Gannet west.
Birds staying in the Nesseby area were 1100 Purple Sandpiper, 15 Dunlin, 1 ad. White-tailed Eagle, 5 ad. Black-headed Gull.
Myself at Vadsøya between 13:05 - 13:45 saw these birds: 3 Shore Lark at the eastern shore (during my 2 year stay at Vadsøya it seems the eastern tip in late September and October is a regular rest-place for this species), 8 Grey Plover, 10 Dunlin, 100 Purple Sandpiper, 100 Atlantic Puffin, 50 Little Auk, 250 Alcidae sp., 1 Northern Fulmar and 10 Kittiwake.
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October 10th - Nesseby; Håkon had an amazing seabird-day! 1 Manx Shearwater east, 4500 Northern Fulmar east, 3500 Little Auk east, 1000 Atlantic Puffin east, 2 Brunnich's Guillemot east, 4500 Alcidae sp. east, 500 Kittiwake east, 1 Great Skua west, 500 Long-tailed Duck west, 7 Velvet Scoter east, 10 Red-throated Diver east.
Birds staying in the Nesseby area were 5 Red-throated Diver, 3 Black-throated Diver, 4 Black Scoter, 3 Velvet Scoter, 5 Eurasian Wigeon, 15 Mallard, 850 Purple Sandpiper, 10 Dunlin, 5 ad. Black-headed Gull.
At Vadsøya 3 Grey Plover, 30 Dunlin, 100 Purple Sandpiper, 20 Steller's Eider.
In the eastern bay in Vadsø town 100 Steller's Eider.
Off Vadsø airport 1 imm. Northern Gannet was the only gannet seen today.
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October 8th - Vadsø airport; 2 White-tailed Eagle.
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October 4th - Hamningberg; Håkon was out in strong NW-winds (12-15 m/sec.), snow, sun & hail, and these birds were seen flying towards the north-west: 500 Kittiwake, 20 Northern Fulmar, 100 Alcidae sp., 2 Atlantic Puffin, 200 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Velvet Scoter, 2 (1 ad summer + 1 subad.) White-billed Diver and 1 Red-throated Diver. Also flying were 1 Northern Gannet and 1 Great Skua (late obs., flying towards the east).
Birds resident in the area included 9 ( 7 ad. summer + 1 subadult + 1st cal.) White-billed Diver, 2 (adult summer and 1st cal.) Great Northern Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 2 Sanderling, 1 Grey Plover, 100 Purple Sandpiper, 7 Dunlin, 1 Reed Bunting and 2 Rock Pipit.
At Barvikmyrene there was 1 Whooper Swan, same as seen here last week.
At Kiberg there was a late Merlin and 80 Steller's Eider (no males in full plumage, although most of the Common Eider males were in full plumage).
At Vadsøya there were the same 15 Grey Plover (one more than last week-end), 21 Dunlin (one in breeding dress), 50 Purple Sandpiper and 40 Steller's Eider (absent since spring, now finally present again right on schedule. Still no males in full plumage).
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October 3rd - Nesseby; 5 Barnackle Goose (migrating towards the south), 2 Northern Gannet, 1 Northern Fulmar, 7 Mallard, 7 Black Scoter, 10 Velvet Scoter, 30 Long-tailed Duck, 150 Purple Sandpiper, 21 Dunlin (1 adult), 1 ad. M Bar-tailed Godwit 10 Kittiwake, 5-10 Black-headed Gull, 1 Reed Bunting.
At Bergebyelva there were 150 Purple Sandpiper and 15 Dunlin.
At Vadsø there were 50 Purple Sandpiper, 30 Dunlin and 2 Grey Plover.
At Vadsø/Fossen there were 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Willow Tit and 10 Fieldfare.
September 1998:
September 27th - Vadsøya; A magnificent autumn day with blue skies, +4 degrees and calm winds there were 1 Pomarine Skua, 24 Shore Lark, 1 Eurasian Skylark, 30 Northern Fulmar, 14 Grey Plover, 150 Purple Sandpiper, 25 Dunlin and 65 Long-tailed Duck, 5 Northern Pintail, 8 Tufted Duck, 7 Mallard, 15 Eurasian Wigeon.
At Vadsø/Fossen there were 1 Eurasian Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Dunnock, 4 Arctic Redpoll, 30 Common Redpoll and 1 Siberian Tit.
