Observations from 1999:
December 1999:
17.12.99; Calm, cold.
Vadsø:
1 Fieldfare
1 Waxwing
12.12.99; Northerly breeze, light snow showers. -6 degrees.
Vadsø:
1 Iceland Gull ad.
50 Herring Gulls
2 Common Gulls ad
10 King Eider
15 Mallard
1 Fieldfare (Rare in winter)
11.12.99
Calm winds from NW. A few clouds. -2
Vadsø:
1 Red-throated Diver (juv)
1 White-billed Diver (juv)
10 King Eider
Several hundred Stellers Eiders
10 Red-breasted Mergansers
130 Herring Gulls
20 Great Black-backed Gulls
13 Common Gulls ad
1 Glaucous Gull ad
4 + Waxwings
1 Fieldfare
04.12.99; Calm winds, nice weather. -10degrees.
Vardø-Kiberg:
25 Glaucous Gulls
400 Herring Gulls
03.12.99; Calm, nice
weather. -10 degrees.
Vadsø-Varangerbotn:
1700 Steller's Eiders (giving a total of approx. 10900 birds in Varanger)
2 Velvet Scoter Nesseby
November 1999:
28.11
Kiberg-Vardø. Calm wind from SW-W, partly clouded. Mild.
Approximately 1000 Herring Gulls Kiberg-Vardø (adults dominating)
Approximately 120 Glaucous Gulls Kiberg-Vardø (adults dominating)
1 ad. Kittiwake (Vardø)
2 (M+F) Mallard Krampenes (rare in winter outside Vadsø and Nesseby)
27.11.: Vadsø.
2 1Y Glaucous Gull
22.11.: Vadsø-Vardø.
500 King Eider Kramvik-Vardø (gives a total of 1500 birds Vadsø-Vardø)
9200 Stellers Eider Vadsø-Vardø
200 Glaucous Gulls Kiberg-Vadsø, mostly ad.
1 1Y (juv/1. winter, very dark body, but pale head, juvenile scapulars)
American Herring Gull
(L. a. smithsonianus) sees around midday in Kiberg.
Seen both sitting on the shore with Northern Herring Gulls (L. a.
argentatus), and several times in flight at close range, giving very good
views of the tail (all dark) and rump (heavily barred).
21.11.: Vadsø-Kramvik.
1000 King Eider
Stellers Eider, see next day
200 Common Scooter
2 IY White-billed Diver
2 Black-throated Diver (Ekkerøya)
2 (ad. + 1Y) Red-throated Diver (Vadsø)
7 Glaucous Gulls (2 1Y Vadsø, 5 ad. Skallelv)
20.11.: Vadsø.
1 ad. Iceland Gull
2 (ad. + 1Y) Glaucous Gull
14.11.: Vadsø:
2 ad. Iceland Gulls
1 1Y Glaucous Gull
Salttjern:
1 Snow Bunting by the road (very late record)
13.11.: Vadsø, strong northerly winds, snowfall.
1 juv/1. winter Ivory Gull was
seen for a short period in the eastern part
of the harbor. It came from the east, took a round in the eastern bay, and
returned eastwards, very close to the shore, where I had the good fortune of being!
20 Glaucous Gulls (mostly adults, but at least 2 1Y and 1 2Y and 1 3Y)
2 ad. Iceland Gulls
200 Herring Gulls
50 Great Black-backed Gulls
5 Common Gulls
1 very dark 2. winter Herring Gull showed several features indicating a
possible Nearctic origin (L. a. smithsonianus).
1 Bean Goose (extremely late record)
01.11.99
Vadsø:
1 Glaucous Gull (juv)
12 Waxwing
09.11.99; Cold, snow.
Vadsø:
3 Waxwing
04.11.99; Vadsø and Nesseby (short trip)
Nesseby:
70 Velvet Scoter
50 Common Scoter
80 King Eider W (incl. several ad. males in full plumage)
Vadsø: 1 Fieldfare
07.11.99; Strong westerly winds. Rainshowers. Mild
Vadsø-Vardø:
146 Glaucous Gulls; Vadsø: 2 1. Y - Skallelv: 2 ad, 2 3.Y/4.Y
Kiberg: 5 1.Y, 9 2.Y, 5 3.Y/4.Y, the rest ad. =75
Svartnes: 2 1.Y, 2 2.Y, 6 3.Y, 1 4. Y the rest ad. = 50
Vardø: 15 ad.
02.11.99; Light clouded/clouded.Strong wind from E (12-15 m/s).
Nesseby 0810-0940:
300 Little Auk migrating E
50 Alcidae sp (mostly torda)
1 Puffin E
100 Kittiwake E
5 Pomarine Skuas juv W, 1 juv E. Late record, also seen this late in 1997 at
Hamningberg.
10 King Eider W (incl. 1 ad. male in full plumage)
5 Red-throated Diver W + 5 in the area
6 Gavia sp W
1 Fulmar E
25 Velvet Scoter
15 Mallard
300 Purple Sandpiper
2 White-tailed Eagle ad
1 Blackbird male at Blåbærnes
is very rare here.
October 1999:
Heikki Karhu and Olli Karhu we
again got these observations:
31.October: temperature at Vardø about +5 (frost yesterday), half
cloudy, weak wind from NE. Watching at Hasselnes 6.35- 7.10 Norwegian winter
time, SE-tip of Vardø 7.25- 7.55, Svartnes 8.25, from road at almost every
possible point between Prestnäringen- Hamningberg and back 8.55-13.30, Kiberg
13.50- 14.10.
Red-throated Diver 1 juv Sandfjorden
Black-throated Diver 1 ad winter-plumaged Persfjorden
Red/Black-throated D. 3 flying West at Hamningberg, almost passed us unnoticed,
probably Red-throated.
Great Northern Diver 1 ad winter-plumaged Seglodden- Finnvik
White-billed Diver 42 birds altogether, 8 of which ad still in full
summer/breeding plumage, 19 ad in transitional plumage, 1 ad in winter plumage
and 14 juv, situated as follows: 1 Prestnäringen, 4 Persfjorden, 14 on "Båtsfjord-side"
of Seglodden, 17 Sandfjorden and 5 local + 1 flying West at Hamningberg. Biggest
groups: 5 ad in transitional plumage, 4 ad (1 br.pl, 3 tr.pl.) and several
"families" of 2 ad 1 juv.
King Eider just 2 juv male 1 fem and 1 2nd w male seen from H-berg road
Stellers Eider just 155 Vardø and only small number towards Hamningberg
Velvet Scoter 6 fem. Svartnes + 1 fem.
White-tailed Eagle 1+1ad+1ad+1 H-berg road
Gyr Falcon 1 juv, perhaps female, at 8.25- 8.37 Svartnes. Sat several
times on poles, much chased to flight by crows
Purple Sandpiper 150 Vardø
Guillemot 1 Vardø SE-tip
Black Guillemot 11 Vardø, 80 seen from H-berg road
Little Auk 12 NW in half an hour at Vardø SE-tip
Feral Pigeon 23 Vardø
Collared Dove 1 passed us very near at Vardø "SE-tip" at 7.35
while sea-watching. The bird came from direction of sea-cliffs west of Radar
Base, passed between us and the sea and then entered to NW between the houses of
the town. Smallish streptopelia, flying with typical deep and rapid
streptopelia-wingbeats. General colour of upper parts pale sandy-brown, including
tail, primaries darker. The bird passed us so fast, that we did not see the
white tips of tail-feathers nor the collar. Wing-coverts not rufous, no black on
tail and general appearance not so dark as on Turtle Dove.
Snow Bunting 1 at barley-field, Skallelv.
30. October: Good weather, but some sea-mist after a frosty night until
Vestre Jakobselv. Watching at Varangerbotn area from 8.00 Norwegian time,
Nesseby 9.30-10.20, Vadsø until 12.15, Ekkerøya 12.50 -13, Kiberg
14.00- 14.30, Vardø 14.30- 15.45 (until darkness);
White-billed Diver 3juv+1juv+1juv at Meskfjorden, 1 juv at east of Mortensnes
just before Vadsø "commune border"
Stellers Eider 70 Nesseby area, 300 Vadsø, 80 Ekkerøya, 250 Ekkerøya-Kiberg
King Eider 1 2nd winter male Vardø
Common Scoter 2 fem. Nesseby, 2 fem. Vadsø
Velvet Scoter 2 male 2 fem. Nesseby
White-tailed Eagle 1 subad Komagnes, 2 ad + 2 ad on islets between Kramvik and
Indre Kiberg, 2 ad landed on the steep cliff of Hornöya to roost at 15.30
Purple Sandpiper 300 Nesseby, 30 Vadsø, 90 Ekkerøya- Kiberg
Grey Plover 1 juv with Purple Sandpipers at Kiberg
Glaucous Gull 1 ad Kiberg, 1 2nd winter Vardø
Great Grey Shrike 1 Mortensnes
Bullfinch call heard near Meskelva
Other species seen: Cormorant 62, Shag 23, Mallard 2, Eider 600,
Long-tailed Duck 258, Red-breasted Merganser 6,Great Black-backed Gull
50, Herring Gull 1400, Common Gull 2, Kittiwake 200, Black Guillemot
6, Guillemot/Razorbill 14, Guillemot sp. 3, Raven, Hooded Crow,Magpie,
Great Tit, House Sparrow
10.10.99 - Nesseby 0715-1130.
