Varanger is absolutely worth a visit any time of the year except in the darkest time which is between 15th of November to 15th of February. In March and april, the days are long and the light is fantastic which makes Varanger to the perfect photo destination. White-billed Diver, Glaucous Gull, Long-tailed Duck, Stellers Eider and King Eider are counted in dozens and it is well worth to spend a week in these surroundings. Non migrating birds such as Arctic Redpoll, Gyr falcon, Siberian Tit, Willow Grouse and Rock Ptarmigan are safe bets in this area. In the backend of April to the end of May, the migration birds start to appear. White-billed Diver, Pomarine Skua and other seabirds starts to show their appearance in places like Nesseby, Hamningsberget and Kjølnes Lighthouse close to Berlevåg. On good days, more than half a million sea birds are passing the most famous sighting points. Black-legged Kittiwake and Northern Fulmar, are the most common ones, though, thousands of Razorbills and Brunnich’s Guillemot are passing these places.
May is a very busy month; it is like an explosion of birds in Varanger. Ruff is busy with lekking, Red-necked Phalaropes are gathering in the small lakes to rest, before they are heading to their nesting places on the Russian tundra, thousands of Red Knots are feeding in the nearby beaches. Most of the King Eiders has already left this area but there are still dozens of Stellers Eiders down in the port and on the surrounding area.
In the first week of June there is a myriad of birds here and it is like a never ending musical with bird songs. The Red-throated Pipit and Lapland Bunting are dominating the sparrow fauna together with Bluethroat and Yellow Wagtail. In years with good access to rodents you will find that the Rough-legged Buzzard, Long-tailed Skua and Short-eared Owl are breeding in good numbers here. Shore Lark and Dotterell are breeding on the top of the surrounding mountains as well, and the Temminck’s Stint is busy along the estuaries and shores.
The end of June is the best time for rare species in Varanger. Birds such as Greater Spotted Eagle, White-winged Lark, Little Curlew, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Caspian Plover,Semipalmated Plover, Bridle Tern Laughing Gull, Ross’s Gull, Spectacled Eider and Soft-plumaged Petrel have all been observed during summer.
The breeding season is ending in the beginning of August and the migration birds are leaving this area. However, there are still thousands of waders to find in the marshlands and on the beaches. The Little Stint and the Dunlin are the dominating species here at this time of the year but most of the arctic waders are represented untill late September. August can offer fantastic sightings of seabirds on their journey to warmer countries. Manx Shearwater, European Storm-petrel, Storm-petrel, Red Phalarope and every now and then we might spot a Sabine’s Gull.
In October the winter bids starts to appear in Varanger fjord. Thousands of King Eiders, Stellers Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks are filling the fjord together with White-billed Divers.
We have several holiday houses in Varanger, they are all connected with our self-guiding program for birds. In June we are arranging guided tours to Varanger and Pasvik.
Welcome!
Read more about birding in Varanger, accommodation in Varanger and guided or self-guided birdwatching in Varanger on www.bird.dintur.no
