Last summer was a special one for me as I was able to fulfil a long held dream of photographing white tailed sea eagles in their native territory, north of the Arctic Circle in Northern Norway. I had first travelled to this region in 1959 as a member of a British Schools Exploring Society Expedition, and had spotted several these magnificent birds, but with my simple camera, an” Ilford Sportsman”, been unable to photograph them. This area of Northern Norway and Sweden that we had explored is now a World Heritage Site, the home of the Sami people, who are nomadic reindeer herders. The particular sector I was working in was the beautiful but remote Sarek National Park, and during our stay I was privileged to witness both the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights, and one of the first Russian Sputnik space capsules crossing the sky towards the nearby Russian Space Centre.
In June 2015 we travelled by “Hurtigruten” the working boats that ply their trade along the Norwegian Coast, and whilst north of the Lofoten Islands, within the Arctic Circle had transferred to a smaller vessel to explore the land of the sea eagle. As we entered the majestic Trollfjord, with high snow covered mountains all around us, we saw our first pair of eagles. The captain and crew had located the pair, and the noise of feeding herring gulls attracted the eagles towards our boat. These huge birds then swooped to within a short distance of us giving us really spectacular views. Their wingspan is over seven feet, the largest of European raptors, and with their brown body plumage and distinctive white tails were just wonderful to watch, as they soared in the clear skies above our head.

Fish were thrown into the fjord in front of the boat, and with their huge talons fully extended, the eagles swept down into the water picking up the fish in one splashing movement, before heading off to eat it in the lofty heights of this magnificent landscape. During the next hour we saw another six pairs at least of these superb creatures, as they circled around on thermals high above us. They continued to circle as we progressed through the fjord, and would after giving a loud scream, plummet into the deep waters ahead of us, and attempt to catch yet another unsuspecting fish. It was a really memorable occasion, and we were able to share this superb experience with new friends, and in the first bright summer sunshine that we had experienced on our 12 day journey. Our fishing boat then sailed on towards the delightful fishing port of Svolvaer in Lofoten, to enable us to meet our tour ship “M.S. Lofoten” the oldest and pride of the present” Hurtigruten fleet”. Here, in the magnificent setting of this historic town surrounded by high snow covered mountains, and a calm sea, we experienced the midnight sun in all its glory, walking around the streets at 11.00pm as if it was mid-day on a warm summers day in Chester.