Red-throated Diver Two on a small roadside lake near Utsjoki were, surprisingly, the only ones seen
Black-throated Diver A total of 21 was logged, mostly in pairs on larger lakes. One flew high overhead at Liminganlahti, and a max. of four were on a lake near Kuusamo
White-billed Diver A distant, but eminently identifiable adult was off Kiberg in Varangerfjord, and another large diver sp., probably of this species, was even further offshore there
Red-necked Grebe Three noted on lakes around Kuusamo, and a further three were at Gammelstadsviken
Great Crested Grebe 63 noted at Liminganlahti, and in southern Sweden
Gannet 2 flew past at Hamningberg
Cormorant Two in Varangerfjord, and a further 300+ near Nykoping, mostly in a huge colony at Labro Angar
Shag Only noted in Varangerfjord, where exceedingly common
Grey Heron Eight noted at various Baltic shore sites
Bittern One heard booming at Liminganlahti
Mute Swan Only recorded in southern Sweden, where a common bird
Whooper Swan Up to 300 summering non-breeders were present at Liminganlahti, and 20 were also noted at various roadside lakes in Lapland, many apparently nesting
Taiga Bean Goose One at Liminganlahti, 1 at Hirvisuo Bog, 4 north of Ivalo, 2 at Nesseby and 1 at Hamningberg
Greylag Goose About 50 at Liminganlahti, and a further 17 or so in southern Sweden
Canada Goose Only noted at Lulea and in southern Sweden, where quite common and breeding at suitable lakes
Barnacle Goose Two flying north at Liminganlahti provided exciting evidence of late Arctic passage, whereas 73 adults with any number of goslings at Strandstuguviken looked deeply plastic, although we are assured they are wild breeders..
Shelduck Four at Liminganlahti, 5 in Varangerfjord, and 12 near Nykoping
Wigeon Recorded on most days in low numbers - 32 in total, but max. only 10
Gadwall Only seen near Nykoping - 8 noted
Teal Recorded on every day but one, mostly in twos and threes, but 80 forming a dense raft at Nesseby
Mallard Recorded daily, but mostly in single figures. Max. only 10 at Gammelstadsviken
Pintail Up to 4 at Liminganlahti, and 2 at Petkula Bog
Garganey Three drakes on two days at Liminganlahti
Shoveler About 10 seen daily at Liminganlahti
Pochard Only two seen - drakes at Gammelstadsviken and at Labro Angar
Tufted Duck Frequently noted - about 20 most days, max. 25 on three occasions, but absent from the far north
Common Eider Very common along the shore of Varangerfjord, with perhaps upwards of 1000 birds seen each day
King Eider A pleasant surprise was the presence of large numbers along Varangerfjord - we counted at least 120 birds. Most were immature birds, but we did see at least 2 good drakes
Steller's Eider Again, we were relieved to find lots of this species at Varangerfjord. After a tension-relieving first-summer drake at Nesseby, the next two days produced over 250, including three very fine drakes
Long-tailed Duck Two on high lakes near Gednje, and about 80 noted in various bays along Varangerfjord
Common Scoter Fourteen at Petkula Bog, and a further 33 noted at Varangerfjord
Velvet Scoter Four at a breeding lake north of Ivalo, and a further six at Nesseby
Goldeneye A common bird on all suitable lakes, and also common at Liminganlahti and along Varangerfjord. Three broods totalling over 20 young were seen on ponds at Tullgarn Palace
Smew It was wonderful to see this stunning bird on its breeding grounds. White Nuns outnumbered Redheads by 8 to 7, on a variety of roadside lakes from Kuusamo to Petkula Bog
Red-breasted Merganser Frequent at Liminganlahti and along Varangerfjord, max. c.20 on two days
