birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
Barry the Bearded Seal!
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Finland & Norway May, 2015 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter birdboybowley
- Start date
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
No idea why the post flipped the boat pic over on its side.....tried loading it 3 times but the crappy thing keeps doing it.....:C
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
Cool.......!
I guess being a teenager in Vardø must be really hard work.....some good street artists there though!
I guess being a teenager in Vardø must be really hard work.....some good street artists there though!
Last edited:
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
24th – After a nice solid 10hrs kip we were all ready to go by 0830 and after a quick look at the feeders where a couple of Brambling, Mealies and Willow Tits were present along with an Arctic Hare we set off and began the journey back towards Finland, the weather no great! Another stop at Nesseby gave us wonderful views of a stunning Black-throated Diver close inshore and a couple of White-tailed Eagles but alas, still no phucking falaropes!
3 more White-tails, a dark-phase Arctic Skua and a Rough-legged Buzzard were seen in flight as we left the peninsula and 2 Merlins, 3o Willow Grouse and another Rough-leg were seen before we crossed the border at Utsjoki along with a cool Moose right next to the road. We filled up with fuel then backtracked and followed the Norwegian side round to the next border crossing at Karigasneimi as this route was less hassle in getting to the sites around here.
The weather had fluctuated between sun, clouds, rain and snow and as we pulled off the main road and followed the rough track up towards Mt Ailigas the snow flurries started again. We headed up towards the radio mast, through the gates which were open so we thought let's keep going...until we saw a cracking Golden Plover and tried to move the van forwards again...it wheelspan like a bitch and we had no choice but to roll backwards to the gates and managed to squeeze it off the track on a firm area – much to bemusement of a couple of security guards on their way up to the radiomast!
We wrapped up very well as the wind was whipping across the mountain as we trudged up the track. The notes we had said to angle across the hillside towards the boulder field below the mast. Kev wimped out and asked for the keys after about 3 minutes.....and thus became the biggest woman of the trip, which is quite a feat when there was an actual woman on it!!
The rest of us trudged over the rugged hillside, often slipping knee-deep in the snow patches. Ian went upwards, Matt when acrosswards, Jake and me went backwards until Matt called to say he could see our quarry, so we walked over and the bird flushed towards us and landed not far away – we were looking at a gorgeous, mostly-white Ptarmigan...and the best views I've had for years...and certainly the most effort I've put into finding the species!!
Ian had found a further 6 on the higher ridge and we wandered back pleased with our endeavour. The Golden Plovers were showing exceptionally well and as we neared the gate a stunning Long-tailed Skua flew up the hillside and over the ridge, looking so out of place on a snowy mountain!! Still no Dotterel around, just too early. As we drove back down the track a flying snowball came out of a low tree – Arctic Redpoll!! A Bluethroat also flew across the track. Further down the main road we stopped at various pools that are a traditional Broad-billed Sand site but again, no joy. A displaying Jack Snipe was seen, along with a single male Ruff and a Wood Sand, 2 Grey-headed Wags and 2 pairs of Teal.
So began the long journey back to Kuusamo – a change of plan that was implemented the previous night at dinner: instead of stopping back at Neljän Tuulen Tupa and making the following day a momentous drive we decided to get most of it done today, especially as the weather wasn't particularly great, and opted for making it back to Club Tropiiki which we'd booked online last night.
Not alot was seen on the journey, stopping back at Kersilö gave us no BB Sands, just a Curlew and a Greenshank. 3 Ospreys were seen, over 130 Whoopers, another displaying Jack Snipe and Green Sand and we had 6 female Black Grouse and 3 Starlings (only ones of the trip) as we neared Kuusamo. Best mammal was another Moose and then a Red Squirrel that nearly didn't make the road crossing! We also stopped at the huge Arctic Circle sign for the obligatory photos (not sure how we completely failed to see it on the way up...I mean, it's bloody massive!). Another nice meal in O'Leary's was much appreciated, especially as they were about to close!!
3 more White-tails, a dark-phase Arctic Skua and a Rough-legged Buzzard were seen in flight as we left the peninsula and 2 Merlins, 3o Willow Grouse and another Rough-leg were seen before we crossed the border at Utsjoki along with a cool Moose right next to the road. We filled up with fuel then backtracked and followed the Norwegian side round to the next border crossing at Karigasneimi as this route was less hassle in getting to the sites around here.
The weather had fluctuated between sun, clouds, rain and snow and as we pulled off the main road and followed the rough track up towards Mt Ailigas the snow flurries started again. We headed up towards the radio mast, through the gates which were open so we thought let's keep going...until we saw a cracking Golden Plover and tried to move the van forwards again...it wheelspan like a bitch and we had no choice but to roll backwards to the gates and managed to squeeze it off the track on a firm area – much to bemusement of a couple of security guards on their way up to the radiomast!
We wrapped up very well as the wind was whipping across the mountain as we trudged up the track. The notes we had said to angle across the hillside towards the boulder field below the mast. Kev wimped out and asked for the keys after about 3 minutes.....and thus became the biggest woman of the trip, which is quite a feat when there was an actual woman on it!!
The rest of us trudged over the rugged hillside, often slipping knee-deep in the snow patches. Ian went upwards, Matt when acrosswards, Jake and me went backwards until Matt called to say he could see our quarry, so we walked over and the bird flushed towards us and landed not far away – we were looking at a gorgeous, mostly-white Ptarmigan...and the best views I've had for years...and certainly the most effort I've put into finding the species!!
Ian had found a further 6 on the higher ridge and we wandered back pleased with our endeavour. The Golden Plovers were showing exceptionally well and as we neared the gate a stunning Long-tailed Skua flew up the hillside and over the ridge, looking so out of place on a snowy mountain!! Still no Dotterel around, just too early. As we drove back down the track a flying snowball came out of a low tree – Arctic Redpoll!! A Bluethroat also flew across the track. Further down the main road we stopped at various pools that are a traditional Broad-billed Sand site but again, no joy. A displaying Jack Snipe was seen, along with a single male Ruff and a Wood Sand, 2 Grey-headed Wags and 2 pairs of Teal.
So began the long journey back to Kuusamo – a change of plan that was implemented the previous night at dinner: instead of stopping back at Neljän Tuulen Tupa and making the following day a momentous drive we decided to get most of it done today, especially as the weather wasn't particularly great, and opted for making it back to Club Tropiiki which we'd booked online last night.
Not alot was seen on the journey, stopping back at Kersilö gave us no BB Sands, just a Curlew and a Greenshank. 3 Ospreys were seen, over 130 Whoopers, another displaying Jack Snipe and Green Sand and we had 6 female Black Grouse and 3 Starlings (only ones of the trip) as we neared Kuusamo. Best mammal was another Moose and then a Red Squirrel that nearly didn't make the road crossing! We also stopped at the huge Arctic Circle sign for the obligatory photos (not sure how we completely failed to see it on the way up...I mean, it's bloody massive!). Another nice meal in O'Leary's was much appreciated, especially as they were about to close!!
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
Again, poxy posts keep flipping pictures on their own...and it's starting to piss me off!! :C:C:C:C
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
No problem, they open in the right direction - at least for me :t:
Superb report Adam and your pictures bring it to life.
Rich
Rich
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