Norway - summer 2025

Each summer, my family and I head out on several road trips with our campervan. It’s a mix of relaxation, hiking, and—when the opportunity arises—early mornings and late evenings dedicated to photography. This year, we began our journey in Valdresflye, a fantastic area for observing common mountain species in Norway. One of the highlights there was spotting Horned Larks at the top of Fisketjernnuten—a moment I won’t forget.

In between hiking and cooling off at glacial lakes during the midday heat, we took a detour to Runde, a place we last visited in 2019. While it’s always special to see the puffins, the true highlight this time was watching my 4-year-old son complete the hike up to the top—and back down—on his own.

Before wrapping up our 10-day journey, we spent a day in Rondane National Park, one of our favorite places. Although peak bird activity had passed, I used the evening to scout potential photo spots. Hearing and photographing a buzzard calling from one of the ridgelines was a powerful moment—one that will stay with me for a long time.

The next morning brought one of the trip’s most memorable photo sessions. I hiked to a small wetland and spent several hours with a Common Redshank. The light, the atmosphere, and the bird’s behavior all aligned perfectly—resulting in many images I’m excited to share.

Throughout the trip, we had several unexpected encounters as well: a Common Sandpiper giving alarm calls as a Least Weasel moved along a stream, a White-throated Dipper during a glacial visit, and even a pair of Great Skuas resting in the road on the way down from Runde.

And once again—no Dotterel. But maybe 2026?

My personal highlights