Category Archives: Year 3

Norwegian Arctic Birding

Year 3

It goes with out saying one does not travel 225 miles north of the Arctic Circle to Tromos, Norway in late winter, before the Spring migration starts for a good birding experience. Molly and I made this trip to enjoy the gorgeous stark Norwegian coast via Hurtigruten in winter and then to chase the Northern Lights (with some cross-country skiing during the day), but what the heck … when will I next be in Tromso?! Thus, two afternoons ago I grabbed the rent-a-car and spent some time birding. Although my knowledge of where to find birds in the Arctic is extremely limited, given the snow and cold found inland and at elevations, I figured one should stay right next the the coast (i.e. the Gulf Stream). In a little over 90 minutes (my time available) I got good views of:

  • A white tailed eagle (being chased by a seagull)
  • Common Eiders (two large flocks)
  • Mallards (small flock)
  • Magpies (about ten birds)
  • A few ravens
  • Plenty of gulls (I don’t know my gulls … sorry)

Here are a some images from my Arctic birding experience …

Vistas to give you an impression of the beauty of the coast line north of Tromso, Norway. In the latter two photos you can see the flocks of Common Eiders.
Y3-M03-Norway-Arctic-Birding-Vista-1 Y3-M03-Norway-Arctic-Birding-Vista-3 Y3-M03-Norway-Arctic-Birding-Vista-2

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Close-ups of the Common Eider flock
Y3-M03-Norway-Arctic-Birding-Common-Eiders-Flock-1 Y3-M03-Norway-Arctic-Birding-Common-Eiders-Flock-2

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Two magpies survey the situation
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Found one Common Eider eating … some kind of shellfish for which it dives.
Y3-M03-Norway-Arctic-Birding-1-Common-Eider-Eating Y3-M03-Norway-Arctic-Birding-2-Common-Eider-Eating Y3-M03-Norway-Arctic-Birding-3-Common-Eider-Eating

X-89 Alien Planet Buster Aurora Borealis Attack

Year 3,

Alien invaders attacked Mother Earth last night. Using their X-89 planet buster ray gun, the aliens blasted the mountain top upon which Molly and Rich had just been standing. The loving couple from northeast Minnesota barely escaped with their lives down a remote road along a fjord in Norway north of the Arctic Circle.

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The road was now too dangerous, and the two scared humans tried hiking up away from the road to reach a mountain pass and hoped for safety. The aliens took another shot at the same mountain as before. Rich and Molly thought, perhaps they were were safe?

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Oh my, no … just before they reached the pass, the invaders blew it to smithereens, their hoped for safe haven was now an eruption of green pulsating rays.

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With no other option, Molly and Rich turned around and started to retrace their path down the mountain through the deep snow, which is when the worst attack occurred … The Circle of Fire! Yes, the aliens stopped targeting specific locations, and used their planet buster X-Y341 weapon which lights the sky on fire, burning up oxygen in swirling bars of fire. Good bye planet earth, we only hope this blog post can be finished and warn …. (transmission interrupted, web connection lost).

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Arctic Aurora!

Year 3,

My wife and I are in Norway, north of the Arctic Circle. We took the Norwegian ferry system up the coast, and last night we hit the jackpot in a mountain pass between two fjords. Everywhere else was cloudy, but the elevation got us away from the Gulf Stream which tends to manufacture clouds in the Arctic.

I call the first photo, Stairway to Heaven! Only a ten second exposure at ISO 800 (f 2.8). The show was amazing. For 45 minutes till the clouds rolled in these rays would start at the tops of various mountains, and then grow to the Zenith and beyond.

For those of you who understand Aurora Borealis conditions, I have also included a screenshot of Ovation Aurora and what the Northern Lights conditions were like when we got back to our hotel. The Kp index was running between 7 and 8!!!

Finally, Molly has published a review of our Hurtigruten Ferry/Cruise experience. If you ever wish to see the Norwegian Coast in winter it’s worth a read.

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