Unforgettable Finland & Arctic Norway

Posted Jun 2, 2026 by Steve Howell

Steve Howell reports at the culmination of an unforgettable tour to Northern Finland and Arctic Norway...

...where this Great Gray Owl stared sleepily at us from her massive nest…

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Until the male flew in with food before he moved to a nearby tree and fell asleep!

Steve Howell

This hunting Northern Hawk Owl was another favorite, …

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...while the grouse showing featured this stunning male Willow Ptarmigan.

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Weather varied from snow storm…

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...to glorious sunshine (here with the striking Vardo art structure termed ‘leviathan’)

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Black and white (and red!) featured often in the palette, here a dainty adult Little Gull…

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And here a Black Guillemot in rarely seen walking (well, trying to!) mode

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A boreal rainbow of colors ranged from perky Red Squirrels...

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...to this male Yellowhammer, an attractive Old World bunting...

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...and no-less-brilliant male Bluethroats...

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...to brilliant Green Hairstreaks...

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...to the not-so-purple (at this season) Purple Sandpipers.

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The sunlit seabird cliffs of Hornøya provided a fitting finale, with colorful (who knew?) European Shags…

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And ever-popular Atlantic Puffins.

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Our happy group at the Arctic Circle monument along our route.

Steve Howell