Day 5 - The journey to Batsjford
On the road early doors as we take the 2 hour journey to Batsjford. Really excited to hit the tundra around this part of northern Norway. I had done lots of research about this area and it sounded fantastic. Hopefully we would have another chance for Dotterel. Long tailed Skua was high on the agenda as well. It was another glorious day with the sun already high in the sky. Won’t be great for togging though sadly. First stop was a garage an Varangerbotn, about 30mins into the journey for some much needed food after yesterdays cock up. I ordered some kind of continental sausage thing that looked pretty grim and basic but was actually spot on. It was so good I almost went back for another.
Brekkie, Norway, June 2023
Across from the garage was a bird hide overlooking the end of the Varangerfjord it was part of the Varanger Sami museum. It was closed this early in the day but we walked out to the bird hide as it was so say good for Bluethroats. None seen again. The search continues. The hide looked great but no birds seen apart from a family of Hooded Crows. This was mainly because the tide was out. As we walked back we caught site of a family of stoats they gave us 30 mins of entertainment. They were catching rodents at a very good rate. The sun didn’t help with the photograph here but was great to watch.
Stoat, Varangerbotn, Norway, June 2023
Stoat, Varangerbotn, Norway, June 2023
We took the E6 inland to Tana Bru and then headed back towards the coast at Batsjford. We would pass over some good high ground before reaching Batsjford and this is where we planned to spending most of our time in the search for Dotterel. As we reached the higher ground the scenery changed and the tree lined roads soon became open Tundra. It was a stunning drive up. It wasn’t long before we caught a glimpse of one of our top targets a Long-tailed Skua. There were 2 birds present one was clearly sat on whilst the other stood guard on a nearby rock. It allowed a very close approach and posed for some stonking shots. Such elegant birds
Long-tailed Skua, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua, Norway, June 2023
We next walked towards the incubating bird who rose to greet us. Skuas are very aggressive birds but these two took it to another level. Im used to be being dive bombed but generally the birds miss. These didn't and bosh it hit me on the back of head and knocked my baseball cap off. I had planned to leave a Gopro on the nest for a few hours but bugger that. I took a few quick snaps before retreating back to the car. The off nest bird followed and attacked us all the way back to the car. The incubating bird was back on sat tight by the time we had managed to take cover.
Long-tailed Skua nest, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua nest, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua nest, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua nest, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua nest, Norway, June 2023
Long-tailed Skua, nesting area, Norway, June 2023
Next stop was at Geatnjajavri a large lake. We had some great views here of Red-throated Pipits one sat on the notice board and sang for most of our pit stop. The water didn't hold much so we quickly moved on.
Red-throated Pipit, Getnjajavri, Norway, June 2023
We headed further into the mountains stopping next at a road intersection at Berlevag. There was what looked like a disused building here which housed numerous Fieldfare nests all empty apart from one with chicks. A few white Wagtails were clearly nesting nearby. The surroding pools had Black-throated Divers and Long-tailed ducks on. This hills around were full of bird song it looked to be a great area.
Fieldfare nest, Berlevag, Norway, June 2023
We continued onwards stopping at another body of water Magisttarjavr here we had some lunch. I watched a Wheatear back in and went to investigate, but they bloody thing just vanished either it was sat tight or it gave me the slip. We decided to spend the next few hours on a nearby hillside here looking for breeding bird. First birds were encounterd were a pair of Red-throated Divers followed by a female Long-tailed Duck. This also did the disapearing act and most have been sat tight somewhere nearby. A male Ruff posed nicely but a tad distant and the results weren't great in the high afternoon sun.
Ruff, Batsjford, Norway, June 2023
We also came across, Lapland Buntings, Golden Plovers and Snow Buntings as we trekked for several miles across the Tundra. After a few blank hours we headed back to the car. I had run out of water so headed down first. As i approached the car a wader shot out at my feet. I shit myself before trying to establish what had I had just flushed. It was a stunning Northern Golden Plover, who had done the dying rat routine before disappearing. She revelaved a magnificent set of 4 eggs. the nest was a stones throw from the car and on the way up we would of passed it by a few feet.