At Hamningberg there were 2 ad. White-billed Diver (summer plumage), 1 Arctic Skua, 10 Northern Fulmar, 10 Kittiwake, 2M King Eider, 50 Long-tailed Duck, 20 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Rock Pipit, 50 Snow Bunting.
At Barvikmyrene there was 1 Whooper Swan.
At Svartnes there were 1 Ring Ouzel, 3 Grey Plover, 2 Dunlin and 40 Fieldfare.
At Kiberg 1 Gyrfalcon and 2 Steller's Eider.
At Komagvær 20 Shore Lark.
At Skallelv 1 Merlin.
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September 26th - Nesseby; 1 Great Grey Shrike which is uncommon here. Late observation was 1 ad. male Bar-tailed Godwit. Also 2 Northern Gannet, 20 Northern Fulmar, 5 Kittiwake, 15 Black-headed Gull, 5 Atlantic Puffin, 2 Common Teal, 1M Steller's Eider, 5 Common Scoter, 15 Eurasian Wigeon, 2 Mallard, 1 Black-throated Diver, 25 Purple Sandpiper, 5 Dunlin, 1 Common Ringed Plover, 1 ad.M Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Eurasian Golden-Plover, 1 White Wagtail, 5 Meadow Pipit, 6 Reed Bunting, 1 Merlin.
At Bergebyelva 280 Purple Sandpiper, 10 Dunlin, 1 Rock Pipit.
At Vadsøya there were 14 Grey Plover (high number), 25 Dunlin, 4 Northern Pintail, 3 Common Redpoll, 125 Purple Sandpiper.
At Vadsøya/Fossen there were 3 Siberian Tit, 1 Dunnock, 2 Great Tit, 5 Fieldfare, 15 Meadow Pipit, 20 Reed Bunting, 5 Common Teal.
At Kiby 1 Northern Gannet was seen close to shore.
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September 23rd - Båtsfjord Airport; 2 Whooper Swan flying towards the south. A rare species here.
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September 20th - Vadsø (Fossen); 2 Siberian Tit, 1 Willow Wagtail, 5 Redwing, 50 Fieldfare, 50 Common Redpoll, 20 Meadow Pipit, 10 Reed Bunting, 2 Eurasian Greenfinch, 7 Common Teal.
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September 19th Nesseby Church; 10 Northern Gannet (1 ad., 10 imm.), 4 juv. Common Shelduck, 20 Purple Sandpiper, 32 Dunlin (including 1 ad. in summer plumage), 1 Sanderling, 10 Mallard, 25 Eurasian Wigeon, 3 Common Scoter, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting, 10 Meadow Pipit, 5 White Wagtail, 1 Shore Lark and 10 Black-headed Gull.
At Mortensnes 1 Northern Wheatear.
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September 18th - Vadsø; 1 Merlin.
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September 15th - Varangerbotn; 1 Eurasian Oystercatcher.
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September 13th - Vadsø (Fossen); 30 Reed Bunting, 15 White Wagtail, 3 Bluethroat, 6 Willow Warbler, 2 Brambling, 2 Eurasian Greenfinch, 50 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 1 Willow Tit, 20 Common Redpoll, 30 Meadow Pipit, 2 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Eurasian Wigeon, 7 Common Teal, i Short-eared Owl and 1 first-cal. male Northern Goshawk.
At Vadsøya there were 1 Northern Fulmar, 9 Northern Pintail, 10 Mallard, 18 Tufted Duck (including 3 chicks) and 1 Skylark.
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September 12th - Nesseby Church; 1 second-cal. Great Northern Diver, 7 Black-throated Diver, 1 Great Skua flying west, 55 Arctic Skua (50 west & 5 east), 3 ad & 1 juv. Pomarine Skua (west), 4 Common Shelduck, 7 Northern Pintail, 4 Purple Sandpiper, 10 White Wagtail, 1 first-cal. Peregrine Falcon, 1 Rough-legged Buzzard and 2 ad. White-tailed Sea-eagle.
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September 11th - Vadsøya; 200 Northern Fulmar and 200 Kittiwake towards the east.
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September 6th - Nesseby; 1 juv. Little Gull, 7 Barnackle Goose, 1 second-cal. Great Northern Diver, 5 Common Shelduck, 40 Eurasian Wigeon, 15 Dunlin, 1 Common Ringed Plover, 1 Eurasian Oystercatcher, 1 Ruff, 2 Curlew Sandpiper and 10 Rough-legged Buzzard.
