Taiga birding in autumn

The Pasvik Valley is a tounge between Russia in the east and Finland in the west. It's longitude is about the same as Istanbul in Turkey, meaning we are as far east as we can come in Scandinavia. The habitats are a nice blend of marshes, river (that forms most of the Norwegian-Russian border), lakes and old coniferous forest. Pasvik is known for its share of eastern bird species that do not exist elsewhere in the country, and the largest population of Brown Bear in Norway lives in Pasvik.

Highlights were several family groups of Siberian Jays, two Rustic Buntings, a Little Bunting, three Pine Grosbeaks, about ten Rough-legged Buzzards, twelve Cranes and lots of Siberian Tits.