Northern Golden Plover nest, Berlevag, Norway, June 2023
Northern Golden Plover nest, Berlevag, Norway, June 2023
Northern Golden Plover nest, Berlevag, Norway, June 2023
Northern Golden Plover nest, Berlevag, Norway, June 2023
Northern Golden Plover nest, Berlevag, Norway, June 2023
Northern Golden Plover nest, Berlevag, Norway, June 2023
Northern Golden Plover nest, Berlevag, Norway, June 2023
Whilst I had been back at the car Adrian and Ricky had been watching a very suss pair of Lapland Buntings. I joined them a little way back up into the hills. I sat back as I approached because Adrian was on the case. Another nest of the Lapland Bunting was uncovered. It was in a little hole on a grassy tump and again lined with what looked like Ptarmigan feathers, another beautfiul looking nest. Same scenario as the last nest we found the male bird was present and singing. He would move around his territory singing. When we got to close to the where the undiscovered nest site was he would stop singing and make a different call. This would call the female of the nest and the clear sign a nest was in the area. All we had to do then was sit and wait and watch the female back to her nest. It was eventually uncovered and a beautiful nest lined with what looked like Ptarmigan feathers was found.
Lapland Bunting nest, Berlevag, Norway, June 2023
Lapland Bunting nest, Berlevag, Norway, June 2023
Lapland Bunting nest, Berlevag, Norway, June 2023
Lapland Bunting nest, Berlevag, Norway, June 2023
Lapland Bunting nest, Berlevag, Norway, June 2023
Lapland Bunting nest, Berlevag, Norway, June 2023
Although we had walked miles in search of Dotterel and not had a sniff of a bird we had still had a pretty productive day. It was now early evening and time to head to our digs in Batsjford. It wasn't to far so we planned to head back after tea. We were staying in the Batsjford Hotel and the place was probably the best accommodation we had all trip. We had a 3 bedroom suite this was decorated with lots of bird and whale pictures. Turns out it’s run by the same person who operates the floating hides in the Batsjford for the Steller's Eiders. The only downside was the heating was on and yet it was pretty warm outside so the rooms become super hot and sleeping wasn’t easy. The food was decent and enjoyed yet another Pizza. Outside the hotel there were lots of Icelandic Poppies I saw more here than I did in the whole of Iceland.
Batsjford Hotel, Norway, June 2023
Pizza at the Batsjford Hotel, Norway, June 2023
Icelandic Poppies, Batsjford, Norway, June 2023
Icelandic Poppies, Batsjford, Norway, June 2023
After tea Adrian and I set off again for the hills. We again put in some decent miles. The snowy landscape was beautiful and went as far as the eye could see, but finding birds was proving difficult. We had a brief sighting of a Willow Ptarmigan and a Rock Ptarmigan was heard calling. Eventually we found a pair of Shorelarks. Another target for us so we invested a bit of time to see what they were up to they gave us the round around for a while and i really struggled to get any pics. They werent that approachable. We marked the area and planned to return tomorrow, we were sure if they had a nest nearby.
Batsjford, Norway, June 2023
Batsjford, Norway, June 2023
Batsjford, Norway, June 2023
We continued our search further into the hills we came across some kind of way finder in the form of rocks on top of each other you could clearly see a patch that disappeared deep into the middle of nowhere. Would love to know how long and who put them there. Nearby i found a pallet which was pretty large. I hoped it might be a Snowy Owl but i still have no idea what left it.
Unknown Pellet, Batsjford, Norway, June 2023
The sun was just starting to set behind a nearby hill creating some beautiful light but sadly we couldn't find anything to tog. Eventually we came across a Rock Ptarmigan they showed distantly. I managed a few pics before it walked off into the shadows. It was fast approaching midnight and time to head back for some sleep. Mission Dotterel had failed so far but tomorrow is another day.
Ptarmigan, Batsjford, Norway, June 2023
Batsjford, Norway, June 2023
Batsjford, Norway, June 2023
Batsjford, Norway, June 2023
Batsjford, Norway, June 2023
Batsjford, Norway, June 2023
Batsjford, Norway, June 2023