Mostly seawatching.
Calm winds, later easterly 7 m/s. Clouded, it started raining before departure.+5
degrees.
8000 Long-tailed Duck (7000 migrating W (over land!), max. flocksize 1000, many
birds flying at considerable height)
300 Velvet Scoter (200 W)
55 King Eider (50W)
10 Common Scoter W
1 Fulmar
500 Kittiwake
3 Gannet juv.
200 Little Auk
Numerous Alcidae sp.
1 Brent Goose
W
3 White-billed Diver (1subad, 2 juv)
90 Red-throated Diver (40 W, 50 in area)
10 Gavia sp. W
2 Long-tailed Skua juv W
1+ Arctic Skua ad. pale E
83 Pomarine Skua, juv W, max. flocksize 14
2 Arctic/Pomarine Skua 2 juv W
3 Shelduck
10 Mallard
1 Oystercatcher
1 Golden Plover (ad. late record)
5+ Dunlin
100+ Purple Sandpiper
20 Black-headed Gull
5 Twite
2+ Snow Bunting
09.10.99 - Nesseby 0745-12.:
Clouded, showers. Low cloudcover. + 4-7 degrees. Easterly wind 10 m/s (harder wind
the day before).
Pomarine Skua: 100 (46W, 54 E) All juv
Long-tailed Skua: 1 juv W, 2 juv E. Very late
Arctic Skua: 1 juv W. Very late
Arctic/Long-tailed Skua: 2 juv W
Long-tailed Duck: 1300 W
King Eider: 10 W
Common Scoter: 20 W
Velvet Scoter: 30W
Red-throated Diver: 20W, 40 E, 20 present in area
2 White-billed Diver ad+sub ad
1 + Black-throated Diver
Several hundred Kittiwakes
30 Black-headed Gulls
30 Little Auks
2 Gannets juv
3 Grey Phalaropes in
flock migrating W at approx 09.
1 Red-necked Grebe migrating W (rare in Varanger)
3 Grey Plover 1.Y
1 Bar-tailed Godwit 1.Y
1 Oystercatcher
1 Redshank 1. Y (very late)
25 Dunlin
300 Purple Sandpiper
23 Pintail migrating W and S
4 Common Teal W
2 Shelduck 1. Y
1 Reed Bunting
Mortensnes:
1 Little Gull
2. Y
Vadsø (incl. Fossen):
22 Dunlin (3 ad)
200 Purple Sandpiper
10 Fieldfare
5 Reed Bunting
1 Linnet,
Fossen (very rare in Varanger)
07.10.99; Sunny, light winds from W. % degress, but a very cold night.
Vadsø:
140 Purple Sandpiper
11 Dunlin 1. Y
2 Tufted Duck
Fossen, near Vadsø:
2 Reed Bunting
14 Waxwing
5 Fieldfare
1 Bullfinch F
Many Redpoll
06.10.99 - Vadsø town:
1 White Wagtail (my latest record during 1997-1999)
1 Great spotted Woodpecker
05.10.99 - Vadsø town:
30 Waxwing
03.10.99
Partly clouded, getting more clouded, some rain before departure. Wind E-NE 7-10
m/s rising to 12/15 m/s in the afternoon.
Nesseby 07-0830 and 15-1620:
12 Pomarine Skua (9 juv, 1 ad. winter W, 2 juv E)
4 Fulmar E (2 dark)
1 Gannet juv
1000 Kittiwake
1500 Puffin E
500 Alcidae sp E
2 Velvet Scoter E
3 King Eider F-coloured E
20 Red-throated Diver W
35 Dunlin 1. Y
20 Purple Sandpiper
2 Shelduck juv
15 Wigeon
3 White-tailed Eagle (2 ad, 1 young)
30 Black-headed Gull (mostly ad, 1 1. Y)
02.10.99
Clouded, some haze. NE 10 m/s.
Nesseby:
113 Pomarine Skua W (11
juv, 1 ad. pale, 1 subad)
2 Long-tailed Skua juv W
2 Arctic Skua W
5 Stercorarius sp. W
1 Gannet juv
1 Arctic Tern 1. Y W
4 Little Auk (3E, 1W)
Several hundred Alcidae sp.
1000+ Kittiwake
25 Dunlin
30 Purple Sandpiper
1 Bar-tailed Godwit ad. with injured leg
2 Shelduck juv
12 Wigeon
1 Velvet Scoter W
3 Stellers Eider W
6 Red-throated Diver
01.10.99; Partly clouded, Light
winds from NE.
Vadsø:
55 Dunlin 1. Y, 1 ad
5 Purple Sandpiper
1 White Wagtail i Vadsø town (late)
1 Stercorarius sp. W (juv)
September 1999:
30.09.99
Vadsø. W breeze. Sunny. 3-7 degrees. Low tide, going up. Short evening stop
25 Dunlin, 1 ad. 15 flew S.
20 Purple Sanpiper
220 Steller's Eider
35 Mallard
21 Tufted Duck
60 Shore Lark
6 Pomarine Skua 1. Y flew W. Seen during 5 min. seawatching.
many Redwing and Fieldfare. Many Common Gull still
All Steller's Edier in full eclipse, many Common Eider MM in full plumage.
Mallard in full plumage, Tufted Duck in eclipse.
September 29th - Nesseby; 2 Red Phalarope migrating past, 13 Pomarine Skua, 8 King Eider, 2 Northern Gannet.
Vadsø. Light SW wind. Light rain.
1 White Wagtail in town
28.09.99
Vadsø. Clouded. Light wind from SV. 6 degrees. Low tide.
Vadsøya:
83 Dunlin 1. Y
4 Purple Sandpiper
1 Oystercatcher
1 Bar-tailed Godwit 1. Y
250 Steller's Edier
1 Gyr Falcon 1. Y hunting
Shore Lark heard
Fossen:
15 Reed Bunting
30 Meadow Pipit
20 Fieldfare
5 Redwing
3 Dunnock (high number!)
All flew W.
27.09.99
Vadsø. Clouded. S/SV breeze. 6 degrees. Low tide.Short trip.
103 Dunlin 1. Y
72 Purple Sandpiper
1 Oystercatcher
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
3 Wigeon
30 Mallard
20 Tufted Duck
3 Pintail
20 Long-tailed Duck
200 Steller's Eider
1 Black-headed Gull
2 White Wagtail in town
September 26th; Cloudy (glimpses of the
sun), SW 10 m/s. 5-6 degrees.
Høyholmen, Tana (Low tide):
500+ Long-tailed Duck
20 Snow Bunting
2 Oystercatcher
5 Grey Plover 1. Y
900 Dunlin (5 ad)
4 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y. Rather late record.
Nesseby, short stop:
10 Dunlin 1. Y
Tana valley:
1 White Wagtail
September 25th - Vadsø; 45 Shore Lark.
At Domen there were a high number of 1000 Snow Bunting.
A total of 720 Steller's Eiders were seen.
From Heikki Karhu we got these observations:
25.9.99: nice weather as well, birding at Vardø Hasselnes 5:30- 7:10, no
movement worth mentioning, Hamningberg 7:40-8:10 same thing, Kiberg
9:55- 10:15, Vadsø 12:00- 12:50, Nesseby 13:45- 14:30, Varangerbotn 14:45
Red-throated Diver 2 flying W
Hamningberg
Black-throated Diver 1 Persfjorden
Whooper Swan 5 flying E at 13.40 Mortensnes
Bean Goose 1 juv on quay Vadsø Harbor
Velvet Scoter 2 Hamningberg
Stellers Eider 115 Vardø, 400 Persfjorden, 20 Hamningberg
Ringed Plover 1 Kiberg
Purple Sandpiper 70 Vadsø
Dunlin 20 14 H-berg, 20 Kiberg, 45 Vadsø, 15 Nesseby
White-tailed Eagle 4 Persfj.- Hamningberg
Skua sp. 2 Hamningberg, 4 Kiberg
Glaucous Gull 1 2nd winter in a big flock of gulls at river Vestre
Jakobselv
Snow Bunting a loose flock of 1000! feeding on ground and making short
flights near road at Domen 9.45, plus 150 en route to Kiberg plus 50
flying west at Kiberg
Also:
Clouded. SV 7 m/s. 5 degrees. Low tide.
Vadsøya:
1 Oystercatcher
1 Bar-tailed Godwit 1. Y
60 Dunlin 1. Y
70 Purple Sandpiper. Outnumbering Dunlin for the first time this autumn.
45 Shore Lark
150+ Steller's Eider
1 Bean Goose seen by birders from Finland.
Nesseby:
2 Bar-tailed Godwit 1. Y
2 Grey Plover 1. Y
5 Purple Sandpiper
20 Dunlin 1. Y
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Reed Bunting
65 Wigeon
1 Teal
10 Mallard
3 Shellduck 1. Y
5 Black-headed Gull
24.9.99: beautiful, relatively
calm weather, birding from Varangerbotn
6:55, Nesseby 7:30- 11:00, Vadsø 11:40-13:00, Ekkerøya 13:15-14:15, Kiberg
15:15- 15:50, Vardø at 16:00.
