Varanger in March- April
King- and Steller´s Eider spectacle
Varanger in early spring is truly arctic experience. However, it is one of the best places in the world to photograph arctic eider species; King- and Steller´s Eiders.
Here these gorgeous ducks swim in harbours, sometimes in large numbers and here they can be photographed from the floating pier and from the boats as well.
Other attractions of the area this time of the year are Long-tailed Ducks and Common Eiders in harbours, Glaucous- and Iceland Gulls, Puffins and other alcids in snow,
grazing Reindeer on the side of the road, passerines at the feeders in Finnish Lapland and with good luck even Snowy Owl might appear on roadside!
BIRDWATCHING & PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR TO IVALO - NORWAY - IVALO
ITINERARY
Day 1
Arrival at Ivalo airport. Your Finnature guide will be waiting at the airport. 50 kilometres drive to our lodge in Kaamanen. Dinner and accommodation: Neljän Tuulen Tupa Lodge in Kaamanen north from Inari village.
Days 2 – 3
There is a good bird feeder at the lodge. There should be good numbers of birds visiting the feeder including Pine Grosbeaks, Arctic Redpolls, Mealy Redpolls, Siberian Tit and Siberian Jay. We can start our morning here at the feeder. After the late breakfast we will take off for the north and drive through a vast open arctic landscape. We might see Reindeer, Red Fox or Arctic Hare on the roadside. The landscape is characterized by fells. These are no real mountains, but typical hills of Lapland looking like gently rising cones of earth and providing spectacular vistas.
The Teno River is one of the most important salmon rivers in Europe and it is the border between Finland and Norway. It has deposited enormous amounts of sand, reminding one of the great Siberian rivers. Along the road here is a traditional breeding site of Gyr Falcon, and we will check if the birds are there! Then we continue the high altitude tundra to Båtsfjord, a small harbour town on the northern edge of Varanger peninsula. The tundra is the home of Ptarmigan and Gyr Falcon. And, with good luck, the magnificent Snowy Owl is sometimes seen on the roadside.
Full day in Båtsfjord harbour area. This has been the best place in recent years to get close to arctic ducks; Steller´s – and King Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks. We can hire a boat here to get closer to birds, but this is optional and on top of the price of the tour.
Dinner and accommodation : Euro Polar Hotel in Båtsfjord, Varanger Peninsula
Day 4
Today we are going to visit the other town on the northern side of Varanger, Berlevåg. The rocky coastline and tundra offers different experience. Berlevåg harbour has been also productive especially with Steller´s Eiders and usually here is good numbers of gulls as well.
Dinner and accommodation: Euro Polar Hotel in Båtsfjord, Varanger Peninsula
Day 5
We will drive again over the fells and via the Teno delta to the Varanger Fjord itself. Already on the way, as well as during the next few days, we will search for more Steller's- and King Eiders, Glaucous and Iceland Gulls. With good luck there might be White-billed Diver close to shore along the road. This time of the year other species includes White-tailed Eagle, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Eider, Mallard, Kittiwake, Purple Sandpiper and Raven. First Snow Buntings should have arrived to the shores of Varanger.
Dinner and accommodation: Hotel Vardö
Day 6
Vardö Harbour can be productive for all sea ducks and gulls. Sometimes also for guillemots.
Today we have possibility to take excursion by boat to the large seabird colony on the Hornoya (weather permitting), home of thousands of northern birds. The Hornoya Nature Reserve is the easternmost of the protected bird colonies in Norway, home of about 25 000 pairs of Kittiwakes and 150 pairs of Shags. Northern Alcids breeds here: Brünnich´s Guillemots, Common Guillemots, Black Guillemots, Razorbills and several 1000 pairs of Puffins! A great opportunity to photograph birds. The arctic waters are also the home of seals, which we may see from the boat to the island. Some years Harp Seals are numerous and rare Bearded Seal is also possible here.
We will ask if harbor master aloud us to land on the Hornoay island. However, if sea is too rough, there is no chance to get to the island!
Dinner and accommodation: Hotel Vardö
Day 7
After breakfast we will start our drive back to Finland. We will make stops for birdwatching and photography at the other harbours of Varanger fjord.
Dinner and accommodation: Neljän Tuulen Tupa Lodge in Kaamanen north from Inari
Day 8
After some birding / photography in the morning at Kaamanen feeder, we start driving to Ivalo airport to catch the homeward flight.
Here is 8-day option with breakfast. Transportation directly to Varanger from Ivalo airport. We can also tailor you longer photography trips to Finland and Varanger! Please don´t hesitate to ask for quote.
Accommodation in single rooms
Meals: breakfast at lodges/ hotels
2 nights at Euro Polar Hotel, Båtsfjord, Varanger Peninsula
2 nights at Vardö Hotel in Vardö, Varanger Fjord
2 nights at Neljän Tuulen Tupa Lodge in Kaamanen, Lapland
Boat trip to Hornoya birdcliff (weather permitting)
Transportation by minibus throughout the tour Ivalo airport - Ivalo airport
Price: 2 400 euros/ person
Min group size 3 and max 5 clients and Finnature guide
Price does not include:
Flights, travel insurance, lunches, alcohol drinks or other items of a personal nature
