BIRDING THROUGH FINLAND
(and a bit
Norway)
Stefano e Daniela Fantini -
Italy
|
: The trip |
: Thanks |
The huge work of
planning the trip began about seven months before taking off. During this time
I have been collecting reports and info from any resource I could find.
Obviously almost all brochures and info was written in English and I had to
translate everything. I quickly gave up the idea of taking part of an organised
tour because of the high costs. That’s why I had spent so much time in
planning, contacting people, getting reservation and so on. We have chosen this
time for the trip because we intended to get the best from spring singers and
hoped to avoid mosquitoes.
We have not been
very lucky with weather (often cloudy and sometimes raining and snowing), but
we enjoyed very much the untouched Finnish wilderness and we got a very good
day in Norway (Varanger). At the end we have had 135 species with more than 50
new for us.
I MUST thank many
people who helped me in making my trip real. First of all, my heart-thanking
for Patricia Galloway, who brought me the brochure by Finnair-Finnature. That
pictures and words were inviting JUST ME there. Most of all I have to mention
Simon Wooley and Bernhard Herren, whom supplied me with “golden” info,
brochures and magazines about birdwatching in Finland. Another particular
mention is for Reijo Anttonen & Kerstin, who gave us a very friendly
welcome in Porvoo. Last (in order of time) our best thanks to Peter Rostin for
the very peaceful and home-like accommodation in Kuusamo.
Then a big thank to
- all people who
guided us in finding birds
Hanna and Janne Aalto (Parikkala area) hsoikkel@mail.student.oulu.fi
Heikki Seppänen (Kuusamo area) heikki.seppanen@nls.fi
Toni Uusimaki (Oulu area - Finnature guide)
- all of our contacts there: Ilpo Hall (Helsinki), Olli Karhu (Ivalo), Olavi Nyyssänen (Sodänkyla), Heikki
Karhu (Ivalo), Harri Högmander
(Jyväskylä), Alf Tore Mjøs (Norway)
Jari Peltomaki (Finnature guide) Jari@finnature.fi
- all contacts in
and abroad: Pascal Boulesteix,
Roberto Garavaglia, Menotti Passarella.
ž Bibliography and Internet resources
General information
can be found at:
www.vivafinlandia.com, www.europcar.it, www.hel.fi,
www.kuusamo.fi, www.travel.fi,
Birdwatching info at:
www.finnature.com, www.birdlife.fi, www.publiscan.fi, www.birdguides.co.uk/foreign/Finland.html,
www.wakkanet.fi, www.saunalahti.fi, www.camacdonald.com/birding/birding.htm
Accomodation:
www.ukolo.fi (Ivalo), www.matkaruka.com/varaus (Kuusamo), www.lomarengas.fi, lintulahti@co.inet.fi (Virolahti), www.wakkanet.fi, peurasuvanto@hotmail.com (near Sodankylä), Miekkaniemi Bed&Breakfast
(Viitasaari), Helsinki Expert
(Helsinki), Rastila Camping
(Helsinki), Vestre Jakobselv Campground c/o Bernt Helmersen, Postboks 59, 9810
Vadsø - Norway
Other trip reports:
www.northkentbirding.freeserve.co.uk/finland.htm,
www.crosswinds.net/~birdtrips/Finland92.html,
www.crosswinds.net/~birdtrips/Isosaari.html,
www.zoo-gate.fi/~karhut/englanti/species.txt,
www.ebnitalia.it/trips/trip08.htm,
www.jjcskw.demon.co.uk/finland.htm,
www.crosswinds.net/~birdtrips/NorthScand98.html
Information about Finnmark &
Varangerfjord:
www.hiem.sol.no/echapman/Finnmark/Vadso.htm,
www.home.online.no/~egnter/finnmark.htm,
home.online.no/~stingray/Varanger.htm,
www.algonet.se/~nho/slettnes/general.html,
www.astro.utu.fi/~hlehto/reports/varanger.wrk,
Useful magazines:
Alula: issues no. 2/1996 (Värtsilä), no. 2/1995 (Aland),
no. 1/1995 (Kuusamo)
Birding in Finland, by Dave Gosney 1991
ž The trip: from 26th May to 9th
June 2001
We left Italy early
in the morning but we had been able to reach Helsinki only at 8,30 pm because
of flight problems. In this way we lose the first half day.
