Summary /Route
• Helsinki and surroundings
• Oulu, Liminka and Hailuto island
• IsoSyote and Kuusamo
• Inari and Neljan Tuulen tupa
• Neiden and Tana Bru
• Berlevag and Varanger
• Varanger, Nesseby, Vardo
• Neljanuutrn tupa,Kiilopaa and Rovaniemi
• Oulu and Helsinki
1. Introduction
I have been to this area twice before to look for the main target birds with the help of guides for the Owls etc. The best time is mid-April to May when the birds are most active. I decided to take more time to explore the usual birding areas, to find new sites and enjoy the great scenery and the warm of Finnish and Nordic hospitality.
Flights were relatively cheap – from Zurich to Helsinki; and Helsinki to Oulo. Car hire at Oulu through Europcar – a small VW which was perfectly adequate for the 2800km journey (we did replace the original car provided as there was damage).
Accommodation made via Booking-com – excellent stays in huts, etc.
Weather conditions were not optimal – from blue skies in Helsinki (25°C) to rainy grey days in the North (7°C).
Birds were not very active and very quiet during this time of year.
Guides used included:
• http://www.cloudbirders.com/
• http://varangerringing.blogspot.ch/ (Ringing while we were there)
• http://www.stephenburch.com/trips/lapland/lapland.htm Great report
• http://www.nationalparks.fi/nationalparks
• http://www.biotope.no/2014/11/arctic-architecture-new-wind-shelters.html - Excellent publication: Birding Varanger - The Biotope guide to the best bird sites in Arctic Norway
• https://www.rovaniemi.fi/loader.aspx?id=c999faf4-535f-4bd3-9d7a-ad2802a0d337
1. Red-throated Diver - Few birds in Bervelag
2. Black-throated Diver - Varanger area -10 birds and also in Kussamo
3. Great Crested Grebe - 1 only seen in Helsinki area
4. Fulmar - Very Common in Varanger
5. Gannet - One seen flying past in Varanger
6. Shag - Common in Varanger
7. Cormorant - Common around Oulu
8. Grey Heron - 1 seen in Liminika
9. Whooper Swan - 8 seen in several locations in Artic Norway
10. Mute Swan - 2 seen in Helsinki
11. Greylag Goose - Most common goose –over 100 seen in Liminika and Varanger
12. Barnacle Goose - Over 50 seen around Helsinki
13. Wigeon - Large numbers in Liminika
14. Mallard - Common
15. Gadwall - Rovaniemi
16. Pintail - Young birds in Berlevag and Rovaniemi
17. Teal - Liminika
18. Pochard - Rovaniemi
19. Red-crested Pochard - Rovaniemi
20. Eider - Common in Varanger
21. Long-tailed Duck - 5 seen in Berlevag
22. Common Scoter - Berlevag
23. Goldeneye - Liminika and Rovaniemi
24. Red-breasted Merganser - Several places including Berlevag
25. Goosander - Very common
26. Marsh Harrier - Liminika
27. Sparrowhawk - Seen 3 times including Houloto island
28. Honey Buzzard - Kuusamo / IsoSyote
29. Buzzard - 1 seen at Houloto island
30. Rough-legged Buzzard - Rovaniemi
31. White-tailed Eagle - Up to 12 individuals seen including Varanger and Martimoaapa
32. Goshawk - 1 seen at Martimoaapa
33. Osprey - Seen on 4 occassions including Houloto island
34. Kestrel - Common
35. Hobby - Seen on 2 occassions – Berlevag and Martimoaapa
36. Peregrine - Rovaniemi
37. Merlin - Houloto island