Goosander About 250 in a dense flock at Liminganlahti, and probably at least that many along Varangerfjord, including some large flocks. Three, including a female with chicks, were at Strandstuguviken
Osprey One from the car near Lulea, and three near Nykoping
Honey Buzzard Three single birds seen around Oulu
White-tailed Eagle The crowning moment of the trip came when five immature birds were seen flying around together at Labro Angar
Marsh Harrier One at Nykoping airport, 8 sightings at Liminganlahti (but only one female), one at Gammelstadsviken, and 2 at Labro Angar
Sparrowhawk Two around Oulu, and another near Lulea
Goshawk One over the highway near Oulu, and 2 at Valtavaara
Common Buzzard One near Lulea, and another 2 near Nykoping
Rough-legged Buzzard Six noted in Lapland and around Varangerfjord, but much more surprising was another near Lulea, only a mile or so from the Baltic coast
Kestrel Six noted at various sites
Merlin One hunting near Vadso
Gyr Falcon After a dip at a well-known eyrie site, a second visit with better gen. produced the goods : a superb adult perched on the rock face for almost an hour
Willow Grouse A pair at Kilopaa hill, and a male there on the return visit, a male by the road at Gednje, and four males flying around on islands in the River Tana near Harrelv
Ptarmigan A superb male in almost full winter plumage on the rock screes at Kilopaa. This bird was obligingly (a) white and (b) tame in appalling foggy conditions
Black Grouse Two males at Hirvisuo Bog, and a further 2 near Valtavaara
Hazel Grouse One of the highlights of the trip was the location of a pair feeding high up in a birch tree at Viipus camping, Valtavaara, allowing prolonged views. Remarkably, another two were by the roadside near Kuusamo, and another male was at Valtavaara ridge, all on the same day!
Crane Up to 90 around Liminganlahti, and another seen soaring high near Nykoping
Coot A very few at Liminganlahti, and quite common in southern Sweden
Oystercatcher Up to 10 at Liminganlahti, common around Varangerfjord, and two at Strandstuguviken
Lapwing Up to 25 daily around Oulu and Liminganlahti, and 12 noted in southern Sweden
Golden Plover 1+ at Hirvisuo Bog, and about 20 noted around Varangerfjord
Ringed Plover Five at Liminganlahti, numerous at Varangerfjord, and two at Strandstuguviken
Little Ringed Plover Two were at Oulu oil port
Dotterel A stunning pair in full breeding plumage were watched right by the road at the top of Kaunispaa Hill, south of Ivalo
Black-tailed Godwit Up to 10 noted at Liminganlahti
Bar-tailed Godwit A total of 31 seen around Varangerfjord
Whimbrel Just two seen - singles at Liminganlahti and north of Ivalo
Curlew Common around Liminganlahti, and a few scattered records further north
Spotted Redshank Just two seen - a spectacular pair, in full breeding plumage, displaying noisily at Petkula Bog
Common Redshank Noted almost daily, max. 15
Common Greenshank 20 noted on 8 days
Green Sandpiper A male displaying near Oulu, and 2 more near Kuusamo
Wood Sandpiper Much more frequent than the previous species - 17 noted on 8 days
Common Sandpiper 9 noted on 4 days
Turnstone 19+ seen at Varangerfjord, including some superb displaying birds
Red-necked Phalarope After 25 at Petkula Bog and 2 more north of Ivalo, a further 31 were noted at various sites around Varangerfjord, though not in huge concentrations. Finally, a late migrant was found at Gammelstadsviken
Woodcock One flew over the road near Tornio on the Finland/Sweden border, and another flew by near Vadso
Common Snipe 27 noted on 6 days, many of them drumming birds, and one seen singing from a telegraph wire near Kuusamo!
