Braving the Arctic Winds: The Short-Eared Owl Bonanza of Varanger
Porsangerfjorden
There is a distinct, raw beauty to Varanger in late May. It’s a place where spring and winter engage in a violent tug-of-war, and as a wildlife photographer, you quickly learn to expect the unexpected. But this year, the Arctic subverted our expectations in ways both challenging and profoundly rewarding.
To put it mildly, the weather was brutal. We were met with biting cold temperatures and fierce, relentless winds that whipped across the tundra. It was the kind of weather that tests your gear, your patience, and your layers of clothing. Unfortunately, the harsh conditions took a visible toll on the region's birdlife. Many species seemed to be keeping a low profile, struggling against the elements, and the usual bustling bird activity felt noticeably subdued.
But nature always has a way of balancing the scales.
While the freezing gales pushed some wildlife into hiding, a massive population boom of small rodents— voles—had triggered a spectacular ecological chain reaction. And for us, that meant one thing: the year of the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus).
An Owl on Every Post
While other birds kept their heads down, the Short-eared Owls were thriving. The sheer abundance of rodents had drawn them to the peninsula in incredible numbers. Over the course of our trip, we counted more than 15 individual Short-eared Owls patrolling the tundra.
Seeing this many of these elegant, diurnal hunters in such a short span of time was a photographer's dream. Their piercing yellow eyes and effortless, buoyant flight patterns—even against the stiff Varanger winds—offered endless opportunities to capture the essence of Arctic predation.
But the true highlight of the trip wasn't just observing them in passing; it was the drama unfolding right on our doorstep.
Front Row Seats to the Spectacle
By absolute stroke of luck, a pair of Short-eared Owls had decided to nest directly outside our cabin. For a few unforgettable days, our window became a blind, and the tundra right outside became a theater.
Because these owls are active during the day, the endless Arctic light allowed us to witness their entire intimate cycle:
The Aerial Displays: We watched the male perform breathtaking, acrobatic courtship flights high in the sky, clapping his wings together in a distinct rhythmic pattern to impress his mate.
The Hunt: With the rodent population booming, we were treated to masterclasses in hunting. The owls would hover effortlessly against the gale-force winds before dropping like stones into the scrub, almost always emerging with prey.
The Intimacy: We were privileged enough to witness and photograph their courtship feeding and mating rituals—a rare, powerful glimpse into the continuation of life in such a harsh environment.
The Takeaway
Varanger never guarantees an easy ride. It is a landscape defined by its extremes, and this trip was a stark reminder of how volatile the Arctic can be. Yet, despite the numbing cold and the wind that threatened to knock over our tripods, the magic of the Short-eared Owls turned a difficult expedition into one for the history books. Here are a few images from our trip.
