Hornøya Island (Varanger / Norway). Arctic bird paradise.

Hornøya Island is situated in the Barents Sea, east of Vardø town. It is the easternmost point in Norway.
Near 500 pairs of Brünnich’s Guillemot breed on the birdclif. They nest together with the tightly packed Common Guillemots.
There are approximately 15 000 breeding pairs of Common Guillemot on Hornøya. It is the most numerous bird on the Island.
Honøya guillemot colony is still increasing. Groups of birds are often seen flying together in a line just above the sea surface.
The island is known for a huge Puffin colony. Over 7.5 thousand pairs of puffins breed inside burrows on Hornøya’s grassy slopes and clifftops.
Puffins form long-term pair bonds or relationships. The female lays a single egg, and both parents incubate the egg and feed the chick
Puffins breed in colonies on coasts and islands; several current or former island breeding sites are referred to as Puffin Island.
The European shag is another success story on Hornøya. The population increased massively in number since the 1990s. There are around 1300 pairs breeding now on the island.
Shags are found on the lower levels of the rocky island. They construct basic nests of sticks and seaweed.
Approximately 500 pairs of Razorbill breed among rocks on the birdcliff.
Razorbills dive deep into the sea using their wings and their streamlined bodies to propel themselves toward their prey. They dive up to 120m.
Great black-backed gulls are capable to kill and eat an adult puffin or kittiwake.
On the grassy eastern slope of Hornøya , you can find large numbers of gulls. They also nest on neighbouring Reinøya.
Hornøya is a real arctic bird paradise. It is just amazing place. I've never been so close to so many birds in my life.

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