Willow Grouse

A male willow grouse, Varanger arctic Norway

Whooper Swans

Whooper swans on a remote pond in the highlands of Varanger national park in arctic Norway. 

Bar-tailed Godwit

A Bar-tailed Godwit feeding on the shoreline in Varanger, arctic Norway.

Brown Bears

A mature male and young female brown bear interacting and what appeared to be playing in the boreal forest of eastern Finland.

Western Capercaillie

Western capercaillie photographed at first light deep in the boreal forests of eastern Finland 

Forest Reindeer in north-east Finland

The forest reindeer is a scarce sub-species of reindeer found mostly in the wilder parts of eastern Finland.  Unlike the semi-domestic reindeer found in northern Finland they prefer the mature densely wooded habitat found in the more remote areas of Finland. Every effort is made to keep the semi-domestic reindeer and forest reindeer separate to ensure the two types do not breed. This has meant hundreds of kilometres of fencing being erected and maintained.

Eurasian Brown Bear

A female brown bear surrounded by late autumn colours in the boreal forest of eastern Finland

Aurora Borealis

The aurora borealis in eastern Finland, late September.

Eurasian Brown Bear

A female brown bear surrounded by late autumn colours in the boreal forest of eastern Finland

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

A juvenile sparrowhawk in the boreal forest of eastern Finland in late autumn colours.