Rock Ptarmigan at Varanger

Out on the Varanger Peninsula, where Finnmark's treeless tundra runs out to meet the Barents Sea, the Rock Ptarmigan is well suited to one of the most exposed landscapes in Arctic Norway. Against the wind-scoured coastal cliffs and open fjords, April offers a good window for finding this species still in its pale winter plumage, blending closely with the lingering snow. Photographers joining Winter Wildlife of Arctic Varanger should be prepared for the stark, open terrain typical of this far northeastern corner of Norway, well above the Arctic Circle. Patience and a willingness to work in these bleak, treeless surroundings will serve well when searching for this well-camouflaged bird.