At Vadsøya there was 1 Bar-tailed Godwit.
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September 5th - Nesseby/Bergebyelva; 2 juv. Little Gull was very nice. Also seen were 6 Barnackle Goose, 5 Arctic Skua, 20 Arctic Tern, 4 Common Shelduck, 1 Little Stint and 5 Dunlin.
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September 3rd - Road to Båtsfjord; 1 Bewick's Swan, 1 juv./female Northern Goshawk (hunted successfully a Willow Ptarmigan).
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September 2nd - Nesseby; 7 Barnacle Goose.
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September 1st - Vardø to Hamningberg; 1 White-billed Diver, King Eiders, 1 juv./female Gyrfalcon, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Twite.
August 1998:
August 31st - Varangerbotn; 3 Great Northern Diver.
At Ekkerøy 1 juv. Northern Goshawk.
Near Vadsø 1 Peregrine Falcon.
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August 29th - Vadsøya; Between 14:30 and 16:00, 1 ad. Pomarine Skua, 2 ad. Arctic Skua, 1 Northern Fulmar, 2 Red-throated Pipit, 2 Lapland Longspur, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Steller's Eider, 1 Little Stint, 4 Eurasian Golden-Plover, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 30 Dunlin.
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August 27th - Nesseby; 4+ Manx Shearwater and 1 Great Skua.
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August 26th - Nesseby; 2 ad. Sabine's Gull present off Nesseby at 18:00 hours, together with Black-legged Kittiwakes and Herring Gulls. Also the same 1 second calendar Great Northern Diver.
Also rumours of Sooty Shearwater off Vardø today.
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August 23rd - Nesseby; 2 Northern Shoveler (female coloured) was todays best observation, also seen were 750 Dunlin (5 adults), 15 Curlew Sandpiper (1 adult), 20 Little Stint, 2 Eurasian Curlew, 20 Eurasian Oystercatcher, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 250 Common Ringed Plover, 10 Black Scoter, 50 White-winged Scoter, 10 Eurasian Wigeon, 15 Mallard, 12 Common Shelduck (11 immatures), 5 Bluethroat, 10 Reed Bunting, 5 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Red-throated Pipit.
Mr. Hannu Allonen had; 1 Gyrfalcon Varanger Peninsula, 1 Peregrine Varanger Peninsula, 1 Great Northern Diver at Nesseby, 1 Long-tailed Skua, 1 Great Skua and 1 probable Slavonian Grebe at Hamningberg (Seen in rough sea at 200 meters: small grebe, eclipse plumage, dark upper side of head, whitish underside of head, dark back and conspicously whiter sides), 10 Sanderling at Skallelv,
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August 22nd - Nesseby; Mr. Hannu Allonen had; 1 Great Northern Diver, 10 Steller's Eider,
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August 18th - Vadsø; 1 adult Whooper Swan in a small lake 14 km. west north-west of Vadsø airport.
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August 17th - Nesseby; 1 second calendar Great Northern Diver, 250 Dunlin and 200 Common Ringed Plover.
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August 16th - Vadsøya; 2 Common Tern sitting in the bridge.
At Kiberg 1 Iceland Gull, and in Persfjorden 2 White-billed Diver.
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August 15th - Hamningberg; 2 Common Tern are rare this far east.As is 1 Black-headed Gull.
At Svartnes 1 imm. Black-headed Gull.
At Kiberg 2 imm. Iceland Gull.
On Vadsøya 1 imm. Red-throated Pipit, 30 Red-necked Phalarope, 2 Yellow Wagtail.
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August 14th - Nesseby church; 1 Manx Shearwater towards tthe east ap 20:30, 1 second-year Great Northern Diver, 10 Steller's Eider, 1 Northern Pintail, 7 Eurasian Wigeon, 260 Common Ringed Plover, 250 Dunlin, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 20 Little Stint, 2 Ruff, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Spotted Redshank and 1 Red-necked Phalarope.
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August 13th - Vadsøya; At 2:00 A.M. 1 Common Sandpiper migrated overhead. This is possibly the only Common Sandpiper seen on the Varanger Peninsula this year, and the first migrating at night here.
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August 12th - Nesseby church; 1 Great Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua (dark phase), 250 Dunlin, 220 Common Ringed Plover, 1 ad. Curlew Sandpiper, 30 Little Stint, 2 Temminck's Stint, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Ruff, 2 Red-necked Phalarope and 1 male Steller's Eider.