Gannet 1 juv flying W Nesseby at 8.00, 1 juv E Ekkerøya at 13.35
Shelduck 3 juv Nesseby
Wigeon 27 Nesseby
Teal 25 Varangerbotn, 4 Nesseby
Pintail 2 Nesseby
Stellers Eider 20 Nesseby, 185 Vadsø, 45 Ekkerøya, 40 Kiberg
Common Scoter 2 Kiberg
Goldeneye 5 Meskfjorden, 1 Nesseby
Merlin 1 Nesseby
Oystercatcher 1 Nesseby, 1 Vadsø
Grey Plover 3 juv Nesseby
Sanderling 6 Ekkerøya
Purple Sandpiper 6 Ekkerøya, 2 Kiberg
Dunlin 22 Nesseby, 50 Vadsø
Bar-tailed Godwit 3 Nesseby, 1 Vadsø
Grey Phalarope 2 Nesseby at 9.30: 2 big phalaropes observed approaching over sea from E, ourselves standing on the hill behind the Church.
Through 32xWA Leica telescope: Typical phalarope flight action and shape
noticed immediately. Long narrow wings, short tail, no feet visible. Birds about size of
Wood Sandpiper- even somehow reminding female Ruff!
Big for phalarope, "fat-bellied". Upperside: dark wings and visible white wingbar, pale back, not seen how much summer-feathers still
remaining, owing the distance. Underside white. Passed us westwards behind the Church and flew very low over the "tide-marsh", possibly
landing. One hours searching anyway did not produce a new encounter.
Pomarine Skua 5 juv from SE, "landing" on sea not far from shore near
Kramvik, 1 juv NW 15.26 and 6 juv NW 15.35 Kiberg.
Arctic Skua 1 Nesseby, 3 Kramvik, 2 Kiberg
Skua sp (Arctic/Pomarine) 3 probable Arctic and 1 probable Pomarine
Nesseby, 6 Ekkerøya-Kiberg, 13 NW 15.30 Kiberg.
Black-headed Gull 6 Nesseby
Puffin 1 Ekkerøya
Shore Lark a flock of 45 Vadsö,in the field north of the bridge
Dunnock 1 overhead near Meskelva
Lapland Bunting 2 near Meskelva
Vadsø. 5/6 degrees. Clouded, light wind from W. High tide.
310 Steller's Eider. High number this early.
56 Mallard
5 Wigeon
20 Tufted Duck
1 Bean Goose 1. Y
8 King Eider flew W.
14 Dunlin 1. Y
1 Ringed Plover
23.09.99
Clouded. Light wind. Low tide.
Nesseby:
15 Dunlin 1. Y
3 Ringed Plover 1. Y
2 Grey Plover 1. Y
1 Bar-tailed Godwit 1. Y
10 Black-headed Gull
30 Purple Sandpiper
3 Shellduck 1. Y
1 Teal
65 Wigeon
10 Mallard
5 Reed Bunting
16 Steller's Eider
Vestre Jakobselv:
4 Starling
Vadsø:
160 Steller's Eider
1 Ringed Plover
50 Dunlin 3 ad, one of them in winterpl.
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Bean Goose 1. Y
20 mallard
2 Teal
26 Tufted Duck
1 Grey Plover 1. Y
1 Oystercatcher 1. Y
100 Shore Lark. High number.
5+ Twite
1 White Wagtail
22.09.99
Vadsø. Low tide. Clouded. V/SV, light wind. 5 degrees. Short stop by Lailas.
3 Dunlin 1. Y
1 Oystercatcher
30 Shore Lark
2 White Wagtail in town
Some Steller's Eiders
21.09.99
Vadsø. High tide. Clouded. N breeze. 6-7 degrees. Cold night.
10 Wigeon
2 Pintail
2 Teal
20 Mallard
20 Tufted Duck
95 Steller's Eider
1 Bean Goose 1. Y
2 Oystercatcher
1+ Dunlin
30 Shore Lark
1-2 Meadow Pipit
3 White Wagtail
11 Twite
1 Purple Sandpiper
2 Reed Bunting
September 20th; Clouded,
light winds. High tide.
Høyholmen, Tana:
700 Dunlin (1+ ad)
5 Curlew sandpiper 1. Y
1 Little Stint 1. Y (rather late record)
5 Sanderling
1 Ringed Plover
7 Grey Plover 1. Y
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
24 Oystercatcher
305 Goldeneye. Very high number
1 Great Grey Shrike
Nesseby (short stop):
81 Dunlin (2 ad.)
1 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
3 Ringed Plover
3 Bar-tailed Godwit (2 1. Y, 1 ad.)
20 Reed Bunting
Skippagurra:
1 Merlin
Vestre Jakobselv:
4 Starling
19.09.99
Clouded/partly clouded, light showers. 6-9 degrees. Light wind.
Vadsø-Fossen:
2 Redwing
5 Fieldfare
1 White Wagtail
1 Willow Warbler
5 Reed Bunting
Vadsøya:
30 Dunlin
1 Curlew Sandpiper
7 Purple Sandpiper
2 Golden Plover ad+1. Y.
1 Grey Plover 1.Y.
1 White Wagtail
10 Pintail
20 Tufted Duck
56 Mallard
80 Wigeon
1 Bean Goose 1. Y.
1 Moorhen 1. Y
94 Steller's Eider F-coloured
26 Shore Lark
Nesseby:
3-4 Shellduck
15 Teal
50 Wigeon
10 Mallard
5 Black-headed Gull
57 Dunlin 1 ad.
1 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
1 Ringed Plover 1. Y.
3 Grey Plover 1. Y
4 Bar-tailed Godwit 1 ad M injured, 3 1. Y
20 Reed Bunting
2 White Wagtail
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Stercoriatius sp. 1. Y
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Klubben:
1 subad. Glaoucous Gull
September 18th; Cloudy, light winds from S, light rain. 7/8 degrees. Low
tide.
Høyholmen, Tana:
1600 Dunlin (1+ ad.)
1 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
1 Little Stint
5+ Sanderling
6 Oystercatcher
5 Bar-tailed Godwit 1. Y
8 Grey Polver 1. Y
1 Ringed Plover 1. Y
500++ Long-tailed Duck
Several 1000 Goosander
Vadsø (evening):
1 Oystercatcher
1 Grey Plover 1. Y
No Dunlin
Fossen:
2 Dunnock
3 Willow Warbler
10 Reed Bunting
10 Fieldfare
1 Redwing
17.09.99
Vadsø. Light winds from N. 9 degrees. Cold night. Low tide. Afternoon.
70 Dunlin 1 ad.
4 Purple Sandpiper
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Oystercatcher
1 Grey Plover 1. Y
55 Steller's Eider
1 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
50 Mallard
20 Tufted Duck
9 Pintail
50 Wigeon
3 Shore Lark
15 White Wagtail
5 Reed Bunting
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Moorhen 1. Y still in the pond.
1 Bean Goose 1. Y.
16.09.99
Vadsø. Partly clouded. Light wind. approx. 8/9 dgrees. Below 0 during
night.
Low tide
60 Dunlin 1. Y
2 Grey Plover 1. Y
1 Oystercatcher
40 Mallard
24 Tufted Duck
15 Pintail
1 Willow Warbler in town
15.09.99
Vadsø. Light wind from S. Clear skies. 10 degrees. Cold night (3 degrees).
Low tide.
161 Dunlin 1. Y
3 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Purple Sandpiper. First arrival this autumn.
1 Oystercatcher
8 Pintail
30 Tufted Duck
20 Mallard
30 Wigeon
1 Moorhen 1. Y
20 Steller's Eider
1 Bluethroat M
10 Reed Bunting
1 Sanderling 1. Y
14.09.99
Vadsø. SE breeze. 14 degrees. Sunny. Low tide.
120 Dunlin. 2 ad.
1 Knot 1. Y.
4 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Oystercatcher
9 Pintail
35 Tufted Duck
20 Mallard
1 Moorhen 1. Y.
1 Bean Goose 1. Y.
1 Merlin
September 13th; Southerly breeze. Sunny
(partly cloudy). 14 degrees, warm!
Høyholmen, Tana:
2200 Dunlin (very high number). 1+ ad. summer pl.
30 Little Stint 1. Y
10 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
10 Knot 1. Y
20 Sanderling 1. Y
8 Grey Plover 1Y.
30 Oystercatcher
15 Bar-tailed Godwit
12 Ringed Plover 1. Y
5 White-tailed Eagle (at least)
1 Shore Lark
1 Merlin
Several thousand Goosander
500++ Long-tailed Duck
Nesseby:
8 Ringed Plover 1. Y
14 Dunlin 1. Y
4 Grey Plover 1. Y
Vadsø:
57 Mallard
8 Pintail
25 Tufted Duck
1 Bean Goose
31 Steller's Eider
1 Oystercatcher
1 Grey Plover
40 Dunlin 1. Y
2 Shore Lark
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull. 1. Y. Very rare in Varanger.
September 12th:
Vadsø: Breeze from S. Sunny/partly clouded.
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers in town
Vadsøya:
40 Mallard
30 Tufted Duck
7 Pintail
1 Bean Goose
1 Moorhen 1. Y.
155 Dunlin 1. Y.
1 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
8 Bar-tailed Godwit 1. Y.
2 Oystercatcher
10 Arctic Tern (3 1. Y.)
September 11th:
Vadsø, partly clouded, no wind. 12 degrees.
