Observations from 2000:

August - December 2000:

No observations sent in. Sorry.

July 2000:

Lutz Lücker made a trip to the Varanger area in the beginning of July, for details click here

June 2000:

07.06.00
1 Terek Sandpiper  in Vadsø (the bay east of the bridge). Probably a new
bird. Present for about 15 minutes (video recorded) in the afternoon.
Rumours about a Terek Sandpiper at Nesseny also this afternoon!

06.06.00
1 Broad-billed Sandpiper in Vadsø (the bay east of the bridge)

05.06.00
1 possible M hybrid American Wigeon x Wigeon in the pond at Vadsøya. The
bird looks very much like a M Wigeon, but there are details in the head that
seem intermediate between the two species. Also present 11.06.

01.06.00
1 Terek Sandpiper and 1 M Surf cooter at Ekkerøya. The Terek Sandpiper
stayed only for about 1/2 minute before it flew and disapeared. The Surf
Scooter was not seen after midday.

May 2000:

From Kari Varpenius, Finland I received these observations:

30.5 Tanamunningen

Aythya marila 7 (3 male, 4 female)
Larus hyperboreus 1 2cy

31.5 Berlevåg

Larus hyperboreus 2 2cy

31.5 Nesseby

Anas clypaeta 2 (1 male, 1 female)
Anser anser 1

31.5 Meskelva

Melanitta fusca 75
Larus minutus 1 adult

1.6 Nesseby

Gavia adamsii 1
Stercorarius pomarinus 1

1.6 Ekkeroy

MELANITTA PERSPICILLATA 1 adult male

1.6 Krampenes

Anser albifrons 1 adult

1.6 Komagvär

Larus hyperboreus 2 2cy
Larus glaucoides 1 3cy

1.6 Kiberg

Gavia adamsii 2
Larus hyperboreus 1 3cy

1.6 Persfjorden

Gavia adamsii / immer 1

1.6 Hamninberg

Gavia stellata 19 E
Gavia arctica 2 E
Gavia adamsii 12 E
Gavia adamsii / immer 3 E
Branta bernicla 2 E
Somateria spectabilis 63 E (2 adult male, 32 2cy male, 29 female)
                                11 W( 6 2cy male, 5 female)
Polystica stelleri 19 E (2 flock)
Pluvialis squatarola 1 E
Stercorarius skua 1
Larus glaucoides 1 2cy
Larus hyperboreus 1 3cy

2.6 Hamninberg

Gavia adamsii 2 E
Anser f. rossicus 1 W
Pica pica 1p

2.6 Persfjorden

Nyctea scandiaca 1 female

2.6 Domen

Nyctea scandiaca 1

2.6 Kiberg

Gavia adamsii / immer 2

2.6 Indre Kiberg

Gavia adamsii 2

2.6 Kramvik

Gavia adamsii 1
Gavia immer 1
Anser anser 2

2.6 Komagver

Gavia adamsii 1
Polysticta stelleri 875
Clangula hyemalis 290

2.6 Skallelv

Anser anser 2

2.6 Krampnes

Melanitta perspicillata 1 adult male (Probably same as 1.6 in Ekkroy)


, and few total in Varanger Peninsula 30.5-2.6:

Gavia stellata 78
Gavia arctica 33
Gavia adamsii 21 ( 10 adult, 11 2cy)
Gavia immer 1 2cy
Gavia adamsii / immer 6
Gavia sp 28

Polysticta stelleri 1897
Somateria spectabilis 297 (6 adult male, 109 2 cy male, 182 female)

Haliaeetus albicilla 9

Stercorarius longicaudus 17

Calidris maritima 151

April 2000:

09.04.00
SW breeze. Clouded. Approx. + 2-3 degrees.
Vadsø:
1 1. winter Iceland Gull

Vardø:
1 Oystercatcher
15 Glaucous Gull (1 ad)
1 2. winter and 1possible 1. winter hybrid Herring- x Glaucous Gull

9.4 Ekkeröy ( Kari Varpenius & Harri Taavetti)

King Eider 2
Black Scoter 90

8.4 Vardö (Kari Varpenius & Harri Taavetti)

Rock Pipit 1
King Eider 11 S + 20
Glaucous Gull 6

8.4 Kiberg
King Eider 2

08.04.00
SW wind, partly clouded, glimpses of sun. Max. approx. +1 degree.
Nesseby:
1 F Pintail. Very early arrival.
1 Shelduck
10 Oystercatcher

