Tour OverviewFinland and Norway are home to some of Europe’s most sought-after birds. This tour offers a long list of arctic species, and the definite highlights are the owls, woodpeckers, grouse, a selection of eastern and northern passerines and the arctic seabirds.
The tour starts in Oulu which is best known for its breeding owls. Looking for Great Grey Owl and Ural Owl in the forests might also provide views of Three-toed Woodpecker and Black Grouse, while the coastal areas attract numerous birds to rest on their migration: ducks and shorebirds feed in their summer plumages and an occasional raptor causes a momentary chaos among them. Ruff stops here on their migration and Pallid Harrier is more and more a regular breeder in the area.
Continuing eastwards towards Kuusamo, we expect to encounter an undisputed list of eastern specialities in the extensive Taiga forests. The location at the western edge of Siberian taiga forest offers a variety of birds rarely found elsewhere in Europe, such as Red-flanked Bluetail and Little Bunting among others. Heading towards north takes the tour from the land of lakes and forests to the vast and variable landscapes of Varanger Peninsula, northern Norway. A short stopover on the way in Finnish Lapland produces more opportunities for those northern passerines, including Pine Grosbeak and Siberian Jay. In Norway, the highlands host a selection of species which have adapted to the short summer and the hostile environments as their breeding grounds. The tundra is home to Rock Ptarmigan, Long-tailed Skua, Dotterel and much more. Descending to the sea level, Varanger Fjord holds an impressive list of arctic seabirds, and a definite highlight is a visit to the large seabird colonies on Hornøya island.
Carefully planned, this tour is simply about great birding in one of the finest destinations in Europe!
Get more detail about what to expect on this tour: Go to full itinerary
TOUR INFO:
Tour starts in Oulu and ends in Ivalo
Tour duration: 13 days
Next group departure date: TBC
This birding tour can be booked as a small group guided tour.
Highlights:
• Oulu region
• Oulanka National Park
• Hornøya island
Top birds:
• Great Grey Owl
• Ural Owl
• Hawk Owl
• Three-toed Woodpecker
• Snow Bunting
• Red-flanked Bluetail
• Long-tailed Skua
• Siberian Jay
Top mammals:
• Red Squirrel
• Mountain Hare
• Brown Hare
• Reindeer (semi-domestic)
• Eurasian Elk
• Roe Deer
• Red Fox
• Stoat
• Lemming
| ITINERARY OVERVIEW |
|---|
| Day 1-3 | Oulu |
|---|---|
| Day 4-6 | Kuusamo |
| Day 7 | Kuusamo – Ivalo |
| Day 8 | Ivalo – Båtsfjord |
| Day 9-11 | Båtsfjord – Vardö |
| Day 12 | Vardö – Ivalo |
| Day 13 | Departure |
All our tours can be customised according to your specific requirements.
Get in touch with one of our team members for more information at info@naturetravelbirding.com