Birdwatch Norway ... Alta

The Scandinavian Birding Experience

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An Interesting area with maybe Altaosen being one of the better areas
to visit. This large wetland area is formed by the tidal area at the end of the fjord and the river outlets of Alta and Tverrelva. The combination of habitats including mudbanks and low grasslands form a typical delta. The large island of Rørholmen dominates the area, and many of the birds to be found can be seen here. Other than wetland, there are also areas of deciduous woodlands, with Birch being the commonest species, this type of woodland provides habitat for such species as Willow Warbler and Brambling during the summer months. The delta itself has three main functions, providing feeding, breeding and resting areas for the many
birds that pass through the area.

What To Expect:
the region is well covered with 170 species being found on the database. Here you will find a selection of some of the species that have been recorded.

Winter/Resident: Common Eider, Common Scoter, White-tailed Eagle,
Purple Sandpiper, Div Gulls, Razorbill, Little Auk, Tengmalm's Owl, White-throated Dipper, Willow Tit, Siberian Jay, Arctic Redpoll.

Summer/Breeding: Whooper Swan, Common Shelduck, Northern Pintail, Long-tailed Duck,Velvet Scoter, Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Rough-legged Buzzard, Merlin, Ruff, Whimbrel, Red-necked Phalarope, Arctic Skua, Long-tailed Skua, Short-eared Owl, Bluethroat, Common Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, Great-Grey Shrike, Lapland Bunting.

Passage/Rarities: Greater White-fronted Goose, Barnacle Goose, Gadwall, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, King Eider, Smew, Little Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Osprey, Gyr Falcon, Common Crane, Pied Avoset, Red Knot, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, Little Gull, Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull, Brunnick's Guillemot, Three-toed Woodpecker, Red-rumped Swallow, Pine Grosbeak,

How to get there:  Getting to Alta is straight forward. Altaosen
can be reached from several advantage points. The Teglbakken road is
just one of thes For further details on how to get to the observation
tower, contact the local tourist office.