< 27th may
Weather: cold and
cloudy.
We left our Guest
House (which I do not feel to suggest to anyone) in the centre of Helsinki and
spent a couple of hours in turning around the town. At 11 am we took the boat
for Korkesaari Zoo and already we have had some birding (Common Gull, Herring Gull,
Hooded Crow, Swift, White Wagtail, Fieldfare Great and Blue Tit).
When we landed we
quickly realised that some good new birds were near: Lesser Black-backed Gull,
Barnacle Goose. During our visit we had also: Common Tern, Tufted Duck, House
Sparrow, White Wagtail, Hooded Crow, Pied Flycatcher, Jackdaw, Oystercatcher,
Common Starling, Fieldfare, Magpie, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Swift,
Chaffinch and Blackbird. In the jails we saw Eagle
Owl, Snowy Owl, Great Grey Owl, Ural Owl and Hawk Owl: we still did not know
that it was our only opportunity to see them.
< 28th may
Weather: cold and
cloudy (some rain).
Moved towards
Parikkala, with a short stop at Porvoo (beautiful the old city!). We reached
Siikalahti at 5 pm and we headed for the bird tower. Here we felt like to be
home for the quantity of waterbirds, but we had other 6 new entries in our life
list: Little Gull, Horned Grebe, White-backed Woodpecker, Smew, Whooper Swan.
In the wood near the bird-tower we had a “Phylloscopus”, which we identified
only at home as Greenish Warbler.
We stopped at the
tower for a couple of hours and we got also: Shoveler, Mallard, Coot, Garganey,
Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Cuckoo, Great Crested
Grebe, Great Reed Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Chiffchaff, Marsh Harrier, Hobby,
Yellow and White Wagtails, Bittern, Lapwing.
After having
discovered all possible birds here, we drove towards Kerimäki in order to see
the largest wooden church of the world. Unfortunately we reached the church
some minutes after it has been closed. During the driving we added Great
Spotted Woodpecker and Collared Dove.
How nice to
practice birdwatching after 9pm with sun light!
< 29th may
Weather: cold and
cloudy (some rain).
Janne told us to
visit a small (very small) lake along the main road no. 6 at Särkisalmi. With
great pleasure we had there close views of other new species: Red-necked Grebe
and Red-breasted Merganser, along with Goldeneye, Common Tern, White Wagtail
and Marsh Warbler.
From Särkisalmi we
headed North-East on the road no. 6, to make a round trip near the Russian
border (Kesusmaa, Rasvaniemi, Kannas). This itinerary gave us the possibility
of getting Common Rosefinch, Red-backed Shrike, Sand Martin, Yellowhammer (very
common everywhere), Whinchat, Brambling, Osprey, Curlew (also very common).
We spend the rest
of the morning again in Siikalahti, but did not find any new.
At 3 pm we had been
guided by Janne in search of new species: a wonderful sighting of Black Woodpecker at the nest feeding his three
young, then a 25-member group of Cranes, completely satisfied our wishes.
< 30th may
The transfer to
Oulu took almost the whole day.
We reached
Liminganlahti at about 7 pm, but we had been not satisfied from that place,
which is world-knew ad a bird paradise. Probably Spring still had not broke and
we find there only: Whooper Swan, Black-Tailed Godwit, Redshank, Coot,
Shelduck, Bean Goose, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Wheatear, Marsh Warbler,
Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Pied Flycatcher.
