NORTHERN FINLAND, JANUARY 2020

Hazelgrouse / Jerpe

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0 + 1,4 conv = 850 mm, f/5,6, 1/160, ISO 2800

Once again northern Finland, 2 weeks, mid January ... trying to capture the arctic winter magic. Short days & arctic twilights, usually deadly cold ... however not so deadly this time. Climate disaster !
Still : I love Finland, great wildlife, amazing taiga nature and great people !
Pictures shot in Kuusamo, Utsjoki & Kuhmo.

A warm thank you to Markus Varesvuo, Jame Helander & Ville Heikinen !  

Hazelgrouse / Jerpe

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/5,0, 1/320, ISO 5000

Hazelgrouse / Jerpe

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0 + 1,4 conv = 850 mm, f/5,6, 1/160, ISO 800

Ptarmigan / Fjellrype ... not so easy target with arctic twilights and pretty shy birds

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0 + 1,4 conv = 850 mm, f/5,6, 1/640, ISO 6400

Ptarmigan / Fjellrype

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0 + 1,4 conv = 850 mm, f/5,6, 1/250, ISO 3200

Ptarmigan / Fjellrype

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0 + 1,4 conv = 850 mm, f/5,6, 1/250, ISO 2200

Arctic twilight with moon in high alpine region Utsjoki Finland, close to Tana, Finnmark. 

Snowscooter was legally used for transportation, not for finding birds ! 

Very short days with sun not visible below horizon, VERY long nights !

Any wildlife photographers wet dream is a cooperative hawk owl in white winterly conditions.
The owl is typically perched in outlook position to monitor small prey below.

Nikon D5, Nikkor 400 2,8, f/4,5, 1/640, ISO 2200

Hawkowls are relatively small birds with a fast and unsteady flight. A strong and unsteady wind makes the flight even more unpredictable. A great challenge to any autofocus system ... and any photographer !

Nikon D5, Nikkor 400 2,8, f/2,8, 1/2500, ISO 12800

Hawkowl / haukugle

Nikon D5, Nikkor 400 2,8, f/2,8, 1/2500, ISO 2800

 Eye contact with hawkowl / haukugle !

Nikon D5, Nikkor 400 2,8, f/2,8, 1/2500, ISO 2800

Hawkowl / haukugle ... low flight

Nikon D5, Nikkor 400 2,8, f/2,8, 1/2500, ISO 5000

Hawkowl / haukugle take off

Nikon D5, Nikkor 400 2,8, f/2,8, 1/4000, ISO 4500

Hawkowl / haukugle

Nikon D5, Nikkor 70-200 / 200 mm 2,8, f/2,8, 1/3200, ISO 3600

Hawkowl / haukugle

Nikon D5, Nikkor 400 2,8, f/3,5, 1/3200, ISO 5000

Hawkowl / haukugle

Nikon D5, Nikkor 400 2,8, f/2,8, 1/2500, ISO 4500

Hawkowl / haukugle

Nikon D5, Nikkor 400 2,8, f/2,8, 1/2500, ISO 2000

Hawkowl / haukugle

Nikon D5, Nikkor 400 2,8, f/2,8, 1/4000, ISO 4500

Hawkowl / haukugle

Nikon D5, Nikkor 400 2,8, f/4,5, 1/3200, ISO 9000

Black grouse / orrfugl

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0 + 1,4 converter = 850 mm, f/5,6, 1/160, ISO 2800