115 Dunlin 2 ad.
1 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y.
7 Bar-tailed Godwit
2 Oystercatcher, 1 flew part only
3 Arctic Tern( 2 1. Y, 1 ad.)
77 Wigeon
20 Mallard
9 Pintail
25 Tufted Duck
1 Bean Goose 1. Y
1 Moorhen 1. Y still in the pond.
10 Twite
3 Willow Warbler
20 Meadow Pipit
10+ White Wagtail
10 Reed Bunting
Fossen:
3 Willow Warbler
5 Fieldfare
1 Redwing
Over my house:
1 Two-bared Crossbill
flew south! Very rare in Varanger
September 10th:
Vadsø. Clouded. Light winds. 10 degrees. Low tide.
180 Dunlin 3 ad.
1 Little Stint 1. Y
1 Sanderling 1. Y
2 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y.
1 Oystercatcher
7 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Spotted Redshank heard
1 Knot
1 Ringed Plover
1 Red-throated Pipit. Late.
1 Dunnock flew W over Vadsø Town.
Many Meadow Pipits flying W in the morning.
Kiberg:
2 Steller's Eiders
12 Sanderling
5 Dunlin
Vardø:
85 Dunlin 1. Y
1 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
1 Little Stint 1. Y
5 ringed Plover
3 Merlin along the road Vadsø-Vardø.
September 9th:
Vadsøya. Several hours. Low tide. Light winds. 12-13 vdegrees. Partly
clouded.
110 Dunlin 1 ad.
1 Knot 1. Y
1 Little Stint 1. Y
1 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
7 Bar-tailed Godwit 1. Y
1 Oystercatcher
5 Arctic Tern
2 Arctic Skua
1 Fulmar E
10 Gannet
1 White-billed Diver 2. Y.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker flew E!
1 Moorhen 1. Y.
1 Ban Goose 1. Y
60 Wigeon
10 Pintail
20 Tufted Duck
30 Mallard
6 Shore Lark
several tens of White Wagtails
1 Yellow Wagtail. Late.
1 Ringed Plover
Birders from Austria saw:
20-30 Greylag Goose Nesseby
30-40 Dunlin. Nesseby
1 White-billed Diver. NEsseby
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Ekkerøy. Probably the same as Vadsøya.
September 8th:
Vadsøya. Evening. High tide. Clouded/partly clouded. E breeze. 12 degrees.
50+ Wigeon
15 Pintail
35 Tufted Duck
35 Mallard
1 Bean Goose
1 Moorhen 1. Y.
1 Redshank ad!
20 White Wagtail
September 7th:
Vadsøya. Evening. High tide. Clouded/partly clouded. SE breeze, warm.
15 Dunlin
2 Ringed Plover
70 Wigeon
35 Mallard
20 Tufted Duck
15 Pintail
1 Bean Goose
1 Moorhen 1. Y
Tens of White Wagtails
September 5th; Partly
cloudy. Wind from W-NW, 15 m/s. gale force during the night. 6 -12degrees.
Hamningberg (sea watching 0645-1015):
2000 Fulmar W
3000 Kittywake W
2 Manx Shearwater W
2 Great Skua W
4 1. Y Long-tailed Skua W
15 Arctic Skua W
5 Stercorarius sp. W
10 Arctic Tern W
10 Purple Sandpiper W
2 Common Scoter W
5 Red-throated Diver W
1 White-billed Diver subad. E
6 King Eider (3 ad. MM) arriving from E, landed, 10 migrating E.
Birds present included:
2 Spotted Redshank 1. Y
5 Dunlin 1. Y
3 Ringed Plover (1 ad. )
2 Meadow Pipit
1 Bluethroat
1 Pintail
1 White Wagtail
Persfjorden:
1 Ringed Plover 1. Y.
20 White Wagtail
Svartnes:
1 Knot 1. Y.
Domen: 1 Gyr Falcon 1. Y
Kiberg: 1 Merlin
Kramvik:
2 Ruff
3 Sanderling
2 Dunlin
2 Ringed Plover
Ekkerøya:
14 Sanderling 1 ad.
7 Little Stint 1. Y
20 Dunlin 1. Y.
20 Ringed Plover 2 ad.
50 White Wagtail
19 Oystercatcher (10 flew past)
1 Teal
Vadsø:
1 Lapland Bunting
12 Common Tern ad. and 1. y.
17 Ruff 1. Y
12 Bar-tailed Godwit 1. Y.
1 Oystercatcher
41 Dunlin
4 Ringed Plover
September 4th:
Vadsø. Time: 19.20. Low tide. Clouded, rain. W 10-12 m/s.
10 Dunlin 1. Y
2 Little Stint 1. Y.
1 Turnstone
3 Oystercatcher
6 Bar-tailed Godwit 1. Y
1 Spotted Redshank 1. Y
1 Redshank 1. Y
1 Greenshank1. Y. Very rare in Varanger.
1 Moorhen 1. Y
65 Wigeon
20 Pintail
40 Mallard
20 Tufted Duck
2 Bluethroat
1 Red-throated Pipit
1 Knot 1. Y
Short stop at Høyholmen, Tana:
20 Knot 1. Y
10 Dunlin (1 ad. )
2 Grey Plover ad.
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
10 Oystercatcher
3 White-tailed Eagle
Several thousands Gulls and Goosanders
September 3rd:
Vadsø. Time: 1730-1845. Low tide. SW 10 m/s. Clouded.
120 Dunlin (1 ad.)
1 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y.
1 Little Stint 1. Y.
9 Ringed Plover 1 ad.
14 Bart-tailed Godwit 1. Y.
6 Oystercatcher
2 Redshank
2 Knot 1. Y.
17 Pintail
20 Tufted Duck
20 Mallard
25 Wigeon
1 Moorhen. 1. Y, in the pond. New to the Varanger Peninsula!
1 Lapland Bunting
1 Reed Bunting
1 Bluethroat
2 Red-throated Pipit
20 White Wagtail
1 White-tailed Eagle
September 2nd:
Vadsø. Time: 1630-1700. Low tide. Strong southerly wind. Clouded/partly
clouded. 12 degrees.
170 cDunlin 1. Y
2 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y.
1 Knot 1. Y.
6 Little Stint 1. Y.
1 Oystercatcher
22 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 White-tailed Eagle
September 1st.:
Vadsø. Low tide. time: 1630-. 12 degrees. Partly clouded. SE breeze.
33 Bar-tailed Godwit 1. Y
5 Redshank 1. Y.
1 Ruff 1. Y
2 Oystercatcher
235 Dunlin (2 ad)
6 Little Stint 1. Y
2 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
1 Whimbrel
2 Ringed Plover 1. Y
20 Tufted Duck
12 Pintail
70 Wigeon
10 Mallard
1 Lapland Bunting
1 Reed Bunting
6 Shore Lark
2 Bluethroat
August 1999:
Rose-coloured
Starling: Kariel, Vadsø 1 ad.
09.-14.08. According to the locals it had been present for about two weeks before 09.08.
Little Gull: 2 juv. Nesseby 17.08
Curlew Sandpiper: 170 ind. Nesseby 20.08
Little Stint 80 ind.Nesseby 20.08
Dunlin: 350 ind. Nesseby 20.08
Dunlin: 430 ind. Vadsø 17.08
Grey Plover: 9 ad. Vadsø 17.08
Bar-tailed Godwit: 130 ind. Vadsø 16.08
Little Stint: 70 ind. Vadsø 15.08
Tawny Pipit: 1 ind. Ekkerøya 04.-06.06
Grey Phalarope: 1 ind. Mortensnes 24.05
Grey Phalarope: 1 ind. Sandfjorden 05.06
Grey Phalarope: 1 ind. Nesseby 19.06
Sabine's Gull: 1 ad. Bergebyelva 24.06
Black-tailed Godwit: 1 ind. Vadsø 25.05 (islandica)
Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1 ad. Vadsø (fuscus) 25.05, 1 ad. Kariel 22.05
Dunlin: 1850 ind. Vadsø 23.05 and 25.05.
Shoveler: 1 pair Ekkerøya 09.06
Shoveler: 1 M Nesseby 29.05
Black Tern: 1 ad. Vadsø 19.-23.06
King Eider: 530 ind. Vardø 12.06
A complete August from Håkon Heggland follows here:
01.08.99
Nessby, evening trip.
60 Ringed Plover
30 Dunlin
20 Shellduck
20 Red-nedcked Phalarope
Vadsøya:
2 Spotted Redshank
07.08.99
Nesseby, evening, low tide.
4 Red-necked Phalarope
90 Dunlin, 5 ad.
1Knot, 1. Y. Rather early for a first year bird
1 Grey Plover
1 Little Stint ad
80 Ringed Plover
5 Oystercatcher
2 Spotted Redshank
3 Redshank
10 Bar-tailed Godwit
2 Mallard
3 Teal
8 Pintail
20 Shellduck
20 Black-headed Gull
Vadsøya:
170 Dunlin
55 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Redshank
09.08.99
SE light wind. 10-15 degrees. Partly clouded. Rising
tide.
