ARCTIC WINTER DUCKS AT BÅTSFJORD

Male King Eider shot in the morning twilight with the reflections from a harbour light

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 2800

Its been a dream for some time to go to photograph arctic ducks in the sheltered harbour of Båtsfjord, a small fisherman's village on the rough Varanger coast on the northern tip of Norway. With initiative and great company from / with photographer colleague Bjørn Erik Hellang we went there in second half of March 2020. The trick with the birds is to feed the local Sea Urchins (kråkeboller) with fish leftovers, the urchins come in big numbers and cover the bottom ... and arctic ducks like King Eiders (Prakærfugl), Longtailed Ducks (Havelle) and Stellers Eider (Stellerand) + Common Eiders come in big numbers in early mornings to revel on the urchins. Best time of year to go there for this purpose is February & March ... after the mid winter permanent darkness is gone and before the birds go to their arctic breeding grounds in (mainly) russian Sibiria .... A great photographic experience !! ... and the new manager has creative ideas for next years shooting !!! 

Accommodation, food & service : First Class !!! 

All bookings of hide & accommodation is done through Båtsfjord Hotel (post@baatsfjord.com)

A winterly visit to Båtsfjord can easily be combined with artic seabirds colonies at Hornøya nearby the city of Vardø and with possible owls, Willow Grouse & the Pine Grosbeak feeding place in Pasvik. (Pine Grosbeak contact : Ben-Arne Sotkajærvi).

TEST : Reflections in the waves from a "planted light" on the nearby harbours edge gave ideas for King Eider photography in the morning twilight.

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 1000

Male King Eider shot in the morning twilight with the reflections from a harbour light

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 2000

            Male King Eider shot in the morning twilight with the reflections from a harbour light

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 2800

Male King Eider shot in the morning twilight with the reflections from a harbour light

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 2800

Male King Eider shot in the morning twilight with the reflections from a permanent harbour light

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 5600

Male King Eider shot in the morning twilight with the reflections from a nearby red building .... highlighted by a red fender hanging on the pier`s edge

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 2800

Portrait of male King Eider

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/6,3, 1/2500, ISO 5600

Male King Eider

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,5, 1/1600, ISO 640

Male King Eider

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,5, 1/1600, ISO 640

Sunrise with male King Eider

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/3200, ISO 1000

Male King Eider

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/5,6, 1/2500, ISO 1400

"Gull blandt gråstein" ? Male King Eider swimming with Common Eiders

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/6,3, 1/2500, ISO 5600

Male Longtailed Duck / Havelle

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/1600, ISO 200

Male Longtailed Duck / Havelle in reflected colours of a harbour building 

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,5, 1/1600, ISO 640

Portrait of male Longtailed Duck / Havelle

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,5, 1/1600, ISO 500

Touchdown ! Female Longtailed Duck / Havelle

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/5,0, 1/3200, ISO 1100

Male Stellers Eider / Stellerand

Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/6,3, 1/1600, ISO 1600

The floating hide for arctic ducks inside Båtsfjord`s sheltered harbour

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Inside the floating hide for arctic ducks in Båtsfjord. Each blue XPS plate is a optional shooting opening with possible low angle with both backlight and frontlight. 

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