38. Black Grouse - 1 bird only – fleeting glance in Kuusamo
39. Crane - Several birds seen in Oulu area and Martimoaapa
40. Oystercatcher - Liminika
41. Ringed Plover - Veranger – Very Common
42. Lapwing - Liminkia (Heard)
43. Curlew Sandpiper - Nesseby
44. Sanderling - Nesseby
45. Dunlin - Common in Nesseby and Berlevag
46. Little Stint - Nesseby
47. Temminck's Stint - Nesseby
48. Ruff - Nesseby and Berlevag
49. Whimbrel - 1 heard Berlevag
50. Black-tailed Godwit - Liminkia
51. Bar-tailed Godwit - Berlevag
52. Redshank - Liminkia
53. Spotted Redshank - Berlevag
54. Green Sandpiper - Liminkia
55. Common Sandpiper - Houloto island
56. Woodcock - Heard at Varanger
57. Snipe - Liminkia
58. Arctic Skua - Varanger
59. Little Gull - Houloto island
60. Black-headed Gull - Helsinki
61. Herring Gull - Helsinki
62. Common Gull - Helsinki
63. Kittiwake - Very Common in Varanger and Berlevag
64. Great Black-backed Gull - Berlevag
65. Lesser Black-backed Gull - Berlevag and Varanger as well as Helsinki
66. Common Tern - Helsinki and Oulu
67. Arctic Tern - Varanger and Berlevag
68. Black Guillemot - Ekkeroy and Berlevag
69. Wood pigeon - In Oulu area
70. Feral Pigeons - Helsinki and Oulu
71. Swift - Helsinki
72. Great Spotted Woodpecker - 5 birds seen
73. Three-toed Woodpecker - Brief Glance in Oulo area
74. Skylark - Rovaniemi
75. Shore Lark - 1 seen at Nesseby Church
76. House Martin - Common
77. Swallow - Common
78. Water Pipit - Liminkia
79. Meadow Pipit - Helsinki
80. Red-throated Pipit - Seen at Nesseby Church
81. Pied Wagtail - Very Common
82. Yellow Wagtail - Houloto island
83. Wren - Heard at Tana Bru
84. Thrush Nightingale - 1 briefly seen at Kuusamo
85. Bluethroat - Seen at Neljan Tuulen tupa
86. Whinchat - Houloto island
87. Wheatear - Houloto island
88. Fieldfare - Helsinki
89. Redwing - 3 seen at Nielden
90. Song Thrush - Kuusamo
91. Mistle Thrush - Seen at Neljan Tuulen tupa
92. Sedge Warbler - Common in Liminkia
93. Reed Warbler - Houloto island
94. Blyth's Reed Warbler - 1 Heard at Liminika
95. Blackcap - Heard at Rovaniemi
96. Willow Warbler - Liminkia
97. Chiffchaff - Liminkia
98. Artic Warbler - Brief view at church at Nielden
99. Spotted Flycatcher - One seen at Nielden
100. Siberian Tit - Quite Common
101. Willow Tit - Very Common
102. Blue Tit - Common
103. Great Tit - Common
104. Coal Tit - Common
105. Starling - Helsinki
106. Siberian Jay - Quite common
107. Magpie - Quite Common
108. Jackdaw - Oulu and Helsinki
109. Raven - Common
110. Carrion Crow - Helsinki
111. Hooded Crow - Very Common
112. Rook - Several seen around Oulu
113. Tree Sparrow - Surprising at Tana Bru
114. House Sparrow - Oulu and Helsinki
115. Chaffinch - Helsinki
116. Brambling - Over 50 Seen at Neljan Tuulen tupa
117. Siskin - Seen at Neljan Tuulen tupa
118. Greenfinch - Seen at Neljan Tuulen tupa
119. Mealy Redpoll - Liminkia and Houloto island
120. Arctic Redpoll - Surprisingly common – see Ringing link at Varanger
121. Twite - Nielden and Rovaniemi
122. Linnet - Helsinki
123. Scarlet Rosefinch - Liminkia
124. Crossbill - Liminkia and heard elsewhere
125. Parrot Crossbill - Heard at Rovaniemi
126. Pine Grosbeak - Seen at Neljan Tuulen tupa