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August 11th - Nesseby church; 260 Dunlin (1 adult), 45 Little Stint, 1 ad. Curlew Sandpiper, 100 Common Ringed Plover, 10 Ruff, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Red-necked Phalarope, 7 Northern Pintail, 15 Common Teal, 1 male Steller's Eider and two pairs of Common Shelduck, each pair with 5 & 1 chick.
On Vadsøya; 80 Dunlin, 15 imm. Red-necked Phalarope and 20 Little Stint.
Salttjern held 1 ad. Grey Plover.
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August 7th - Nesseby church; 200 Common Ringed Plover, 150 Dunlin, 1 ad. Sanderling, 2 ad. Red Knot, 1 ad. Grey Plover, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Temminck's Stint and 10 Bar-tailed Godwit.
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August 6th - Hamningberg; 1 Great Skua flying westwards and 2 female King Eider.
In Persfjorden 1 3K White-billed Diver, and between Persfjorden and Hamningberg 7000 Common Eider.
At Kiberg there were 1-2 Iceland Gulls.
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August 5th - Mortensnes; 2 Manx Shearwater flying eastwards, 1 Northern Fulmar.
At Nesseby church there were 290 Common Ringed Plover (high number), 1 ad. Sanderling, 100 Dunlin, 20 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Spotted Redshank and 5 Little Stint.
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August 1st - Nesseby church; 1 Grey Plover and 1 Spotted Redshank.
At Vadsø there was 1 Bohemian Waxwing.
July 1998:
July 31st - Vadsøya; 1 Manx Shearwater and 60 Red-necked Phalarope.
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July 30th - Nesseby church; During the period from 19:15 to 21:15 14 Manx Shearwater were seen as well as 1 Great Skua, 1 Northern Fulmar, 80 Common Ringed Plover and 2 Red Knot.
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July 28th & 29th - Nesseby to Hamningberg; Harri Kontkenen, Markku Halonen, Vesa Jouhki & Frans Silvenius birded the area, and they saw among other these birds: 2 2K Great Northern Diver (Varangerbotn and Nesseby), 1 2K White-billed Diver (Kramvik), 3 Manx Shearwater (Nesseby), 1500+ Northern Fulmar (Hamningberg), 3 Great Skua (Hamningberg), 1 2K Glaucous Gull (Store Ekkerøy), 4 Purple Sandpiper (Store Ekkerøy and Hamningberg), 40 (30M & 10F) King Eider (from Nesseby to Hamningberg), 1 male Steller's Eider (Nesseby - where have they all gone??), 3 ad. Long-tailed Skua (Nesseby - Vardø), 1 ad. Shore Lark (Kramvik) and 1 Twite (Hamningberg).
Also 2 Minkey Whales and 10-15 Beluga Whales near Hamningberg.
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July 20th - Vadsø; 1 Bohemian Waxwing.
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July 19th - Nesseby church; 1 Leach's Storm-Petrel, 17 Manx Shearwater, 2 Great Skua and 4 Little Auk.
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July 16th - Vardø (Hornøya); One Red-rumped Swallow (H.daurica) still present, since July 4th. Also 1 Barn Swallow. At sea 1 Manx Shearwater.
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July 15th - Nesseby church; One dark-rumped Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma sp.) were seen here today. Details will follow. Also 15 Leach's Storm-Petrel, 8 Manx Shearwater, 1 Great Skua.
At Sandfjorden, 1 adult Great Northern Diver.
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July 14th - Nesseby church; 76 Leach's Storm-Petrel, 15 Manx Shearwater and 1 Little Auk.
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July 13th - Nesseby church; During 90 minutes: 24 Leach's Storm-Petrel, 1 British Storm-Petrel and 20+ Manx Shearwater and 1 White-billed Diver. A good day.
At Hamningberg there is a reported Black Lark (Melanocorypha yeltonensis). No details known.
At Kariel 1 Pomarine Skua was seen.
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July 12th - Nesseby church; More amazing seabird-numbers: 39 Leach's Storm-Petrel, 10 Manx Shearwater, 2 Great Skua, 1 Little Auk and 1000 Northern Fulmar.
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July 7th - Nesseby church; An amazing number of 29 Leach's Storm-Petrel, 1 British Storm-Petrel (very rare here) and 1 Manx Shearwater migrated eastwards during two hours.
