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.

On our way towards the northeast we had a short stop at Ekkerøy. The site is known for its massive Kittiwake colony, but we stopped by a small satellite-colony closer to the road. At least 53 adult birds were hanging around this hill, but more than 10 000 pairs has bred in the main colony. A 15 kilometer drive later we reached Skallelv, where ten female plumaged Steller's Eiders were resting at the beach. Up to 10 000 Steller's Eiders has wintered in the region, but they are more scarce to see during summer. The number of wintering birds have decreased during the last decade.

Steller's Eider Polysticta stelleri, Skallelv 1 June 2005