At 9 pm we had
appointment with a Finnature guide to spend the night searching for Owls. What
a delusion! We have been carried out by the guide for the whole night without
finding any kind of Owl. We even tried to contact Hazel Grouse with tapeplaying
with no success. So our 1.000 FIM (over € 155,00) had gone for a Three-toed
Woodpecker, a couple of Woodcock and a male of Capercaillie. Despite this, the
night without darkness had been a great experience. Once back in Italy, I have
been informed that 2001 has been a very bad year for voles: there were
virtually no owls breeding in Oulu area that year. Infact, normally Oulu area
is very good for breeding owls. Moreover, reading this report Finnature gave us
the opportunity to join to a new FREE excursion when will be back again to
Finland. Veri kind of you, Jari!
< 31st may
This day begun very
early. We left our useless guide at about 5 in the morning. We drive towards
another bird tower in Liminka bay and had: Ortolan Bunting, Jay, Rook, Lapwing,
many Curlews, Reed Bunting, Lapwing, Tufted Duck and a wonderful male of
Red-breasted Merganser.
Unsatisfied of this
important bird area, we took the car and drove until Kuusamo-Kitka, where we
realised that we would very appreciated our staying in a wonderful cabin just
on the lake. In few minutes here we had: Rough-legged Buzzard, Tufted Duck,
Goldeneye, Redstart, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Siskin, Greenfinch,
Hooded Crow, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Common Sanpiper and Curlew.
In the afternoon we
decided to explore the lakes to North-West of Kitka. In a round trip of about
20 km we found out: Smew (4 females and 2 males), a Capercaillie female,
Goosander, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Wood Sanpiper, Yellow Wagtail,
Redwing, Common and Arctic Tern, Ruff.
< 1st june
Cloudy but warm.
Following D. Gosney
report, we reached the birdtower at Toranki Lake, but were deluded again. We
could find there only Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, Teal, Wigeon, Goldeneye
and a Marsh Harrier female. After that we headed for Koskenkylä and, at the end
of the road we had: Yellow Wagtail, Bullfinch, Swallow, House Martin, Redstart,
Common Crossbill, Chiffchaff. We decided to stop there some minutes and have
lunch. What a good idea! A Great-spotted Woodpecker had chosen the same place
to have lunch and showed itself at less than 3 meters while we kept shocked
inside the car.
Getting back
towards Kuusamo, we had been able to find the way to Kiurusuo (not easy to
describe) and there we soon have a wonderful male of Black Grouse flying. After
few minutes of stopping at the lake: a couple of Black-throated Loons, a pair
of Arctic Tern and a pair of Common Scoter, Goldeneye, Cuckoo, Common Sandpiper
and male Ruff.
< 2nd june
Following again the
D. Gosney report, we tried Valtavaara ridge. Even here the Spring had not still
arrived and so we found out no Bluetail neither Parrot Crossbill. The only
species we found were Siskin, Redstart, Raven, Goldcrest, Brambling.
Nevertheless we got satisfaction from the beautiful landscape from Valtavaara
ridge in a sunny day.
< 3rd june
In the early
morning we left our comfortable cottage (thank you again, Peter!) and headed
for Ivalo. A two-hours stop at Kiilopää gave us other two very good new
species: Arctic Redpoll and Bluethroat, along with Redwing, Magpie, Brambling
and Chiffchaff. No traces of Lapland or Snow Bunting.
We reached
Ukonjärvi Camping at about 8 pm. A short walk around the camping produced:
Arctic Tern, Rough-legged Buzzard, Common Sandpiper, Redwing, Curlew, Arctic
Redpoll and Bluethroat again, Pied Flycatcher, Brambling and my first Waxwing
(easy to approach).
< 4th june
From Ivalo, we
reached the Norwegian border in a couple of hours and at about 12am got to
Varangerbotn. We did not find anything special at the beginning of the bay, so
we drove towards Nesseby. Along the road we had some stops to see: Eider,
Steller’s Eider, Velvet Scoter, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Red-breasted
Merganser, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Shelduck.