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July 5th - Nesseby church; 2 Leach's Storm-Petrel (at time 20:15 and 20:40) towards the east, 2 Little Auk and 1 dark Pomarine Skua.
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July 4th - Mortensnes; 1 Common Crane, 5 Little Auk towards the west, 4 Great Skua, 10 Long-tailed Skua and houndreds of Atlantic Puffin.
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July 3rd - Vadsø; 1 Eurasian Woodcock.
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July 2nd - Vadsøya; 560 Red-necked Phalarope was a good number.
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July 1st - Nesseby church; 400 Bar-tailed Godwit. At Svartnes 6 Pomarine Skuas and 1 male Eurasian Blackbird were seen.
One male Willow Ptarmigan were heard laughing (!) near Skallelv. Also present were 4 Whooper Swan, an uncommon bird here.
June 1998:
June 29th - Nesseby; 700 Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 White-billed Diver (adult and second-year).
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June 28th - Svartnes; 2 Bar-headed Goose (A.indicus) was seen here today. Rock Pipit (A.petrosus) found breeding at Hamningberg.
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June 27th - Nesseby; 600 Bar-tailed Godwit and 1 Grey Plover.
At Sandfjord there were no less than 12 Bar-headed Goose (A.indicus) present, and with them 2 hybrid Bar-headed Goose / Brent Goose (A. indicus / B. bernicla). Outlook and size was like Brent Goose, but head & neck was like Bar-headed Goose.
At Vadsøya 310 Red-necked Phalarope. 1 Eurasian Songlark singing in Sandfjord, and 1 2K Glaucous Gull between Vardø and Hamningberg.
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June 23rd - Mortensnes; One second-year Great Northern Diver.
At Nesseby there were 1 Little Gull.
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June 22nd - Nesseby; 1 Manx Shearwater towards the east, 4 Little Auk towards the west, and 2 Lesser White-fronted Goose.
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June 21st - Vadsøya; Blue skies and eight degrees gave during 1 hour 1 Pomarine Skua, 1 Northern Fulmar, 2 Temminck's Stint, 3 Red-throated Pipit, 2 Shore Lark, 1 male Eurasian Skylark singing (rare here) and 1 Yellow Wagtail showing agitated behaviour suggesting breeding here. 300 Steller's Eider was a good number this late.
At Ekkerøy there were 1 Grey Plover and 6 Greylag Goose.
A group of Finnish birders from Helsinki had yesterday between Vardø and Hamningberg; King Eider, Pomarine Skua and Glaucous Gull.
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June 19th - Vadsø; 210 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling and 2 Common Shelduck.
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June 18th - Mortensnes; 90 Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) and 10 Black Scoter (M. nigra).
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June 16th - Vadsø; A surprising high number of 70 Sand Martin were seen.
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June 15th - Nesseby; One Broad-billed Sandpiper still present (or perhaps a new individual?).
At Mortensnes a delightful adult White-billed Diver were seen. 3 Hedge Accentor at Vestre Jakobselv camping was good.
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June 14th - Vestre Jakobselv camping; 1 Common Cuckoo.
Between Kiberg and Hamningberg 1 Whooper Swan was seen, and 6 Greater Scaup near Varangerbotn, as well as four at Krampenes and one near Ekkerøy. 1 Common Swift at Kiberg was good.
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June 13th - Kramvik; One third-year Iceland Gull.
At Kiberg the Eurasian Collared-Dove was still present. Also 1 Snowy Owl seen between Varangerbotn and Hamningberg.
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June 12th - Grasbakken, Nesseby; 2 ad. Little Gull observed by B.Frantzen.
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June 8th - Indre Kiberg; One second-year Great Northern Diver was seen, as was 1 Curlew Sandpiper.
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June 7th - Barvikmyrene, Vardø; 1 Bewick's Swan was found here, and at Ekkerøy 1 Great White-fronted Goose was feeding.
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June 6th - Nesseby; 1 Broad-billed Sandpiper.
At Mortensnes 1 Great Skua flew by.
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June 4th - Vadsø; 500 Dunlin is still a high number, 1 Grey Plover and 1 Eurasian Woodcock were also seen.
At Nesseby there was 2 Spotted Redshank.
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June 3rd - Kirkenes - Vardø boattrip; 2 Manx Shearwater and 200 Northern Fulmar was seen on a boattrip from Kirkenes to Vardø.
