Temminck's Stint

A very small, uncommon European shorebird (wader to the Brits), captured late morning not far from where I blipped yesterday's Redshank just over twelve hours ago. Temminck's stint (Calidris temminckii), breeding in Norway and a few other areas in the far North. An expert UK birder with our tour noted that he had never had such a close look at the species (it's a rare migrant in the UK).

Today was the best birding day yet, including common goldeneye, red-breasted merganser, golden plover, little ringed plover red-breasted phalarope, dotterel (!), ring ouzel, lapland bunting (in addition to the stint). Otherwise we've seen numerous musk ox, reindeer, common cranes, long-tailed duck, long-tailed skua (jaeger), and bluethroat. (These are just the standouts!)

The lodge (Kongsvold Fjeldstue) is excellent--especially its restaurant, which serves genuinely haut cuisine.