Sanderling 13 at Vardo was the only record
Little Stint 2 at Vardo with other Calidris waders
Temminck's Stint Eight at Oulu oil port, two north of Ivalo, and a further 25+ around Varangerfjord. Many of these birds were indulging in their amazing aerial display flights
Purple Sandpiper Just 3 seen, all at Vardo harbour
Dunlin A few around Varangerfjord
Broad-billed Sandpiper Thirteen roosting and feeding on grassy island at Liminganlahti in high water conditions, and a further 4 displaying overhead at Petkula Bog
Ruff One of the best things about this trip was the frequency of Ruff leks. We saw at least 100 birds, mostly males, and some at very close range. Most frequent at Liminganlahti, but also frequent further north in Lapland
Arctic Skua About 50 noted around Varangerfjord
Long-tailed Skua 10+ on the snowfields around Gednje, 7 flying past Nesseby, and another 2 at Hamningberg
Common Gull Common throughout; missed on only one day
Herring Gull Noted every day but one, usually in small numbers, apart from around Varangerfjord, where abundant
Lesser Black-backed Gull Three at Liminganlahti, five near Valtavaara, and common around Varangerfjord and in southern Sweden
Great Black-backed Gull One at Liminganlahti, 11 at Varangerfjord, and 2 at Strandstuguviken
Black-headed Gull Noted most days in varying numbers
Little Gull Frequently seen, with up to fifty most days, apart from around Varangerfjord and in southern Sweden
Kittiwake Abundant in Varangerfjord, with many 1000s around Kiberg, Vardo and Hornoya, and especially Store Ekkeroy
Black Tern Just one seen, at Liminganlahti
Caspian Tern One distantly off Oulu oil port, 1 at Gammelstadsviken, nine at Strandstuguviken, and another at Labro Angar
Common Tern Common at Liminganlahti and Oulu, and a few in southern Sweden
Arctic Tern Breeding in small numbers at Oulu oil port, a few over various bogs in northern Lapland, and very common at Varangerfjord
Little Tern Two at Liminganlahti and two later on at Oulu oil port constituted quite scarce sightings for the area
Razorbill At least 100 at Hornoya Island
Brunnich's Guillemot More than 50 counted at Hornoya Island
Common Guillemot 500+ at Hornoya Island, and two next day off Nesseby
Black Guillemot 25+ noted in Varangerfjord, particularly at Hornoya Island
Puffin 100+ at Hornoya Island
Rock Pigeon Various feral types noted near habitation, but one pure-looking bird was at Vardo harbour
Collared Dove One at Liminganlahti, and another from the car near Lulea
Wood Pigeon A few noted on six days
Cuckoo About 20 heard or seen on seven days, and particularly common around the Kuusamo area
Ural Owl A male showed wonderfully at a nest site near Oulu, threat posturing and calling
Great Grey Owl A female gave amazing and prolonged views on the nest at a site near Oulu
Hawk Owl Perhaps the single highest point of the trip was the location of a male near Hirvisuo Bog. He called constantly, in full view, from the top of a tree, for almost half an hour. The female also showed up, carrying prey across to the young, one of whom was also visible in the Goldeneye nest-box the adults had used
Tengmalm's Owl A female showed briefly in her nest box at a site near Oulu
Short-eared Owl One was seen display flighting by the road near Rovaniemi
Swift A very few noted near Lulea and Kuusamo, and then found to be quite common in southern Sweden
Great Spotted Woodpecker 10 noted on seven days
Green Woodpecker Two heard around Nykoping
Sky Lark A few around Liminganlahti and in southern Sweden
Shore Lark A total of 10 around Varangerfjord
Sand Martin About fifty noted on 4 days
Barn Swallow Seen almost daily, but much more common further south
House Martin 40+ noted on 3 days
Grey-headed Wagtail About 25 at Liminganlahti, and a further 10 or so from Kuusamo to Ivalo
White Wagtail Seen in varying numbers every day
Meadow Pipit Up to 10 seen almost daily
Tree Pipit Quite common around Kuusamo, but absent further north
Rock Pipit One in song on Hornoya Island