West of Vardø 2 Snowy Owls were present. (Observers; Ola Nyyssönen och Ossi Pihajoki).
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June 1st - Ekkerøy; 2 Bean Goose (Anser fabalis fabalis/rossicus), 1 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Common Shelduck and 1 Curlew Sandpiper.
May 1998:
May 31st - Salttjern; 6 Red Knot.
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May 30th - Vadsø; 1.250 Dunlin was a high number here. Also present was 1 Sanderling, 1 Glaucous Gull and 1 second/third-year Iceland Gull.
At Nesseby 3 Bean Goose (Anser fabalis fabalis/rossicus).
At Ekkerøy 1 Bean Goose (Anser fabalis fabalis/rossicus), 1 Lesser White-fronted Goose, 4 Sanderling and 5 Red Knot.
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May 29th - Vestre Jakobselv; 2 Common Starling.
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May 27th - Hamningberg; 10 White-billed Diver. At Sandfjord 1 Pink-footed Goose - a very fearless individual.
At Vadsø one Eurasian Woodcock flying across the road and 1 Eurasian Chiffchaff singing, and at Kariel 1 Eurasian Lark.
At Skallelv 1 third-calendar Glaucous Gull and 2 ad. Lesser White-fronted Goose.
At Ekkerøy there were 9 Greylag Goose.
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May 24th - Hamningberg; A big change from last week-end, with almost no seabird movement at all; 9 White-billed Diver, 18 Arctic Skua, 1 Northern Fulmar, 50 Brünnich's Guillemot, 16 King Eider and one Red-throated Pipit.
In Kiberg, the days biggest surprise was 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove, the second record from the Varanger Peninsula (first was in Vadsø 09.July 1974). The dove was sitting in a garden, then flying down towards the pier - quite shy. Also present was 1 Common Greenshank, another uncommon bird, never recorded outside Nesseby, as well as 1 White-billed Diver and 3 Pomarine Skua.
Between Nesseby and Hamningberg we had 5 Lesser White-fronted Goose, 10 Greylag Goose, 3 Bean Goose (Anser fabalis fabalis/rossicus).
Along the road there were several Horned Lark and 1 White-billed Diver both in Persfjorden and in Vardø. In Vardø 1 Common Starling was a surprise, and 2 Eurasian Skylark was good. Only one ad. Glaucous Gull present at Svartnes.
At Vadsø, 1.000 Dunlin was a high number. Also present were 2 Common Shelduck and 1 Temminck's Stint.
At Nesseby; 1 ad. Peregrine Falcon.
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May 23rd - Andersby, near Vadsø; At Andersby, near Vadsø 1 Stock Pigeon (C.oenas) was new to the Varanger Peninsula! Good on ya, Bertil & Morten. Another rare bird here was 1 Song Thrush, not recorded here since 1975!
At Vadsøya, the first Red-throated Pipit was seen today, and 400 Dunlin.
At Nesseby there were 12 Bean Goose (Anser fabalis fabalis/rossicus).
Also 1 Little Auk, 5 Pomarine Skua, 7 Long-tailed Skua and 12 Great Skua at Skjåholmen.
At Persfjorden 1 White-throated Dipper and 1 Barn Swallow were seen.
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May 22nd - Vadsøya; The first Red-necked Phalarope was swimming in the pond today, and a high number of 1.000 Dunlin feeding along the shoreline.
At Nesseby, one male Northern Shoveler was present, and 1 Wood Sandpiper heard at Skjåholmen + 5 Great Skua and 3 Greylag Goose at Skjåholmen.
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May 21st - Nesseby; One adult Peregrine hunting in the bay caused a stir with the Dunlins, Bar-tailed Godwits and Common Ringed Plovers present. 14 Bean Goose (Anser fabalis fabalis/rossicus) were feeding in the ponds. 250 Meadow Pipit was a high number.
3 Great Skua at Skjåholmen.
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Observations by Esko Lavikka:
16.-21.05.98 Karlebotn-Hamningberg:
Steller's Eider: 7347
King Eider: 154
White-tailed Eagle: 37
Glaucous Gull: 92
Iceland Gull: 1
Purple Sandpiper: 985
Shore Lark: 39
16.05.98 (Esko Lavikka):
Varangerbotn-Kiberg:
White-billed Diver: 20 ad + 1 sub ad.
White-billed/Great Northern Diver: 35 ad.
