At the beginning of June, my friend AXEL and I embarked on our first trip to the Varanger Peninsula. Varanger is renowned for the incredible variety of bird species that spend the summer months on its Arctic tundra.
Thanks to thorough research and lots of helpful advice beforehand, we felt well-prepared for the adventure. Each day was focused on seeking out specific target species, but we often had unexpected and exciting encounters along the way. One thing quickly became clear — every night brought something to see. And yes, night is the best time for photography.
This kind of trip isn’t for everyone, but it’s amazing how much energy you get from the wildlife encounters and how little sleep you actually need to sustain a week packed with photography.
We were very happy with what we accomplished over the week and incredibly grateful for all the support we received before the trip, as well as for the friendly people we met along the way.
The purpose of this portfolio is to showcase the diversity of this extraordinary place — and to share some of the photos I’m especially proud of.
My personal highlights
The full story
Wood sandpiper
Willow grouse
Ruff
Arctic tern
Puffin
Red knot
European shag
Red-necked phalarope
Common guillemot
Ruff
Red-necked phalarope
Redwing
Temmincks stint
Puffin
Golden plover
Willow grouse
Arctic skua
Little stint
European shag
Ruff
Puffin
Redwing
Long-tailed skua
Ruff
Red-necked phalarope
Long-tailed skua
Puffin
Willow grouse
Long-tailed skua
Whimbrel
Lapland longspur
Red-necked phalarope
Whimbrel
Puffin
Ruff
Common guillemot
Purple sandpiper
Willow grouse
Long-tailed duck
Puffin
Black-legged kittiwake
Long-tailed skua
Common guillemot
Puffin
Dunlin
Herring gull
Red-necked phalarope
Golden plover
Willow grouse
Long-tailed duck
Willow grouse
Whimbrel
Common guillemot
Dunlin
Golden plover
Puffin
Whimbrel
Temmincks stint
European shag
Red-necked phalarope
Long-tailed duck
Lapland longspur
Black guillemot
Rock ptarmigan
Bar-tailed godwit
Little stint
Common guillemot
White-tailed eagle
Temmincks stint
Whimbrel
Puffin
Willow grouse
Temmincks stint
Common guillemot
Whimbrel
Little stint
European shag
Smew
Long-tailed skua
Red-necked phalarope
Little stint
Red-necked phalarope
Bar-tailed godwit
Arctic skua
Long-tailed duck
Puffin
Little stint
Long-tailed skua
Sanderling
Skuas
Golden plover
Rock ptarmigan
Common guillemot
Dunlin
Red-necked phalarope
Arctic tern
Ruff
Common ringed plover
Black-legged kittiwake
Arctic skua
Willow grouse
Common guillemot
Temmincks stint
Ruddy turnstone
Willow grouse
Whimbrel
Little stint
Long-tailed skua
European shag
Redwing
Dunlin
Puffin
Little stint
Black-legged kittiwake
Whimbrel
Temmincks stint
Arctic tern
Willow grouse
Common guillemot
Ruff
Lapland longspur
Red-necked phalarope
White-tailed eagle
Temmincks stint
Puffin
European shag
Rock ptarmigan
Long-tailed duck
Ruddy turnstone
Little stint
Long-tailed skua
Rock ptarmigan
Willow grouse
Temmincks stint
Long-tailed duck
Redshank
Whimbrel
Red-necked phalarope
Long-tailed skua
Redwing
Temmincks stint
Golden plover
Pipit
Ruff
Ruddy turnstone
White-tailed eagle
Whimbrel
Arctic skua
Willow grouse
Willow grouse
Little stint
Arctic tern
Dunlin
Bar-tailed godwit
Willow grouse
Temmincks stint
Ruff
Red-necked phalarope
Redwing
Common ringed plover
Rock ptarmigan
Black-throated diver