Nesseby:
95 Ringed Plover
30 Dunlin
20 Bar-tailed Godwit
10 Shellduck (ad + juv)
2 Bluethroat
2 Yellow Wagtail
5 Ruff
Kariel:
1 ad. Rosy Starling. Had been present for approx. Two
weeks according to the locals.
1 Barn Swallow
5 Starling (3 ad. + 2 1. Y)
50 Ruff
10 Temminck’s Stint
10 Wood Sandpiper
10.08.99
SE light wind. Partly clouded. Low tide.
Vadsø:
230 Dunlin (1 ad)
6 Temminck’s Stint
2 Wood Sandpiper
1 Redshank
70 Bar-tailed Godwit
2 Oystercatcher
10 Ruff
24 Red-nedcked Phalarope 1. Y
1 Grey Plover ad
11.08.99
SE light wind. 13/14 degrees. Clouded, light rain
showers.
Vadsø:
275 Dunlin (5 ad)
1 Little Stint 1. Y
60 Bar-tailed Godwit
5 Ringed Plover
10 Ruff
14 Red-nedcked Phalarope 1 ad.
10 Oystercatcher
2 Red shank
1 Wood Sandpiper
13 Mallard
11 Wigeon
3 Pintail
1 Grey Plover ad, same bird as yesterday.
Nesseby:
80 Dunlin
160 Ringed Plover
1 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
5 Little Stint 1 ad.
10 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Redshank
1 Wood Sandpiper
3 Teal
1 Turnstone 1. Y.
Kariel:
1 ad. Rosy Starling seen by Knut Sverre Horn
12.08.99
Light wind from W. 13/14 degrees. Clouded. Low tide
Vadsø:
305 Dunlin, 2 ad.
1 Little Stint 1. Y
1 Turnstone ad
3 Spotted Redshank 1. Y
4 Redshank, 1 ad.
95 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 ad. M
10 Ruff
30 Ringed Plover
20 Oystercatcher
13.08.99
NE 10 m/s. Clouded. Light showers. 10 degrees. Low
tide.
Vadsø:
360 Dunlin 1. Y.
105 Bar-tailed Godwit
80 Little Stint 1. Y. High number
50 Ringed Plover
20 Oystercatcher
20 Ruff
2 Curlew Sandpiper ad. + 1. Y
6 Red-nedcked Phalarope 1. Y
1 Shore Lark
10 Arctic Tern
30 Wigeon
3 Pintail
15 Mallard
2 Teal
14.08.99
NE 10 m/s. Afternoon trip. Clouded. Rain earlier in the
day. 10 degrees. Low tide.
Vadsø:
410 Dunlin, 10 ad. Very high number in Vadsø in
autumn.
50 Little Stint, 2 ad.
15 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 ad.
1 Sanderling ad.
20 Oystercatcher
105 Bar-tailed Godwit
60 Ringed Plover (50 % ad)
5 Redshank 1. Y
2 Spotted Redshank 1. Y
10 Ruff 1. Y
1 Turnstone 1. Y
12 Red-necked Phalarope 1. Y
1 Temminck’s Stint
5 Whimbrel
34 Wigeon
5 Pintail
10 Mallard
15 Sand Martin
Nesseby:
200 Dunlin, 1 ad.
25 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
30 Little Stint, 2 ad.
50 Oystercatcher
5 Ruff
1 Whimbrel
1 Temminck’s Stint 1. Y
120 Ringed Plover
5 Redshank
1 Soptted Redshank
1 Common Sandpiper. Rare on migration in Varanger
10 Bar-tailed Godwit
5 Common Scoter
60 Velvet Scoter
15 Wigeon
4 Pintail
10 Arctic Skua
Kariel (time: 1630-17):
1 Rosy Starling ad
5 Starling
10 Wood Sandpiper
Many Ruff and Temminck’s Stint
15.08.99
Calm wind, 10 degrees. Clouded, foggy, light
drizzle.Low tide.
Vadsø:
260 Dunlin, 5 ad.
70 Little Stint, 5 ad.
5 Curlew Sanpiper 1. Y
3 Spotted Redshank 1. Y
4 Redshank, 1 ad.
90 Bar-tailed Godwit
10 Oystercatcher
16 Red-nedcked Phalarope 1. Y
40 Ringed Plover, 50 % 1. Y
2
Temminck’s Stint
10
Ruff 1. Y
20 Mallard
30 Wigeon
5Pintail
5 Tufted Duck. Only adult ducks counted.
1 Fulmar
10 Actic Skua
1 Reed Bunting
10 Fieldfare
1 Northern Wheatear
20 White Wagtail
5 Yellow Wagtail
16.08.99
E 7-10 m/s. Clouded, moderate visibillity. Rain. Low
tide.
Vadsø:
330 Dunlin, 5 ad.
60 Little Stint, 5 ad.
10 Curlew Sanpiper
2 Turnstone 1. Y
2 Spotted Redshank 1. Y
4 Redshank 1. Y
1 Whimbrel
130 Bar-tailed Godwit. Very high number in Vadsø
40 ringed Plover
10 Oystercatcher
5 Ruff
5 Arctic Tern
10 Sand Martin
Kariel:
5 Wood Sandpiper 1. Y
20
Ruff, 1. Y
5
Temminck’s Stint 1. Y
1 Red-throated Pipit
(No Rosy Starling)
17.08.99
Clouded, rain. Low visibility. E 10 m/s. Low tide.
Vadsø:
430 Dunlin, 10 ad. Very high number in Vadsø in
autumn.
10 Little Stint, 1 ad.
20 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 ad.
2 Turnstone 1. Y
20 Ringed Plover
1 Spotted Redshank 1. Y
4 Redshank, 1 ad.
18 Red-necked Phalarope 1. Y
1 Sanderling ad.
100 Bar-tailed Godwit
10 Ruff
10 Oystercatcher
9 Grey Plover ad.
3 Whimbrel
45 Wigeon
10 Mallard
9 Pintail
2 Teal
1 Shellduck F. Very rare visitor in the pond at Vadsøya!
2 Gannet ad.
10 Arctic Skua
Nesseby:
170 Dunlin. 5 ad.
5 Little Stint 1. Y
1 Temminck’s Stint 1. Y
40 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
2 Golden Plover 1. Y
2 Sanderling ad +1. Y
2 Redshank
2 Grey Plover ad.
75 Ringed Plover
10 Oystercatcher
36 Pintail
1 Common Sandpiper. Rare on migration in Varanger.
2 Little Gull on the fjord. 1. Y
20 Arctic Skua
Kariel:
5 Starling
5 Wood Sandpiper
1 Temminck’s Stint
18.08.99
NE 7-10 m/s. Heavy rain. 7 degrees. Clouded. Low tide.
Vadsø:
160 Dunlin, 10 ad.
5 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 ad.
10 Little Stint
10 Ringed Plover
1 Turnstone 1. Y
1 Wood Sandpiper
1 Spotted Redshank 1. Y
85 Bar-tailed Godwit
10 Oystercatcher
10 Sand Martin
19.08.99
NE light wind. Rain. Clouded. 7 dergrees. Low tide.
Vadsø:
210 Dunlin, 10 ad.
5 Little Stint, 1 ad.
10 Ringed Plover
10 Oystercatcher
80 Bar-tailed Godwit
4 Redshank, 1 ad.
3 Spotted Redshank 1. Y
1 Wood Sandpiper
2 Knot ad. + 1. Y.
3 Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
1 Turnstone
10 Ruff
14 Red-necked Phalarope
55 Wigeon
1 Teal
10 Pintail
10 Mallrd
5 Yellow Wagtail
5 Sand Martin
1 lapland Bunting
5 Shore Lark
20.08.99
Partly clouded. Some sun. 10 degrees. Short stop at
Nesseby (only from the parking by the church):
350 Dunlin, 10 ad.
170 Curlew Sandpiper, 10 ad. Probably a record number
in Varanger.
80 Little Stint. High number
100 Ringed Plover
2 Sanberling ad.
10 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew
2 Turnstone
1 Redshank
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
5 Yellow Wagtail
21.08.99
Clouded.
10-11 degrees. Light E/SE wind. Low tide.
Vadsøya:
80
Dunlin, 2 ad.
15
Little Stint, 12 flew W.
40
Bar-tailed Godwit
2
Spotted Redshank 1. Y
4
Redshank
3
Wood Sandpiper
3
Curlew Sandpiper
1
Golden Plover ad.
5
Turnstone
21
Red-nedcked Phalarope
10
Ruff
5
Oystercatcher
5
Ringed Plover
1
Red-throated Pipit
2
Sand Martin
2
Yellow Wagtail
10
Willow Warbler
40
Wigeon
10
Mallard
5
Pintail
20
Tufted Duck
5
Arctic Tern
22.08.99
Light
wind from NW. Nice weather. Afternoon.
Hamningberg:
10
Ruff
5
Red-necked Phalarope
30
Curlew Sandpiper
20
Little Stint
50
Dunlin
1
Purple Sandpiper
3
Spotted Redshank
50
Snow Bunting
1
Red-throated Pipit
4
Showeler, F-coloured. Very rare in varanger in autumn.
Kramvik:
150
Ruff
28.08.99
Early
afternoon. SE 10 m/s. Clouded. Low tide.
Vadsø:
290
Dunlin, 5 ad.