17.05.98 (Esko Lavikka and Håkon Heggland)
Hamningberg:
Pomarine Skua: 874
Long-tailed Skua: 32
Arctic Skua (and Stercorarius sp.): 124
Great Skua: 2
Fulmar: approx. 100000 E
Kittywake: approx. 300000
White-billed Diver: 35 ad.
White-billed/Great Northern Diver: 41 ad.
18.05.98
Hamningberg (Esko Lavikka):
White-billed Diver: 21 ad. + 1 sub ad.
White-billed/Great Norther Diver: 48 ad. + 1 sub ad.
Pomarine Skua: 186
Long-tailed Skua: 5
Great Skua: 1
Arctic Skua (incl. Stercorarius sp.): 75
Langbunes-Kiberg:
White-billed Diver: 12 ad. + 1 sub ad.
White-billed/Great Northern Diver: 5 ad.
19.05.98
Hamningberg (Esko Lavikka):
White-billed Diver: 11 ad.
White-billed/great Northern Diver: 15 ad.
Long-tailed Skua: 10
Pomarine Skua: 35
Great Skua: 2
Siberian Stonechat (S. (t.) maura): 1 subad. M. This will become the second
record of Siberian Stonecaht in Finnmark if the record is accepted by the
Norwegian Rarities Committee.
Fulmar: 110
20.05.98
Hamningberg (Esko Lavikka):
White-billed Diver: 67ad. + 2 sub ad.
White-billed/Great Northern Diver: 17 ad.
Great Skua: 2
Pomarine Skua: 1
Long-tailed Skua: 2
Fulmar: 11000
21.05.98 (Esko Lavikka):
Kiberg-Store Ekkerøy:
White-billed Diver: 4 ad. + 1 sub ad.
White-billed/Great Northern Diver: 1 ad.
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Between Nesseby and Hamningberg we had 4 adult Lesser White-fronted Goose, the first this year and a new early record. Also present were 5 Bean Goose (Anser fabalis fabalis/rossicus) and 13 Greylag Goose.
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May 20th - Nesseby; 1 Great Skua and 3 Greylag Goose at Skjåholmen.
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May 19th - Ekkerøy; 1 Common Greenshank heard. (Kalle Ruokolainen). Only obs. this year. 15 Greylag Goose.
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May 18th - Kariel; 1 Canada Goose (very small, smaller than Bean Goose, breast and belly dark brown, very small and short bill white area in throat small) 2 Pink-footed Goose, 26 Bean Goose sp. (Kalle Ruokolainen).
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May 17th - Hamningberg; No less than 700+ Pomarine Skua were seen migrating offshore during the day and evening (E.Lavikka and H.Heggland), as well as 25 Long-tailed Skua, 150 Arctic Skua, 2 Great Skua, and appx. 50.000 Northern Fulmar. 30 White-billed Diver were present offshore and migrating. One male Common Chiffchaff was singing.
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From between Slettnes og Kjalnes lighthouse on May 16th -20th, the birders Markku O. Saarinen och Pekka Komi observed:
158 White-billed Diver (147 adults and 11 immatures) - 4 Great Northern Diver (3 adults and 1 immature) - 11 Black-throated Diver - 127 Red-throated Diver - 2 Barnackle Geese - 21 Lesser White-fronted Geese - 422 King Eider - 4 Steller's Eider - 22 Great Skua - 81 Long-tailed Skua - 181 Arctic Skua - 1.050 Pomarine Skua - 21 Glaucous Gull - 1 Little Gull - 1 Snowy Owl.
This is somewhat surprising, and will be followed up by Håkon and myself next May. Hopefully Markku and Pekka can join in.
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May 16th - Persfjorden; One male Common Chiffchaff was singing.
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May 12th - Vadsø Airport; A beautiful female Hen Harrier was seen hunting over some grassy fields this morning.
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May 10th - Hamningberg; 10 White-billed Diver and what seemed to be thousands of Skua sp. migrating past. 1 Twite was also seen here.
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May 9th - Vadsøya; An early Arctic Tern set a new arrival-record for the Varanger area today. Last year it arrived 7 days later. Other migrants present here today were 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Eurasian Golden-Plover, 2 Pomarine Skua, 6 Arctic Skua and 12 Shore Lark. Three Glaucous Gulls flew overhead.
At Kariel, close to Vestre Jakobselv, a flock of geese were grazing in the field. The flock consisted of 1 Pink-footed Goose and 10 Bean Goose (Anser fabalis fabalis/rossicus).
