Nesseby
Nesseby Nature Reserve has many different biotopes, making the variety of species very diverse. This is probably the locality in Finnmark where you’ll encounter the largest number of different species. Seabirds, ducks, waders, birds of prey, and passerines are all found here. Of the waders, it is worth mentioning that Bar-tailed Godwit, Red Knot, Dunlin, and Common Ringed Plover appear in flocks of hundreds of individuals during the migration. Additionally, smaller flocks of Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, and Ruddy Turnstone is not an uncommon sight. In the shallow water areas by the stream outlets, large flocks of geese, ducks, and gulls are often found. White-tailed Eagle is common here, and your chances of seeing a Gyrfalcon or Short-eared Owl looking for food are quite good.
Another good tip is to look for passerines in the soft moor and forest terrain on the southern side of the highway E75. Among others, Bluethroat, Sedge Warbler, and Red-throated Pipit breeds here. And during the migration, you might find Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll, and Western Yellow Wagtail. Moreover, you should know that Nesseby harbour is an excellent place to look for Steller’s Eider. From December through May, smaller flocks of this popular species could be seen.
Seabird Scouting around Nesseby
One of the great highlights around Nesseby is seabird scouting. When the east wind is strong, sea birds are forced deeper into Varangerfjorden, and they tend to fly around Nesseby a few times before leaving. Far out on the foreland you can find shelter while watching pretty close up everything that passes by. Common sights are gulls, Northern Fulmars, auks, Northern Gannet, skuas, jaegers, and loons. And actually, an occasional Leach’s Storm Petrel, a species very rarely seen on the mainland, can be seen here.
Manx Shearwater, European Storm Petrel, Little Gull, and Sabine’s Gull have also been seen many times, so you better prepare for anything when you go here. Even a Soft-plumaged Petrel showed up on 6th June 2009.