At Nesseby church
pond we finally found just what was written in several reports: Red-necked
Phalarope (3 pairs) and Ruff, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, White Wagtail, Kittiwake, Arctic Tern.
At Vadsø we soon
realised that many new species were easy to find: Dunlin, Turnstone, Ruff and
Wheatear were everywhere. Found many Purple Sanpiper and then Bar-tailed Godwit
and Horned Lark. But the top specie we had that day is White-tailed Eagle. A
wonderful sighting of an adult with a captured fish, mobbed by Hooded Crows!
The road that leads
from Nesseby to Vardø follows the coast line and is very good for birdwatching.
12 Km after Vadsø
there is an island named Ekkeroy. It has a Kittiwake colony and we found there
also Black Guillemot, Meadow Pipit a group of seven Knots along with Eider, Steller’s
Eider, Wheatear, Arctic Tern, Great Black-backed, Herring and Common Gulls,
House Sparrow, Ringed Plover.
< 5th june
We had thought to
reach Vardø and have a look at Hornoya island, but a snow storm forced us to
change our plans. During the driving we watched a pair of Rough-legged Buzzard
(probably near their nest). We had alsoWhimbrel, Pomarine and Parasitic Skuas,
White-tailed Eagle, Glaucous Gull, Snow Bunting.
In the afternoon
(at about 6 pm) the snow had stopped and we were under a heavy cloudy sky.
Getting back to Vadsø we added two new species: Red-throated Pipit and a
wonderful Short-eared Owl. Once in Vadsø we decided to watch more accurately
the birds near Statoil petrol station. We found there: Little and Temminck’s
Stint, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin, Oystercatcher,
Herring and Common Gull. All these species in a 15 meters shore.
< 6th june
The day after the
sun was shining bright and we decided to try again to move northwards. We
reached Hamningberg at about 11am. During the driving we had: Parasitic Skua,
Snow Bunting, Lapland Bunting, Rough-legged Buzzard, Wheatear, Herring, Great
Black-blacked and Common Gull, Arctic Tern, Kittiwake, Eider, Steller’s Eider,
hundreds of Goosanders and a wonderful pair of Long-tailed Duck. In Hamningberg
we looked out for about an hour. We found Black Guillemot, Gannet, Cormorant,
House Martin, Purple Plover, Turnstone.
We headed back to
Vardø and the boat took us to Hornoya. We landed in a bird paradise, where
thousands and thousands of birds were nesting.
Kittiwakes,
Guillemots, Brunnich’s Guillemots, Puffins and Razorbills were crying and
flying all around. Shags were also nesting here. What a nice sighting! We had
also: Great Black-backed, Herring and Common Gulls, Eider, Rock Pipit.
< 7th june
Time for
birdwatching was ended. We spent the day in travelling southwards and in doing
shopping at Napapiiri.
< 8th june
Our travel plan
towards Helsinki included a stop at Viitasaari. While Daniela was having a rest
I spent about an hour in search of birds nearby our Bed & Breakfast. With
some “pishing” I could find out Fieldfare, Blackbird, Redwing, Great Tit, Blue
Tit, Siskin, Pied Flycatcher and a Great-spotted Woodpecker. There was also
Common Starling, Hooded Crow, Magpie, Swift, Swallow and White Wagtail. During
my short walk in the pine wood I could quickly realise that mosquitoes were
becoming very noisy and I felt happy to move out from there.
ž Bird List (links to pictures taken during the trip)
1.
Black-throated Loon, Gavia arctica,
Strolaga mezzana
2.
Horned Grebe, Podiceps auritus, Svasso
cornuto
3.
Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps
cristatus, Svasso maggiore
4.
Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena, Svasso collorosso
5.
Gannet, Morus bassanus, Sula
6.
Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo,
Cormorano
7.
Shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis, Marangone dal ciuffo
8.
Bittern, Botaurus stellaris, Tarabuso
9.
Whooper Swan, Cygnu cygnus, Cigno selvatico
10.
Bean
Goose, Anser fabalis, Oca granaiola
11.