In Vestre Jakobselv, the rarity of the day presented itself by one Green Sandpiper, the third observation from the Varanger Peninsula!( This makes it as rare as the White-rumped Sandpiper here, and more than twice as rare as Pectoral Sandpiper). The bird was seen well in some small ponds by the roadside, where it was swimming and feeding.
At Bergeby and Nesseby, a single Little Auk was swimming close to shore, and allowed observers to approach to within a few meters. In the pond 3 Bean Goose (Anser fabalis fabalis/rossicus) were resting. 1 Short-eared Owl, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit and 6 Common Redshank were present, along with 38 adult Black-headed Gull, one with a very strong pink wash on the breast and underside.
In Vardø 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Twite, Common Starling, Northern Wheatear and Common Snipe was seen.
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May 8th - Vardø; A European Robin was seen here today, a very uncommon bird this far east in the Varanger area.
May 7th - Skallelv; 12 Greylag Goose were seen feeding in the fields. A fairly uncommon visitor here.
April 1998:
April 25th - Nesseby; A Northern Lapwing with a broken bill was seen here today, an uncommon bird in the Varanger area.
On Vadsøya, the years first White Wagtail was seen sitting on Lailas Hotell.
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April 12th - Vadsø Harbour; One 2K Black-headed Gull was the first this year.
On Vadsøya we had 250 Purple Sandpiper, 400 Steller's Eider, 12 male King Eider and 5 Eurasian Oystercatcher.
At Bergebyelva there were 2 adult Glaucous Gull.
At Gornitak, close to Varangerbotn, we had 5 Arctic Redpoll and 50 King Eider.
At Nesseby we had 2 Red-throated Diver, 3 Common Shelduck, 10 Eurasian Oystercatcher and 13 Velvet Scoter.
In Vestre Jakobselv there was a lone 3K Iceland Gull.
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April 11th - Store Ekkerøy; Morten Günter & Bertil Casslen had the good fortune to find Varangers first spring observation of a Red-necked Grebe, a second calendar year bird.
More than 700 Purple Sandpiper were present around Nesseby, together with 6 Glaucous Gull and 15 Eurasian Oystercatchers.. Around Vardø the numbers were doubled, and 12 Glaucous Gull were present. A single Iceland Gull was observed in Vadsø, a second calendar year.
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April 10th - Vadsø Harbour; 3 Iceland Gull still present in the harbour.
March 1998:
March 26th - Vadsø Harbour; One first-winter Ring-billed Gull (L.delawarensis) was seen by Håkon today.
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March 22nd - Vadsø Harbour; Spring was confirmed today with 10 Snow Bunting, a few of the males singing in the sunshine. Also present were 3 Iceland Gull, 1.000 Steller's Eider, 6 King Eider and 250 Purple Sandpiper.
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March 15th - Vadsø Harbour; 7 Iceland Gull and the usual male Steller's Eider / Common Eider hybrid.
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March 8th - Vadsø Harbour; 5 Iceland Gull was a high number (two adults in winter plumage, one 4K, one 3K and one 2K), all swimming together close to the shore. Also seen were 1 imm. White-tailed Eagle, 1 Brunnich's Guillemot (rare in Vadsø Harbour, and my first winter observation here), 25 King Eider, 200 Steller's Eider and 4 Common Gull (either early migrants, or wintering birds). Another sure sign of approaching spring was small flocks of Black-legged Kittiwake flying over the bridge to Vadsøya - both adults and immatures.
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March 7th - From Angsnes to Vardø; 6.000 Steller's Eider were counted along the road.
Also a hybrid King- / Common Eider at Skallelv.
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March 3rd - Vadsø Harbour; 18 King Eider, 250 Steller's Eider, 1 Steller's Eider / Common Eider hybrid, 1 imm. Iceland Gull and 1 ad. Glaucous Gull.
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March 1st - Vadsø Harbour; An amazing high number of 10 Iceland Gull were present in the harbour, with an 11th showing up the next day!.
February 1998:
February 10th - Vadsøya; 2 Snow Bunting flew across the road at the bridge, the second winter observation from the Varanger-fjord area.
January 1998:
January 31st - Vadsø Harbour; 4 Iceland Gull and 3 Glaucous Gull present in the harbour.
Around Nesseby, 7 White-billed Diver were present, as were 1 Red-throated Diver, an uncommon visitor here during winter.