3
Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
1
Knot 1. Y
10
Little Stint 1. Y
10
Ringed Plover
50
Bar-tailed Godwit 1. Y
2
Oystercatcher
2
Redshank 1. Y
1
Red-necked Phalarope 1. Y
80
Wigeon
35
Mallard
20
Tufted Duck
14
Pintail
Nesseby:
4
Dunlin
14
Little Stint
1
Wood Sandpiper
7
Shallduck 1. Y
20
Actic Skua
2
Arctic Tern ad. + 1. Y
45
Pintail
20
Wigeon
29.08.99
Vadsø:
190
Dunlin, 1 ad.
5
Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
4
Little Stint
1
Redshank
1
Knot 1. Y
35
Bar-tailed Godwit 1. Y
2
Oystercatcher
Many
Willow Warbler
Ekkerøya:
5
Dunlin
3
Ruff
3
Bar-tailed Godwit
1
Little Stint
5
Ringed Plover
1
Red-throated Pipit
30.08.99
Vadsø:
Low tide. Time : 1400.
180
Dunlin
4
Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
4
Little Stint 1. Y
10
Ringed Plover
28
Bar-tailed Godwit
70
Wigeon
13
Pintail
31.08.99
Vadsø.
Low tide. Partly clouded, light wind from SE. Time: 1530-1600
230
Dunlin, 1 ad.
8
Curlew Sandpiper 1. Y
4
Little Stint 1. Y
2
Oystercatcher
21
Bar-tailed Godwit 1. Y
1
Turnstone
8
Ringed Plover
July 1999:
01.07.99
Vadsøya:
165 Red-necked Phalaropes in the pond.
03.07.99
Clouded, rain. Light winds from NE.
Vadsøya:
305 Red-necked Phalarope (260 on the ocean, only 45 in the pond)
145 Dunlin
2 Curlew Sandpiper
15 Bar-tailed Godwit
15 Redshank
09.07.99
Birds seen by Karl-Heinz Heine:
1 Merlin near Nyborg
1 Curlew Sandpiper Nesseby
7 Dunlin Nesseby
7 Bar-tailed Godwit Nesseby
From Thyge Enevoldsen we got; 1 male
Eurasian Woodcock displaying over Vestre Jakobselv playground, at 20:00 hours.
10.07.99
Birds seen by Karl-Heinz Heine:
Nesseby:
37 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Short-eared Owl
80 Velvet Scoter
10 Common Scoter
Vadsø:
31 Red-necked Phalaropes
11.07.99
Seen by Karl-Heinz Heine:
10 Dunlin Nesseby
1 pair Shore Lark Kiby
1 Sedge Warbler Svartnes
1 Skylark
12.07.99
Seen by Karl-Heinz Heine:
1 2. Y. Glaucous Gull Vardø
1 2. Y. Glaucous Gull Hamningberg
13.07.99
Seen by Karl-Heinz Heine:
3 Twite Hamningberg
15.07.99
Seen by Karl-Heinz Heine:
1 Rock Pipit Hamningberg
19.07.99
Seen by Karl-Heinz Heine:
Nesseby:
3 ad. Little Stint
1 Curlew Sandpiper
21.07.99
NE winds, fog. Rather cold.
1 Paddyfield Warbler at Hornøya. Found by french birders. First for
Varanger, and the first ever field observation in Norway. Also the first
summer record.
22.07.99
Light NE winds, fog.
1 Paddyfield Wabler still at Hornøya. Seen for several hours untill midday,
when it suddenly disappeared. Seen by Håkon Heggland and others,
photographed.
At Hamninberg there where 2 Curlew Sandpipers.
Nesseby. Seen by Karl-Heinz Heine.
4 Manx Shearwater
142 Fulmar
5 2. cal. year Great Northern Divers in one flock.
5 Great Skua
23.07.99
Seen by Karl-Heinz Heine:
210+ Fulmar
Nesseby:
42 Shelduck
25.07.99
Nesseby:
14 Shellduck
4 Red-necked Phalarope
80 Ringed Plover
30 Bar-tailed Godwit
30 Dunlin
1 Temminck's Stint
28.07.99
Low tide, evening trip. 15 degrees, light winds
Nesseby:
50 Ringed Plover ad
20 Dunlin. 10 1. Y.
10 Redshank, 1 ad.
2 Spotted Redshank, ad. + 1. Y.
2 Curlew
4 Whimbrel
1 Sanderling ad.
2 Ruff
58 Shellduck, incl. 4 1. Y. Probably a record number.
2 Teal
80 Velvet Scoter
20 Common Scoter
1 Yellow Wagtail
31.07.99
Partly clouded/clouded. 13 degrees. W 10 m/s. Low tide.
85 Ringed Plover
100 Oystercatcher
15 Dunlin, 5 ad.
1 Spotted Redshank
14 Redshank, 3 ad.
50 Bar-tailed Godwit
5 Yellow Wagtail
10 White Wagtail
High numbers of Redpoll
29 Shellduck, 4 1. Y
15 Common Scoter
75 Velvet Scoter
June 1999:
June 21st - Skallelv; 1 male hybrid King Eider / Common Eider.
Varangerbotn; 1 Osprey, only the second observation on the Varanger Peninsula.
June 20th - Bergebyelva; 1 ad. Lesser Black-backed Gull, present since yesterday. Rare here.
Kongsfjordfjellet; 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Eurasian Dotterel, 1 Rock Ptarmigan, 2 Long-tailed Skua. 1 Gyrfalcon nearby.
Mortensnes; 1 Arctic Redpoll.
June 19th - Varangerbotn; 1 White-billed Diver, 2 Long-tailed Skua.
Nesseby; 9 Steller's Eider.
Vadsøya; 1 ad. Black Tern sitting on the beach with Arctic Terns was quite the surprise here. Also present the next day. Also 1 ad. male Red-throated Pipit, 1 Red Knot.
Komagvær; 12 King Eider.
Kiberg; 2 Glaucous Gull.
Vardø, towards Hornøya; 1 Great Skua, 100 Brünnich's Guillemot, 170 King Eider (one full-plumaged male), 1 Little Stint.
Hamningberg; 1 Terek Sandpiper 1 Terek Sandpiper, present since yesterday. Also 1 Great Skua, 1 Red-throated Pipit.
June 18th & 19th - Pasvik Valley; We had 3-4 Little Bunting, 2-3 Arctic Warbler, 1 Great Grey Owl, 2 Siberian Jay, 1 Siberian Tit, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Little Gull, 15 Smew, 1 White-tailed Eagle, 2 Gadwall, 1 Great Grey Shrike.
June 9th - Meskelva; Kari Varpenius was out birding again: 2 male Northern Shoveler, an uncommon visitor here.
June 9th - Meskelva; Kari Varpenius was out birding: 1 Green Sandpiper, only the fourth observation for the Varanger Peninsula. Also 2 sec.year White-billed Diver.
At Nesseby a Terek Sandpiper, the second for Varanger Peninsula (picture at http://www.netppl.fi/~kva/xenus.htm) was found.
Between Kiberg and Hamningberg there were 1 ad. White-billed Diver, 1 sec.year Great Northern Diver, 2 ad. Lesser White-fronted Goose, 2 Brent Goose (subspecies unknown), 15 Glaucous Gull, 1 ad. Iceland Gull.
A more detailed list of June follows here:
01.06.99
Sunny, evening trip.
Ekkerøya:
250 Dunlin
10 Sanderling
5 Red-necked Phalarope
20 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Curlew Sandpiper
Vadsø:
1 singing M Willow Warbler
02.06.99
Sunny/partly clouded. S/SW light wind. 7/8 degrees. High tide.
Ekkerøya:
1 Little Stint
1 Temminck's Stint
5 Red-necked Phalarope
200 Dunlin
10 Turnstone
10 Sanderling
20 Bar-tailed Godwit
5 Purple Sandpiper
20 Common Scoter
1 Black-throated Diver
1 Shellduck
Salttjern:
150 Dunlin
Vadsø:
10 Dunlin
5 Willow Warbler
Nesseby:
5 Knot. One of them completely grey.
1 Curlew Sandpiper
100 Dunlin
30 Bar-tailed Godwit
50 Ringed Plover
15 Red-necked Phalarope
4 Bean Goose, fabalis
10 Shellduck
20 Velvet Scoter
04.06.99
Clouded, cold.
Ekkerøya:
1 Tawny Pipit. New for Finnmark county. Seen by Roger Beck, Terje Axelsen,
Jon Asmar Olsen and Håkon Heggland.
1 Great Skua
05.06.99
Sunny, partly clouded. Some rain/snow showers. Light wind from N. 0,5-6
degrees.
Ekkerøya:(time: 11-12)
1 Tawny Pipit
Hamningberg:
3 Dunlin
3 Sanderling
1 Bluethroat
50 Purple Sandpiper
2 Snow Bunting
Sandfjorden:
1 ad. F Grey Phalarope. In the river and on the ocean. Flew off to sea. Seen
by Terje Axelsen and Håkon Heggland.
Vardø:
1 Starlling
8 Sanderling
30 Dunlin
2 Temminck's Stint
Many Purple Sandpiper
Svartnes:
1 Glaucous Gull
Kiberg:
4 Glaucous Gull (2 2 cal. year, 1 4. cal. year, 1 ad.)
10 Sanderling
Komagvær:
1 Greater White-fronted Goose, 2. Y
Kramvik:
1 ad : white-billed Diver
Skallelv:
1 Great Skua
06.06.99
Clouded. 4/6 degrees. E approx. 7 m/s.
