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Scenes from northern Finland, heading for the Arctic Circle

Photos of Audubon Lapland, June 2002, by Jack Dodge, Click thumbnails for larger image

Finnish birding guide Toni Eskelin, Audubon study leader Roger Harris and bus driver Hanski Karppinen, l to r	Hotel Vihiluoto in Oulu was our first lodging in Finland.	The meals were served buffet style in the hotel dining room, and always included pickled or smoked fish and meats.	Before long, we were off looking for owls near Oulu.
A well set among birches makes a good spot for birdwatching.	Sunlight filtered through the tall trees in the Finnish woods. Moss covered the grounds and formed "troll homes."	These trail markers in Urho Kekkonen National Park illustrate why K's are so needed in Finnish sign kits.	Resting in spite of the mosquitoes while waiting for Toni to spot a Hawk Owl in the park.
Just a few steps, and you're over the border ... to Russia	Or, you could "borrow" a fishing boat and row there. Finnish fishers have permission to use the lake.	Hotel Ivalo was our home going to and coming from the Arctic Circle.	This broad calm river ran behind the hotel in Ivalo and was visible from our window in the 24 hours a day of sunlight.
Quick-growing pansies are popular decorative flowers during the short Finnish summer.	The rapids at Oulanka National Park.	Perhaps the most memorable bird of the trip was the "crazy capercaille" who battled Toni for his territory.	Over the Arctic Circle, and on to Norway
Scenes from Helsinki ...
Filled with Finns, Russians and other visitors, downtown Helsinki has many tempting shops.	Near the harbor, is a broad promenade.	The early morning market was filled with fresh vegetables, crafts and flea market finds.	A mallard duck goes shopping for hand-outs at the morning market.

   On to the Sami and reindeer      North to Vardo, Norway     Trip bird list