Birding Scandinavia   

The Scandinavian Birding Experience

    Summer Breaks From Manchester
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The edge of the Hardangervidda
Tekstboks: Trip 2: The Hardangervidda and Geilo 2008 Dates: 3/7-6/7 ** 10/7-13/7 ** 17/7-20/7 ** 24/7-27/7 The Hardangervidda is unique in so many ways. It’s Europe’s largest mountain plateau, consisting of 10,000 sq. Kilometre of mountain, marshland and tundra habitats. The arctic flora and fauna is most varied, and the national park can boast that it is the only place in the world where species belonging in a western climate, and those thriving in an eastern inland climate can be found side by side. Bird Watching on the Hardangervidda is a lifetimes experience, some of the species show no fear  of man, while others, like the Snowy Owl may be harder to find. Thousands of reindeer roam the vast expanse but we will be lucky if we see a single one. Tekstboks: Though we might not see reindeer, we may just be lucky enough to see soaring Golden Eagle, displaying Temminck’s Stint, a hunting Merlin or Willow Grouse

Day 1 Friday

After breakfast we will leave the suburbs of Bergen behind us and soon be heading on our way towards the Hardangerfjord and our ferry crossing. From here it only takes an hour before we are at Dyrenut, a famous mountain lodge where many a weary birder has spent the night sheltering from a mountain storm. Hopefully we will not experience any storms during our stay and we will soon be on the vidda looking for our first target species - the Gyr Falcon

Tekstboks: If rodent numbers are good we will maybe see one of these species - Snowy Owl, Long-tailed Skua and Rough-legged Buzzard, or one species that is not dependent on rodents - the Gyr Falcon

The first stop will be at Tinnholvatnet. This large lake is home for a host of species such as Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter and Velvet Scoter. The shores are just of interest, by July Temminck's Stint should be well into their breeding season. Other waders that we could stumble upon include Dunlin, Purple Sandpiper While we are walking European Golden Plover will be calling, a magnificent sight in full summer plumage, and we will also be on the lookout for Eurasian Dotterel. For those interested in passerines, you will not be disappointed. Seeing a male Bluethroat is always a sight to remember and there are other species like Horned Lark, Lapland Bunting and Snow Bunting to study as well. The expanse of the vidda is breathtaking, and even more so if a Gyr Falcon or a Long-tailed Skua roams by. Other birds of prey include Merlin and Common Kestrel, and if Lemming numbers are good then there should be a few Rough-legged Buzzard as well. After our days birding we will drive to our mountain lodge for our evening meal, but the day is not over. Later on that evening we will return to the vidda to look for Great Snipe.

Tekstboks: Three of the commoner small passerines on the vidda. The colourful Bluethroat , the stunning Lapland Longspur the cracking Horned Bunting and the striking Snow Bunting

Day 2 Saturday

After breakfast we will spend some time in the woods looking for such species as Hazel Hen, Black Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker and Siberian Jay. Then its back to the mountains looking for summer plumaged Black and Red-throated Diver. Some of the mountain lakes may Red-necked Phalarope and both Hen Harrier and Common Crane are seen regularly as well as some of the commoner mountain species like Willow Grouse, Blue-headed Wagtail, Northern Wheatear and Ring Ouzel. From the mountains we will drop down into the valley and from here it is a two hour drive over the goats back mountain pass before we look down on the mighty Sognefjord. After a photo stop, and believe me you will want to take a photo, then it is onwards to Voss for our overnight stay. By July it never really gets dark so, for those who feel up to it we will check an area for both Pygmy and Eagle Owl.

Tekstboks: Just some of the species we will be looking for on the east side of the vidda - Black-throated Diver, Siberian Jay, Three-toed Woodpecker and Common Crane

Day 3 Sunday

An early morning start at Reppen, one of the local marshes at Voss. Over 150 species have been seen in this area. Here we will find a good selection of the commoner Scandinavian species. Icterine Warbler breed in the area and Eurasian Wryneck, Lesser- spotted Woodpecker and White-backed Woodpecker are recorded most years. There may also be chance of Nutcracker. After Reppen we head for the airport, doing a bit of sight-seeing in Bergen town centre if we have the time.

Tekstboks: Voss has a lot to offer the visiting birder with such species as Pygmy Owl, White-backed Woodpecker, Eurasian Wryneck and Nutcracker

Information About The Trip

The trip starts and ends at the airport at Bergen

Travel Plan

This trip is based on scheduled flights too and from Manchester with SAS

The Trip
The trip is for 4 to 10 people. The following are included in the price: accommodation, all meals, transport, including toll roads and ferries, and lastly all guiding services. The following are not included in the price: Local airport transport, flights/travel to Norway, insurance, beverages of any kind and items of a purely personal nature

Accommodation
We will be staying at small friendly hotels with full facilities.

The Costs

Cost vary greatly according to the number of participants.

 Not only is the more the merrier, it is also the more the cheaper. Can you get a small group together? Send me an e-mail and we can discuss plans and costs.

On the vidda with the Hardangerjøkulen in the background

You can almost touch the clouds while on Norway’s roof

Mature pine forests holds many exciting species

Reppen, one of the better marshes at Voss

One of our hotels is right on the shores of a lake