Arctic Seaducks & Puffins

– Northern Finland & Norway

2024 Dates:

• Tuesday 19th March to Tuesday 26th March, 2024

This photography tour is timed in a way we can photograph wintering King and Steller’s Eiders, but also spring migrants such as Atlantic Puffins and other seabirds on snow in Varanger! Starting in Finnish Lapland, we have the best opportunity to photograph Pine Grosbeaks, Siberian Tits, and Siberian Jays as well. This is also a great time for Aurora Borealis!

Arctic Seaducks

Handsome King Eiders and Steller’s Eiders, Common Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks overwinter in the sheltered harbours of Varanger Peninsula. Of these, King Eiders and Steller’s Eiders do not breed in the area. Rather, they move east to the Russian tundra for breeding in spring. Winter months from February to April, when these birds are overwintering in the coasts of Varanger Peninsula, are the best time to photograph them.

Our local partner has set up superb floating photography hides in one of the sheltered fjords in Varanger. This place is a must for any keen bird photographer! Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks come at close range and offer lots of action and subtle colours for photography.

Puffins and other Arctic Seabirds

The Atlantic Puffin is a strange bird – its appearance among birds is unique! This small stocky auk has a colourful beak and a dapper black-and-white style that can charm any photographer.

Hornøya island off Varanger Peninsula is the most accessible seabird colony in Norway. Common Guillemot is a numerous breeder here, with prominent numbers of Puffins, Brünnich’s Guillemots, Razorbills, European Shags and Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting as well. Gyr Falcons and White-tailed Eagles patrol over the island regularly, causing panic among the masses of alcids. Days are never the same at Hornøya!

Seabirds return from their wintering areas to Hornøya after mid-March. This is an excellent time for photography with lots of action. The desired target is Puffin fights on snow. Birds stay on the island until late July when the chicks leave the nesting cliffs. The island turns silent as the birds move out to the sea.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival to Ivalo

Arrival at Ivalo airport where our guide will meet you.

Dinner and accommodation either at Hotel Ivalo in Ivalo or Neljän Tuulen Tupa Lodge in Kaamanen about 1 hour north of Ivalo, depending on the group size (1 night).

Day 2: (Ivalo -) Kaamanen – Båtsfjord

Today we travel to Northern Norway. On the way, we make a photography stop in Kaamanen where we spend the morning at a bird café – here, many bird feeders attract wintering passerines such as Pine Grosbeak, Siberian Jay, Siberian Tit, Willow Tit, Common and Arctic Redpoll, as well as numerous Red Squirrels. Birds and Squirrels can be photographed at a close distance.

We will carry on towards the north and have lunch at the Finnish-Norwegian border. After lunch, we continue to Norway and leave the treeline behind, and cross the highlands of Varanger Peninsula to the small fishing town of Båtsfjord.

Dinner and accommodation at Båtsfjord Hotel in Båtsfjord (2 nights). In the evening we will look for

Northern Lights if the Aurora activity is good and the skies are clear.

Day 3: Båtsfjord

Early morning departure to floating photography hides for Arctic Seaducks such as King Eider, Steller’s Eider, Common Eider and Long-tailed Duck. The hides are located in the sheltered Båtsfjord harbour and the boat drive to the hides lasts only a few minutes. The birds are attracted in front of hides with food and they can come very close! The hides allow for amazing low-angle photography. Photography opportunities are wonderful.

Return to the hotel for a warm breakfast. After breakfast, we will make a RIB boat ride in the fjord and photograph the Seaducks from the boat. Other photogenic subjects in Båtsfjord include Black-legged Kittiwake, Purple Sandpiper, Glaucous and Iceland Gull, Raven, and the charismatic fishing village itself.

Dinner and accommodation at Båtsfjord Hotel in Båtsfjord.

Day 4: Båtsfjord – Vardö

Another early morning hide session for Eiders. After the early hide session, we return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we travel all around the Varanger Peninsula and along the Varanger Fjord to Vardö. The landscapes are picturesque and we make photography stops along the way.

Dinner and accommodation at Hotel Vardö in Vardö (3 nights).

Day 5 & 6: Vardö / Hornøya

Weather permitting, we will spend both days at Hornøya Bird Island for seabird photography. Thousands and thousands of Atlantic Puffins, Common and Brünnich’s Guillemots, Razorbills, European Shags, and Black-legged Kittiwakes have returned to their breeding cliffs already in mid-March. In April, birds are defending their breeding sites and sometimes engage in fierce fights. Gyrfalcon or White-tailed Eagle might patrol over the island and cause panic among the masses of seabirds. It is not uncommon to see a Gyrfalcon take the occasional unlucky prey.

We will spend the whole day on the island and have a picnic lunch with us. We return to Hotel Vardö for dinner and accommodation in the evening. We will check the Northern Lights activity again and hope for a wonderful Aurora show for the evening.

Day 7: Vardö – Ivalo

Today we travel back to Finland. Most of the day is spent traveling, but we will make photography stops on the way to break up the journey.

Dinner and accommodation either at Hotel Ivalo in Ivalo or Neljän Tuulen Tupa Lodge in Kaamanen about 1 hour north of Ivalo, depending on the group size (1 night).

Day 8: Departure from Ivalo

Departure from Ivalo airport.

Whats Included

• Land transportation from Ivalo airport
• Accommodation
• All meals
• Guiding and use of professional photography hides

Whats Excluded

• International Flights
• Snacks & Alcohol
• Personal/Travel Insurance