Ekkerøya (time 11-14)
1 Tawny Pipit
2 Red-throated Pipit
1 Curlew Sandpiper
1 Grey Plover
Nesseby:
46 Temminck's Stint. Very high number
50 Red-necked Phalarope.
Vardø:
Approx. 400 King Eiders
Approx. 800 Long-tailed Ducks
07.06.99
Sunny.
Ekkerøya:
No Tawny Pipit.
1 Pomarine Skua, ad.
1 Great Skua
Golnes:
1 Slavonian Grebe. Seen by Terje Axelsen. Very rare in Varanger.
08.06.99
Partly clouded. Low tide. Light wind from E. 12 degrees (max 16). Evening
trip.
Nesseby:
20 Red-necked Phalarope
10 Shellduck
10 Black-headed Gull
20 Dunlin
5 Temminck's Stint
10 Bar-tailed Godwit
Ekkerøya:
1 Swallow
1 Curlew Sandpiper
1 Brünnick's Guillemot
5 Guillemot
10 Razorbill
09.06.99
Partly clouded, heavy showers earlier in the day. Low tide. 12 degrees (max
20!). evening trip.
Vadsø:
60 Dunlin
1 Temminck's Stint
2 Knot
10 Red-necked Phalarope
20 Redshank
5 Wigeon
No Steller's Eiders
2 Sand Martin
Krampenes:
20 Dunlin
2 Temminck's Stint
2 Knot
Ekkerøya:
1 Curlew Sandpiper
2 Sanderling
5 Pintail
6 Tufted Duck
2 Shoveler (pair). The M was in partial eclipse.
Common Eiders still in full plumage.
12.06.99
Vardø:
530 King Eider. 4 ad. MM, 1 3 cal. year M).
13.06.99
High tide.
Nesseby:
280 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Knot
10 Dunlin
14.06.99
Clouded, some light rain. Time: 1720-20. E 7-10 m/s. High tide, falling.
Nesseby:
8 Great Skua E, some stationary.
1 Little Auk summer pl. E
Hundreds of Auks, all species, but mostly Razorbills.
20 Long-tailed Skuas
6 Red-necked Phalaropes E, 15 in the area.
3 Ringed Plover
30 Dunlin
15 Ruff
5 Redshank
170 Bar-tailed Godwit
2 Knot
1 Peregrine
16.06.99
Partly clouded. Light wind from N. 15 degrees. Time: 1615-1815. Low tide.
Nesseby:
380+ Bar-tailed Godwit
10 Redshank
6 Ringed Plover
1 Temminck's Stint
3 Curlew
2 Golden Plover
15 Dunlin
2 Turnstone
Mortensnes:
10 Teal
Vadsø:
42 Redshank. High number.
50 Dunlin
1 Knot
7 Sanderling
19.06.99
1 Grey Phalarope seen on the sea at Nesseby by french birders.
20.06.99
Partly clouded/clouded. Light wind from SE. 15 degrees.
Vadsøya:
1 Black Tern
1 Knot
160 Dunlin
1 Temminck's Stint
1 Greenshank. Very rare in Varanger
Bergebyelva:
1 ad. Lesser Black-backed Gull
Nesseby:
200 Bar-tailed Godwit
22 Steller's Eider
80 Common Scoter
90 Velvet Scoter
18 Shellduck
22.06.99
NE 7 m/s. Clouded. Afternoon at Vadsøya:
4 Great Skua
6 Long-tailed Skua
5 gannet
5 Fulmar many Auks. All seabirds seen during 5 min. seawatching.
1 Black Tern
60 Red-necked Phalarope
23.06.99
Clouded/partly clouded. Light westerlies. 10 degrees. Short trip to Vadsøya.
High tide.
10 Dunlin
2 3 cal. year and 5 2. cal. year Common Tern
1 Black Tern. This became the last day of it's stay.
5 Wigeon
50 Red-necked Phalarope
24.06.99
Bergebyelva:
1 ad. Sabine's Gull seen by P. J. Chadwick and J. D. R. Vernon.
May 1999:
May 11th - 21st - Slettnes Lighthouse; Niklas Holmström counted migration during 10 days and noted:
750 Red-throated Diver , 11 Black-throated Diver , 1 sec.cal Great Northern Diver , 133 White-billed Diver (max. 30 on May 17th) , 348 King Eider , 10.046 Long-tailed Duck , 1.609 Pomarine Skua (max. 1.347 om May 18th) , 570 Arctic Skua , 235 Long-tailed Skua , 35 Great Skua , 1 ad. Little Gull , 64 Glaucous Gull , 541 Arctic Tern , appx. 33.000 Atlantic Puffin.
May 15th - Hamningberg; Light clouds, snowshowers, wind north-east, zero degrees. 15 White-billed Diver east, 2 west, at least 7 stationary, 12 Red-throated Diver east, 180 Long-tailed Duck east, 1 ad. male King Eider east, 45 Parasitic Skua 35 east, 3 Great Skua early observation, 7 Glaucous Gull east, 6000 Northern Fulmar, 1 Eurasian Golden Plover.
20 Glaucous Gull at Svartnes, eight at Kiberg and 6 Ekkerøy. 1 fourt-cal. Iceland Gull at Kiberg. 1 Bean Goose at Krampenes.
May 14th - Varangerfjord; Esko Lavikka had 15 Pomarine Skua, 400 Parasitic Skua. He also had 16 White-billed Diver between Ekkerøya and Vardø, and an additional 30 between Persfjorden and Hamningberg. 1 ad. Great Northern Diver at Persfjorden. From Vardø he saw 50.000 Northern Fulmar.
May 13th - Hamningberg; Blue skies, light wind from the west, 2-3 degrees celsius. Counting seabirds from 06:00 to 10:15, migration picked up late morning. 16 ad. White-billed Diver east, 3 Large Diver sp. east, 39 Red-throated Diver east, 2 Black-throated Diver east, 13 Small Diver sp. east, 500 Long-tailed Duck east, 10 King Eider east, 3 Common Scoter east, 10.000 Northern Fulmar east - probably local birds, 2 ad. Pomarine Skua east, 8 Parasitic Skua 4 dark & 4 light phase, all east.
Local, non-migratory birds included; 17 ad. White-billed Diver summer plumage, 2 ad. Great Northern Diver summer plumage, 15 Red-throated Diver, 200 Purple Sandpiper, 5 Oysercatcher, 1 Common Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin first this year, 1 Magpie, 3 Rock Pipit, 1 Great Tit very rare here, 10 Snow Bunting, 1 White-tailed Eagle.
Hamningberg - Persfjorden; 31 White-billed Diver, 2 ad. Black-throated Diver, lots of Red-throated Diver.
At Kiberg there was 1 sec.-cal. Iceland Gull. Fieldfare at Sandfjorden & Komagvær. 1 Bean Goose and several Shore Lark at Skallelv. There are lots of Snow Buntings and a fair number of Shore Lark along the roads now.
May 10th - Vadsø; 1 Hedge Accentor migrating past.
May 9th - Vardø - Kiberg, time 05:30 - 12:30, overcast, snowshowers, around zero degrees, breeze from the east.
Counting migration at Skagodden, Vardø from 05:30 - 08:00; 6 White-billed Diver (two resident, two towards the east, two towards the east and resting on the sea), 5 Red-throated Diver east, 2 Black-throated Diver southeast, 100 Parasitic Skua (east + 30 resident), 2 ad. Pomarine Skua (1 light phase east, one dark phase resident), 1 Arctic Tern (east, early observation), 200 Long-tailed Duck east, 6 Velvet Scoter east, 10 King Eider east, 20 Northern Fulmar, 5 Northern Gannet.
Other birds around Vardø - Kiberg; 10 Glaucous Gull at Skagodden, 50 Glaucous Gull at Reinøya, 170 Glaucous Gull at the southern tip of Vardø, 20 Glaucous Gull at Svartnes, 20 Glaucous Gull at Kiberg. This is a very high number this late. Appx. 30 adult birds, 20 fourth-year, rest second-year birds.
Also 6 Iceland Gull at Vardø, 1 Iceland Gull at Kiberg, 10 Shore Lark at Skagodden, 2 Eurasian Skylark at Kiberg. Generally good numbers of Steller's Eider, masses of gulls and alcidae on the water, a lot of Brünnich's Guillemot, which is clearly the dominant species on the water - still many in winter plumage. Lots of Snow Bunting along the roadside in the outer Varanger area.
At Ekkerøya there were 10 Glaucous Gull.
A more detailed list of May follows here:
13.05-20.05.99
Esko Lavikka counted 8356 Steller's Edier, 1092 King Eiders, 30 White-atied
Eagles, 325 Glaucous Gulls, 10 Iceland Gulls, 20 Shore Larks between
Karlebotn and Hamningberg.