Angsnes:
1 M hybrid Eider x King Eider
12 Oystercatcher

Vadsø:
4-5 Iceland Gull (1. winter)
10 Oystercatcher
Many Snow Bunting
15 Common Gull (incl. 1 1. winter)

7.4 Berlevåg ( Kari Varpenius & Harri Taavetti)

Glaucous Gull 30

7.4 Kjölnes 10.30-13.30

Glaucous Gull 89W
Iceland Gull 3W ( 1ad, 2 2cy)

6.4 Berlevåg - Kjölnes ( Kari Varpenius & Harri Taavetti)

Steller's Eider 1200
Glaucous Gull 20
Iceland Gull 1 2cy
King Eider 305, only a few adult male

6.4 Kjölnes 11.00-13.20

Glaucous Gull 19 E
Kittiwake 20500 E (11.15-12.15)

01.04.00
Partly cloudy. -3/4 degrees. Light northerly wind. 2 1/2 hours in Vadsø
harbor (high tide):

Approx. 1100 King Eiders.
4-5 Iceland Gulls (1 2. winter (new), 3-4 1. winters, incl. one rather heavily pigmented new bird)
1 Snow Bunting

March 2000:

31.03.00
Short late afternoon stop in Vadsø harbor:

3 Iceland Gulls (1. winter)

28.03.00
Clouded, light wind (strong NW earlier in the day). Short afternoon visit. -4 degrees.
Vadsø harbor:
5 Iceland Gulls (2 ad. summer, 3 1. winter)

27.03.00
Clouded. Strong westerly wind. Short afternoon visit. Approx. -5/6 degrees.
3 Iceland Gulls (1 ad, 2 1. winter). One of the 1- winters is quite heavily pigmented.

26.03.00
Sunny/partly clouded. Breeze from W. -5 degrees. 3 hours in Vadsø harbour. Low tide.
4 Iceland Gulls (1 ad, 3 1. winters). One quite heavily pigmented. One other bird probably new  (with staining on the primary tips).
1 ad. Black-headed Gull
1 Oystercatcher. First arrival and rather early.
Hundreds of King Eiders and Steller's Eiders

25.03.00
Vadsø harbor. Westerly wind. Mild day, cold night. 3 hours of birding. Low tide
1450 King Eiders
Approx. 1000 Steller's Eiders
Approx. 200 Long-tailed Ducks
1 ad. Black-headed Gull
6 Iceland Gulls (3 ad. and 3 first winter)
1 1. winter Glaucous Gull
Hundreds of Kittiwakes
2 Possible hybrids Glaucous Gull x Herring Gull (1. winter birds)

24.03.00
Short visit to Vadsø harbor in the afternoon.
3 Iceland Gulls (1 new bird, probably 2. winter)
1 ad. Black-headed Gull. First arrival this year and rather early.

19.03.00
Cloudy, strong wind from SW (15 m/s). 1 degree. Vadsø-Vardø.
Vadsø (only short stop):
5 Iceland Gulls (4 1. winter, including a flock of 3, and 1 ad.). Probably
incl. new birds.
10 Common Gulls

Vadsø-Ekkerøya (incl. Ekkerøya):
1470 Steller's Eider
110 King Eider
4 Velvet  Scoter
1 Common Scoter

Ekkerøya-Skallelv (incl. Skallelv):
1460 Steller's Eider
530 King Eider
60 Common Scoter
10 Velvet Scoter
2 Red-throated Diver

Komagvær:
500 Steller's Eider
400 King Eider
5 Common Scoter
25 Velvet Scoter
2 Red-throated Diver

Langbunes:
300 Steller's Eider
110 King Eider

Kramvik:
50 Steller's Eider
200 King Eider
60 Cormorant

Indre Kiberg:
300 Steller's Eider
150 King Eider

Kiberg:
350 Steller's Eider
20 King Eider

Svartnes & Vardø:
350 Steller's Eider
300 King Eider

Kramvik-Vardø:
Approx. 200 Glaucous Gulls

Vadsø-Vardø:
1 F-coloured Snowy Owl

18.03.00
Calm wind, mild. Cloudy/partly cloudy.
Vadsø-Varangerbotn:
Vadsø-Kariel (excluding Vadsø):
500 Steller's Eider
300 King Eider

