Phalaropes in droves

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus, Vadsø 1 June 2005

Our drive from Pasvik to the destination Vardø was done in two days. We did lots of birding from og close to the car, and stayed overnight in Vadsø. There were nice numbers of shorebirds all along the coast in the Varangerfjord, with Purple Sandpipers, Oystercatchers, Dunlins, Bar-tailed Gowits, Ringed Plovers, Turnstones and Temminck's Stints recorded in proper numbers.

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, Vadsø 31 May 2005

Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla, Ekkerøy 1 June 2005

In Vadsø we were met by epic numbers of Red-necked Phalaropes feeding along the shores or in nearby ponds. More than a hundred twitching birds swimming around in a single small pond was an impressive sight. We enjoyed the Phalaropes for an hour the next morning, before heading towards Vardø.