13.05.99 Birds seen by Esko Lavikka:
Varangerbotn-Skallelv:
5 ad. White-billed Diver
2 Great Nothern/White-billed Diver
8000 Fulmar
1000 Brünnick's Guillemot
14000 Alcidae sp.
14.05.99. Birds seen by Esko Lavikka:
Skallelv-Kiberg-Vardø:
2000 Brünniick's Guillemot
105000 Alcidae sp.
Approx. 75000 Fulmar
9 ad. White-billed Diver
2 Red-necked Greebe. Rare in Varanger.
2 Great Skua
4 Pomarine Skua
ArcticSkua (incl. Stercorarius sp.) 275
Persfjorden-Hamningberg:
40 ad. White-billed Diver, + 2 Sub ad.
5 ad. Great Northern/White-billed Diver
1 ad. Great Nothern Diver
5500 Fulmar
15.05.99. Birds seen by Esko Lavikka:
Hamningberg:
4 Great Skua
1 Pomarine Skua
83 Arctic Skua (incl Stercorarius sp.)
15000 Fulmar
1000 Brünnick's Guillemot
8000 Alcidae sp.
34 ad. White-billed Diver
28 ad. Great Northern/White-billed Diver
16.05.99. Birds seen by Esko Lavikka:
Hamningberg:
82 Red-throated Diver
54 ad. White-billed Diver
35 ad. Great Northern/White-billed Diver
2 ad. Great Northern Diver
7 Gavia sp.
7000 Fulmar
800 Long-tailed Duck
700 Brünnick's Guillemot
Hamningberg-Persfjorden:
74 Red-throated Diver
9 Black-throated Diver
114 ad. White-billed Diver
7 ad. Great Northern Diver
4 Gavia sp.
36 ad. Great Northern/White-billed Diver
1000 Fulmar
400 Long-tailed Duck
17.05.99. Birds seen by Esko Lavikka:
Hamningberg:
12000 Fulmar
500 Brünnick's Guillemot
12000 Alcidae sp.
2 Pink-footed Goose
2 Great Skua
6 Long-tailed Skua
1 Pomarine Skua
80 Arctic Skua (incl. Stercorarius sp.)
121 Red-throated Diver
1 Black-throated Diver
142 ad. White-billed Diver
3 ad. Great Northern Diver
46 ad. Great Northern/White-billed Diver
5 Gavia sp.
Ekkerøya:
2 Lesser White-fronted Goose. Ad., a pair. Unringed. Seen By Håkon Heggland
2 Greylag Goose
18.05.99. Birds seen by Esko Lavikka, Pekka Komi, Markku Saarelainen and
Håkon Heggland:
Hamningberg:
278 ad. + 1 sub ad. White-billed Divers. A Norwegian record number.
1 ad. Great Northern Diver
23 Great Northern/White-billed Diver, mostly ad.
138 Red-throated Diver
6 Black-throated Diver
8 Gavia sp.
6 Great Skua
721 Pomarine Skua
263 Long-tailed Skua
494 Arctic Skua (incl. Stercorarius sp.)
2000 Arctic Tern E
19.05.99. Birds seen by Esko Lavikka:
Hamningberg:
150 Arctic Skua (incl. Stercorarius sp.)
9 POmarine Skua
33 Long-tailed Skua
2 Great Skua
55 Red-throated Diver
94 ad. + 1 sub ad. White-billed Diver
Kiberg-Ekkerøya:
16 ad. White-billed Diver
4 ad. Great Northern/White-billed Diver
22.05.99
E breeze, rising. Clouded, sunny later on. Some haze at Hamningberg. 5-10
degrees, night: 1 degree.
Hamningberg (time: 0330-0830):
White-billed Diver: 2 ad. s E, 2 ad.s . W. 12 on the water, 3 of them
landed.
Red-throated Diver: 18 E
Black-throated Diver: 8 E
Gavia sp. (small): 10 E
Long-tailed Duck: 70 E
Velvet Scoter: 1 E
Arctic Skua: 20 E + 10 stationary
Long-tailed Skua: 2 E
Stercorarius sp. :10 E
Arctic Tern: 5 E
Puffin: 500 W
A few hundered Fulmar
3 Fieldfare
15 Turnstone
5 Dunlin
Persfjorden:
20 Dunlin
Svartnes:
8 2. Y Glaucous Gull
Vardø:
400 Dunlin
100 Purple Sandpiper
250 King Eider, 4 ad. MM
Kiberg:
4 Iceland Gull (ad, 4 cal. year, 2 2. cal year)
30 Glaucous Gull, 1 ad.
Skallelv:
4 Bean Goose, fabalis
Greater White-fronted Goose: 1 2. year (siberian)
2 Barnacle Goose
Kramvik:
50 Dunlin
Ekkerøya:
30 Dunlin
1 Sanderling
Salttjern:
20 Dunlin
Vadsøya:
1700 Dunlin
5 Temminck's Stint
150 Steller's Eider
Nesseby:
20 Dunlin
40 Ringed Plover
10 Shelduck
1 Pomarine Skua, ad .E
Kariel:
11 Bean Goose
1 Lesser Blacked-backed Gull, ad. fuscus. Very rare in Varanger.
Bergebyelva:
2 Bean Goose
Teal, Pintail, Wigeon have all arrived in numbers.
23.05.99
Partly clouded. E 10-12 m/s. 2/3-10 degrees. LOw tide. Afternnon/evening.
Krampenes:
150 Dunlin
Storelva:
4 Shelduck
Ekkerøya:
2 Shalduck
90 Dunlin
1 Greylag Goose
20 Steller's Eider
Salttjern:
40 Dunlin
Vadsøya:
1850 Dunlin. Probably record number.
3 Temminck's Stint
2 Knot
1 Swallow
100 Steller's Eider
1500 Arctic Tern. Very high number
Thomaselv:
1 Woodcock in display flight.
Kariel:
18 Bean Goose. Fabalis
1 Pink-footed Goose
Nesseby:
25 Bean Goose. Rossicus
3 Bean Goose. Fabalis
8 Pink-footed Goose
3 Greylag Goose
1 Merlin
3 Short-eared Owl
11 Teal
5 Wigeon
¨5 Pintail
30 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Temminck's Stint
20 Dunlin
2 Wood Sandpiper
1 Whimbrel
1 Curlew
10 Shelduck
50 Steller's Eider
10 Black-headed Gull
2 Whooper Swan. Rare in Varanger
24.05.99
E light wind. Clouded, light rain. 3-6 degrees. Afternoon. Low tide
Vadsø:
950 Dunlin
1 Temminck's Stint
150 Steller's Eider
Kariel:
14 Bean Goose. Rossicus
4 Pink-footed Goose
Mortensnes:
1 Grey Phalarope in summer plumage on the sea with Kittywakes
Nesseby:
4 Bean Goose (2+2). Rossicus.
5 Bean Goose, not identified to subsp.
7 Pink-footed Goose
1 Red-necked Phalarope F
170 Dunlin
50 Steller's Eider
10 Shelduck
1 Willow Warbler singing. The first this spring.
25.05.99
E breeze. Clouded. Cold. Low tide, evening
Vadsø
1850 Dunlin. Probably record number.
2 temminck's Stint
26.05.99
E breeze. Clouded. 1 degree. Low tide, midnight. Vadsø:
1500 Dunlin
10 Tufted Duck
2 Scaup (pair)
1 Black-tailed Godwit. Islandica-race. Very rare in Varanger.
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull. Ad. Fuscus. Very rare in Varanger.
27.05.99
Clouded. E 7-10 m/s. 1 degree. Evening, time: 2030-2300.
Vadsø:
1500 Dunlin
1 Temminck's Stint
150 Steller's Eider
Kariel:
15 Bean Goose. Not subsp. identified, possibly fabalis.
4 Bean Goose. Rossicus.
3 Greater White-fronted Goose. 2. year.
5 Pink-footed Goose
Nesseby:
30 Dunlin
70 Ringed Plover
20 Bar-tailed Godwit
2 Bean Goose. Rossicus
10 Shalduck
20 Long-tailed Skua on the fjord, flew E.
28.05.99
Clouded. E breeze. 1 degree. Evening.
Vadsø:
1500 Dunlin
150 Steller's Eider
Kariel:
2 Bean Goose. Fabalis
1 Bean Goose. Rossicus.
4 Pink-footed Goose
20 Unidentified "grey" geese. Probably Bean Goose.
Nesseby:
Few waders.
29.05.99
E/SE breeze. 4 degrees. Afternoon/evening.
Vadsø:
1000 Dunlin
3 temminck's Stint
2 red-necked Phalarope
4 Greater Scaup
Nesseby:
11 Bean Goose. Fabalis
1 Greater White-fronted Goose. Rare at Nesseby.
1 Showeler. M. Rare in Varanger.
2 Red-necked Phalarope on the sea.
3 gannet
10 Fulmar
1 Long-tailed Skua
220 Dunlin
90 Ringed Plover
30 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Sanderling
1 Little Stint
5 Temminck's Stint
1 Curlew
10 Teal
Høyholmen, Tana:
2 Curlew
50 Oystercatcher
50 Bar-tailed Godwit
15 Long-tailed Skua
30.05.99
Skallelv:
2 Barnacle Goose
2 Lesser White-fronted Goose. Ad, a pair. Unringed.
2 Greater White-fronted Goose. Ad.
2 Bean Goose
Kiberg:
15 Sanderling
1 Iceland Gull
5 Glaucous Gull
Ekkerøya:
25 Sanderling
30/31.05
Kariel:
5 Greater White-fronted Goose.