Vestre Jacobselv-Klubben:
30 Steller's Eider
180 King Eider
1 White-billed Diver
2 Red-throated Divers

Mortensnes:
80 Steller's Eider
30 King Eider

Nesseby:
230 Steller's Eider
120 King Eider
1 White-billed Diver
25 Velvet Scoter
200 Great Black-backed Gulls

Angsnes:
170 Steller's Eider
180 King Eider
1 M hybrid King Eider X Common Eider. Seen together with King Eiders.
This bird has been present for at least 3. winters.

17.03.00
Calm winds. Sunny. Afternoon. Vadsø harbour:
950 King Eiders, mostly outside the wave-breaker in the west. Record number
during my 3 winters in Vadsø.
1250 Steller's Eiders
1 1. winter Iceland Gull

11.03.00
Strong winds from north. Snow showers. Vadsø harbour midday-afternoon.
1 ad. Glaucous Gull
6 (4 1. winter, 1 1./2. winter and 1 ad.) Iceland Gull. One of the 1.
winters was quite heavily pigmented. At least 2 new birds.
Hundreds of Kittywake newly arrived.

04.03.00
Vadsø harbour, very short stop:
3 Iceland Gulls (2 1. winter and 1 ad)

February 2000:

27.February 2000
Vadsø harbour. - 7 degrees. Clouded. Light snowfall. Calm winds.
6 Iceland Gulls, 4 ad, 2 1. winters
2 Glaucous Gulls ad. + 1. winter
5 Kittiwakes

26.February 2000
Vadsø harbour. -9 degrees. Partly clouded. Light winds. 2 hours birding.
8 Iceland Gulls. 4 ad., 3 1. winter and 1 2. winter.
4 Glaucous Gulls (2 ad. + 2 1. winter)
5 Common Gull

25.February 2000
Vadsø harbour. - 10 degrees. Clouded. Calm winds. Afternoon.
10 Iceland Gulls. 6 ad. and 4 1. winter. Very high number.
2 Glaucous Gulls (ad + 1. 1winter)

21.02.00
Vadsø harbour. Time: 13-15. Clouded. Light winds from N. -5 degrees.
4 Iceland Gulls (1 ad., 2 1. winter (probably 1 new) 1 1./2. winter).
2+ Glaucous Gull

20.02.00
Vadsø harbour, time: 11-14. Sunny, seafog. -14/-7 degrees. Light W winds.

8 Iceland Gulls (4 ad (1 probably new), 2 1. W (1 new), 3  2. W)
5 Glaucous Gulls (2 ad)
10 Common Gulls (2 1. W)
2 Kittiwake
Hundreds of King Eider

19.02.00
Vadsø harbour, time: 10-10:45 and 14-15. Sunny, seafog. -9/-11 degrees.
Light W winds.

7 Iceland Gulls (5 ad, 1 1. W (pale bird), 1 2. W (new)).
5 Glaucous Gulls (2 ad, 3 1. W)
5 Common Gull ad.
3 Kittiwake (2 ad, 1 1. W)
1000 Herring Gulls
1 Brünnich's Guillemot
5 Razorbill
Hundreds of King Eider
10 Cormorant
1 White-tailed Eagle ad.
1 Velvet Scoter F (rare in winter)

12.02.00
Vadsø harbour. Clouded/partly clouded. Calm.
3 Iceland Gulls (1 ad, 1 1. W, 1 2. W (new)).
1 Kumliens Gull 1. W.

11.02.00
Vadsø harbour. Clouded. Strong SV winds.
3 Iceland Gulls (2 ad, 1 2. W (new)

07.02. Vadsø harbour. Sunny, light winds from W. minus 5 degrees
4 ad. + 1 1. winter Iceland Gull
1+ 1. winter Common Gull

05.02. Cloudy / partly cloudy. Wind from NW, increasing.
Vadsø harbour (12:00 -14:00)
700 King Eider

1 ad. Kumlien's Gull
Hundreds of Herring Gulls
4 ad. + 3 1. winter Iceland Gull.
5 Glaucous Gull
10 Common Gull (2 1. winter)

04.02. Cloudy. Southerly breeze, minus 3-4 degrees.
Vadsø harbour (13:00 -14:45)
1500 Herring Gull
2 ad. Iceland Gull
5 Glaucous Gull
5 Common Gull
600 King Eider

03.02. 10 m/s from NW, minus 3-4 degrees, partly cloudy.
Vadsø harbour: (12:00 - 13:45)
5 Glaucous Gull (2 ad. 3 1. winter)
2 ad. Iceland Gull
3 Waxwing in town.