Barnacle
Goose, Branta leucopsis, Oca facciabianca
12.
Shelduck,
Tadorna tadorna, Volpoca
13.
Mallard,
Anas platyrhynchos, Germano reale
14.
Pintail,
Anas acuta, Codone
15.
Shoveler,
Anas clypeata, Mestolone
16.
Wigeon,
Anas penelope, Fischione
17.
Teal,
Anas crecca, Alzavola
18.
Garganey,
Anas querquedula, Marzaiola
19.
Pochard,
Aythya ferina, Moriglione
20.
Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula, Moretta
21.
Eider,
Somateria mollissima, Edredone
22.
Steller’s
Eider, Polysticta stelleri, Edredone di Steller
23.
Common
Scoter, Melanitta nigra, Orchetto marino
24.
Velvet
Scoter, Melanitta fusca, Orco marino
25.
Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis,
Moretta codona
26.
Goldeneye,
Bucephala clangula, Quattrocchi
27.
Smew,
Mergellus albellus, Pesciaiola
28.
Goosander,
Mergus merganser, Smergo maggiore
29.
Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator, Smergo minore
30.
White-tailed
Eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla, Aquila di mare
31.
Osprey,
Pandion haliaetus, Falco pescatore
32.
Marsh
Harrier, Circus aeruginosus, Falco di palude
33.
Rough-legged Buzzard, Buteo lagopus, Poiana calzata
34.
Hobby,
Falco subbuteo, Lodolaio
35.
Capercaillie,
Tetrao urogallus, Gallo cedrone
36.
Black
Grouse, Tetrao tetrix, Gallo forcello
37.
Coot,
Fulica atra, Folaga
38.
Crane, Grus grus, Gru
39.
Oystercatcher,
Haematopus ostralegus, Beccaccia di mare
40.
Ringed
Plover, Charadrius hiaticula, Corriere grosso
41.
Golden
Plover, Pluvialis apricaria, Piviere dorato
42.
Lapwing,
Vanellus vanellus, Pavoncella
43.
Knot,
Calidris canutus, Piovanello maggiore
44.
Purple
Sandpiper, Calidris maritima, Piovanello
violetto
45.
Turnstone,
Arenaria interpres, Voltapietre
46.
Dunlin,
Calidris alpina, Piovanello pancianera
47.
Temminck’s
Stint, Calidris temminckii, Gambecchio nano
48.
Little
Stint, Calidris minuta, Gambecchio
49.
Wood
Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, Piro piro boschereccio
50.
Common
Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos, Piro piro piccolo
51.
Redshank,
Tringa totanus, Pettegola
52.
Black-tailed
Godwit, Limosa limosa, Pittima reale
53.
Bar-tailed
Godwit, Limosa lapponica, Pittima minore
54.
Curlew,
Numenius arquata, Chiurlo maggiore
55.
Whimbrel,
Numenius phaeopus, Chiurlo piccolo
56.
Woodcock,
Scolopax rusticola, Beccaccia
57.
Red-necked Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus, Falaropo beccosottile
58.
Ruff, Philomachus pugnax, Combattente
59.
Pomarine
Skua, Stercorarius pomarinus, Stercorario mezzano
60.
Parasitic
Skua, Stercorarius parasiticus, Labbo
61.
Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus,
Gabbiano comune
62.
Common Gull, Larus
canus, Gavina
63.
Herring Gull, Larus argentatus, Gabbiano reale nordico
64.
Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus, Zafferano
65.
Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus, Mugnaiaccio
66.
Little Gull, Larus minutus,
Gabbianello
67.
Kittiwake,
Rissa tridactyla, Gabbiano tridattilo
68.
Glaucous
Gull, Larus hyperboreus, Gabbiano glauco
69.
Common
Tern, Sterna hirundo, Sterna
70.
Arctic
Tern, Sterna paradisaea, Sterna codalunga
71.
Caspian
Tern, Sterna caspia, Sterna maggiore
72.
