Birding Scandinavia   

The Scandinavian Birding Experience

The West Coast

The Birding Scandinavia holiday program offers a selection of some of the best birding Norway can provide. Here you will find itineraries for birding trips to the far north, the west coast and the east west route.

This trip is based on 6 days of exploring the west coast. The trip can also be extended if you want a longer holiday, So you can pick your own time frame within the months of May, September or October.

 

Spring Or Autumn 2008

Be it spring or autumn the west coast of Norway is always an exciting place to watch birds. We will be visiting three main birding areas along the west coast, Utsira, Jæren and Lista. All three areas are known for their rich bird life, as well as major rarity hot-spots.

 

 

Ryanair have daily flights from Stansted to Haugesund. The airport is on the island of Karmøy with a frequent bus connection between the towns of Haugesund and Stavanger

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A Thick-billed Warbler is always a good species to note down. This one was found on Utsira

Day 1

After being picked up at the airport at Haugesund we will start our birding straight away at Taravika, This small coastal bay is surrounded by farmland so it is good for both waders and passerines. Most of the species that we will be watching will be common, but Taravika has produced the unexpected like Red-necked Stint. There is also a chance of seeing White-tailed Eagle along this stretch of coastline. From Taravika we will head south, checking out more localities on the way. 

White-tailed Eagle are on the increase while Rock Pipits are common. A bit of sea-watching during spring and autumn could produce a Arctic Skua

Day 2

Today we will visit the rarity island of Utsira. The crossing takes about an hour in good weather and a lifetime in bad. Weather permitting, we will be on deck watching for seabirds. During spring and autumn there is always a chance of a skua or two, while autumn brings with it the first Sooty Shearwaters that pass the Norwegian coast. Once on the island we will go with the flow. Utsira is always well covered by local birders so we won’t have any problems finding out what’s about. Spring usually provides early migrants like Bluethroat and Eurasian Wryneck as well as the unexpected. Autumn however is the time for major rarities. Species like Richard’s Pipit, Yellow-browed Warbler and Red-breasted Flycatcher are annual. But the island has produced a lot more, just check some of the photo’s below.

Day 3&4

After an early breakfast we will leave Haugesund and head for Jæren, just south of Stavanger where we will be spending the next two days. The wetlands and shallow coastline that form this area provide habitats for a whole host of species, and its no coincidence that the area was one of Norway’s first designated Ramsar reserves. Huge numbers of waterfowl congregate on the many lakes that can be found in the area, and by spring these will be on the move. Along the coast all four species of Diver can be found as well as both Red-necked and Slavonian Grebe. The small bays will hold such species as Long-tailed Duck and Common and Velvet Scoter. Wader migration should also be underway while the surrounding farmlands and areas of coastal pine forests will not only hold resident species like Common Crossbill and Crested Tit but also many of the years first commoner migrants. Of an evening on day three we will be out and about looking and listening for such species as Water Rail, Spotted Crake, Common Quail and Corncrake.

 

An autumn trip to Jæren will produce many of the species that are seen during spring. There are however some exceptions depending on timing with many of the long distance migrants  being long gone. This however does not mean there won’t be anything to watch, wildfowl numbers will be on the increase. Some species of wader will still be about and sea watching can produce all four species of skua. The farmlands will now be home to flocks of larks, pipits and buntings while the coastal pine forests will hold flocks of thrush and finch, all feeding up before continuing on their autumn migration. Amongst these we will be looking for rarities. Jæren, like Utsira has an impressive list of more exciting species. On the 4th evening we will head for Lista

Day 5

Ask any Norwegian birder which area is best for birding, Jæren or Lista, then I should think that he would find it difficult to answer. As we will only be spending a day it will be difficult to compare both, but hopefully we will have a great days birding. Species wise, the two regions are not unalike. Both are coastal, both have large areas of farmland and coastal pine forests, and both have long lists over species that are to be found, and rarities that have turned up. 

Day 6:

This is the day we head back to Haugesund for the return flight with Ryanair. Time permitting, we may have a few hours to spare so we can take a last look at Lista, or make a short stopover at Jæren.

 

Information About The Trip

The trip starts and ends at the airport at Haugesund

Travel Plan

This trip is based on flights with Ryanair to Haugesund. 

The Trip
The trip is for 3 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.

The small bay and hide at Taravika

The journey to Utsira is a part of the west coast experience

The point at Obrestad is good for sea-watching while the surround farmland is good for passerines

Small bays, like the one here at Nærland are always worth checking for Divers, Grebes, Sea-Duck and Waders