January 2000:

31.01. minus 4-5. Cloudy. Strong wind from WNW .
Vadsø harbour (11:30-13:30)
2000 Herring Gull
100 Great Black-backed Gull
5 Common Gull
50 Kittywake
2-3 ad. + 1 1. winter Iceland Gull
1 ad. Kumlien's Gull (L. g. kumlieni). A well marked bird, different from
the bird seen 29.01, due to differences in the head-markings.
15 Glaucous Gull (1 2. winter, 10 1. winter, 5 ad.)
1 probable 1. winter hybrid Herring X Glaucous Gull
1 M Goldeeye.
Hundreds of King Eider
Hundreds of Steller's Eiders (normal numbers).

30.01. Strong SE-winds. Some snow. minus 3-4.
Vadsø harbour (11:00-13:30)
10 Glaucous Gull (1 2. winter, 5 1. winter, 4 ad.)
1 ad. + 1 1. winter Iceland Gull
1000 Herring Gull
5 Common Gull
30 Kittiwake
Several hundred King Eider

29.01.; Vadsø: Very cold, minus 12-14. Partly cloudy, sunny, some haze. Southerly breeze.
Vadsø harbour (12:00 -14:00)

1 well marked ad. Kumliens Gull (L. g. kumlieni).
2 ad. + 2 1. winter Iceland Gull
6 (3 ad. + 3 1. winter) Glaucous Gull
1500 Herring Gull
30 Kittiwake
2 ad. Common Gull
50 Great Blacked-Backed Gull
5 Cormorant
1 M Goldeneye. Rare in winter.

27.01. Vadsø harbour:
1 ad. + 1 1. winter Iceland Gull

24.01.00
Vadsø:
1 Waxwing in town

23.01. Vadsø harbour:
2 ad. Iceland Gull
2 Glaucous Gull
10 Common Gull
20 Kittiwake
1 White-billed Diver
1 Red-throated Diver
4 Common Scoter (3 MM, 1F). Rare in winter

22.01. Vadsø harbour:
3-4 ad Iceland Gull
2 ad. Glaucous Gull
several hundred King Eider

17.01. Vadsø harbour:
1 ad. Kumlien's Gull (L. g. kumlieni). Same as yesterday. Very lightly marked.
2 ad. Iceland Gull
1 ad. Glaucous Gull

16.01.; Snow, strong southerly winds. - 5 degrees

Vadsø:
3 ad. Iceland Gull. One of them showed contrasting dark grey along the outer
webs of the outer two primaries, only visible in flight. This indicates that
the bird belonged to the subspecies kumlieni.
2 Glaucous Gull ad
10+ Common Gull
1 Kittiwake 1. winter
20 Great Black-backed Gulls
150 Herring Gulls
30 King Eider

15.01.; Partly cloudy, breeze from NW, -6 degrees

Vadsø:
2 Glaucous Gull ad
2 Iceland Gulls ad
15 Common Gull (5 1. winter)
1 Kittiwake 1st winter
5 Great Black-backed Gulls
30 Herring Gulls
20 Red-breasted Merganser
30 King Eider
Several hundred Stellers Eider
5 Cormorant
3 Snow Bunting, by the bridge. Very rare in winter

09.01.2000; Calm, -4 degrees.
Vadsø:
1 Red-throated Diver
25 Mallard
30 King Eider
450 Steller's Eider
5 Red-breasted Merganser
10 Black Guillemot
1 Common Gull (first winter)
5 Great Black-backed Gull
15 Herring Gulls (1 first winter). Very few!
1 Snow Bunting along the shore just east of the town. Possibly the first
January record for the Varanger Peninsula (there are a few records from February).

03.01.2000; Southerly winds, mild.
Vadsø: 15 Common Gull (5 first winter)