Puffin,
Fratercula arctica, Pulcinella di mare
73.
Black
Guillemot, Cepphus grylle, Uria nera
74.
Guillemot,
Uria aalge, Uria
75.
Brünnich’s
Guillemot, Uria lomvia, Uria di Brünnich
76.
Razorbill,
Alca torda, Gazza marina
77.
Wood
Pigeon, Columba palumbus, Colombaccio
78.
Collared
Dove, Streptopelia decaocto, Tortora dal collare orientale
79.
Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, Cuculo
80.
Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus, Gufo di palude
81.
Swift, Apus apus, Rondone
82.
Black Woodpecker, Dryocopus martius, Picchio nero
83.
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major, Picchio rosso maggiore
84.
White-backed Woodpecker, Dendrocopos
leucotos, Picchio dorsobianco
85.
Horned Lark, Eremophila alpestris,
Allodola golagialla
86.
Sand
Martin, Riparia riparia, Topino
87.
Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica, Rondine
88.
House
Martin, Delichon urbica, Balestruccio
89.
Rock Pipit, Anthus
petrosus, Spioncello marino
90.
Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis,
Pispola
91.
Red-throated Pipit, Anthus cervinus, Pispola golarossa
92.
White
Wagtail, Motacilla alba alba, Ballerina bianca
93.
Yellow
Wagtail, Motacilla flava (thunbergi), Cutrettola
94.
Waxwing, Bombycilla,
garrulus, Beccofrusone
95.
Bluethroat,
Luscinia svecica svecica, Pettazzurro
96.
Redstart,
Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Codirosso
97.
Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe, Culbianco
98.
Whinchat,
Saxicola rubetra, Stiaccino
99.
Redwing, Turdus
iliacus, Tordo sassello
100.
Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris, Cesena
101.
Blackbird, Turdus merula, Merlo
102.
Sedge Warbler, Acrocephalus
schoenobaneus, Forapaglie
103.
Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus,
Cannaiola
104.
Marsh Warbler, Acrocephalus palustris,
Cannaiola verdognola
105.
Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus, Luì grosso
106.
Chiffchaff,
Phylloscopus collybita, Luì piccolo
107.
Greenish Warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides, Luì verdastro
108.
Goldcrest, Regulus regulus, Regolo
109.
Spotted
Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, Pigliamosche
110.
Pied Flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, Balia nera
111.
Great Tit, Parus major, Cinciallegra
112.
Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus, Cinciarella
113.
Willow Tit, Parus montanus, Cincia
bigia alpestre
114.
Red-backed Shrike, Lanius collurio,
Averla piccola
115.
Magpie,
Pica pica, Gazza
116.
Jay, Garrulus glandarius, Ghiandaia
117.
Jackdaw, Corvus monedula, Taccola
118.
Rook, Corvus frugilegus, Corvo
119.
Hooded
Crow, Corvus corone cornix, Cornacchia grigia
120.
Raven,
Corvus corax, Corvo imperiale
121.
Common Starling, Sturnus vulgaris,
Storno
122.
House
Sparrow, Passer domesticus, Passero
123.
Chaffinch,
Fringilla coelebs, Fringuello
124.
Brambling,
Fringilla montifringilla, Peppola
125.
Arctic
Redpoll, Carduelis hornemanni, Organetto
artico
126.
Greenfinch,
Carduelis chloris, Verdone
127.
Siskin, Carduelis spinus, Lucarino
128.
Bullfinch,
Pyrrhula pyrrhula, Ciuffolotto
129.
Common
Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra, Crociere
130.
Common
Rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus,
Ciuffolotto scarlatto
131.
Reed
Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, Migliarino di palude
132.
Snow
Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis, Zigolo delle nevi
133.
Lapland
Bunting, Calcarius lapponicus, Zigolo di Lapponia
134.
Ortolan
Bunting, Emberiza hortulana, Ortolano
135.
Yellowhammer,
Emberiza citrinella, Zigolo giallo