Great Grey Shrike One at a boggy site near Ivalo
Waxwing Heard at Valtavaara, and then a further three sightings of 3-4 birds further north, as far as Utsjoki
Wren One heard singing near Oulu
Robin Heard at Valtavaara, and about four near Nykoping
Bluethroat We were sufficiently lucky to see eight singing males, at various sites from Hirvisuo Bog northwards
Common Redstart 14 noted on 7 days, mostly singing males
Whinchat 13 noted on 4 days, all at more southerly sites
Northern Wheatear About 35 noted on seven days, with most around Varangerfjord
Blackbird Only seen in southern Sweden, where quite common
Fieldfare A delightfully common bird, seen daily, and with young in the south
Redwing Less common than Fieldfare, but still seen and heard almost daily
Song Thrush Four heard singing around Kuusamo, and another four seen near Nykoping
Mistle Thrush Seven seen at widely scattered localities
Sedge Warbler Common at Liminganlahti, and a few scattered singing birds elsewhere
Reed Warbler Only heard near Nykoping (2+)
Icterine Warbler Two superb singing males showed very well at Tullgarn Palace
Willow Warbler Perhaps the commonest passerine - noted daily
Chiffchaff Three heard and one seen at Valtavaara - of the Scandinavian form abietenus
Wood Warbler Two in song at Tullgarn Palace, and a further 2 seen at Labro Angar
Blackcap Present in good numbers in southern Sweden
Garden Warbler Two at Liminganlahti, and a further 4+ singing near Nykoping
Whitethroat A male in song at Stockholm Arlanda airport, four at Tullgarn Palace, and another at Strandstuguviken
Goldcrest Heard in pine woods on five days
Spotted Flycatcher Nine noted on five days, mostly further south
Pied Flycatcher 27 noted on 10 days, mostly singing males
Long-tailed Tit Just two seen, at Labro Angar. Their racial identity was not confirmed - we were too busy with White-tailed Eagles!
Willow Tit A male in song near Oulu, and another at Kuusamo
Siberian Tit One at Valtavaara, two at Utsjoki, one heard near Harrelv, and another just north of Ivalo
Crested Tit Two at Strandstuguviken
Great Tit About 20 noted on 9 days
Blue Tit Heard at Liminganlahti, and a further seven seen in southern Sweden
Nuthatch An adult was watched feeding two juveniles at Tullgarn Palace
Treecreeper One at Tullgarn Palace
Yellowhammer Present around Liminganlahti, Kuusamo and the Baltic coast
Ortolan Bunting Five noted around Liminganlahti
Little Bunting A cracking singing male was found in bushes on the boggy shores of Lake Toranki, Kuusamo
Rustic Bunting After a lot of searching, and some good gen., we found a fantastic singing male in a wet spruce/birch wood on the outskirts of Ivalo. Thanks, Heikki!
Reed Bunting Quite common in a variety of wet habitats. Absent from northern Lapland and Norway
Lapland Bunting Nine singing males and two females around Varangerfjord
Snow Bunting Seven noted around Varangerfjord
Chaffinch Common everywhere apart from Varangerfjord
Brambling Common in pine woods around Oulu, Kuusamo and Ivalo
Greenfinch 12 around Liminganlahti, and a further nine in southern Sweden
Siskin Very common around Kuusamo, and 1 near Ivalo
Goldfinch Four at Tullgarn Palace
Common Redpoll Heard near Ivalo, and four seen near Harrelv
Arctic Redpoll Three seen at very close range near Harrelv
Common Rosefinch A first-summer male and two female types at Liminganlahti, two more heard singing near Oulu, another (red) male at Tullgarn Palace, and finally one heard from the car in Nykoping
Common Crossbill About five near Oulu, 10 at Valtavaara, and several Crossbill sp. heard there too
House Sparrow Common enough around habitation, even in Varangerfjord
Starling 10+ around Oulu, and a few in southern Sweden
Jay Three near Oulu, and one heard at Tullgarn Palace
Siberian Jay Four at Valtavaara, 2 near Ivalo, and a further 3+ in woods north of there
Magpie Common - seen daily
Jackdaw Common around the Baltic coast
Hooded Crow Seen daily in varying numbers, max. 20+
Rook 2+ near Liminganlahti
Raven 23 noted on nine days