Birding Scandinavia   

The Scandinavian Birding Experience

    Spring Breaks From Manchester
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Tekstboks: Tekstboks: Tekstboks: Tekstboks:

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Bergen and the surrounding fjords

One of the old quaysides at Sotra

Voss  -  the lakes and the mountains
Tekstboks: Trip 1: The Western Coast and Voss 2008 Dates: 8-11/5 ** 22-25/05 ** 29/5-1/6 ** 5/6-8/6 The west coast of Norway, rugged and spectacular are just two words that spring to mind. Though this part of Norway is more famous for two of its longest fjords, the Sognfjord and the Hardangerfjord, the thousands of islands and skerries that form the coastline are magnificent in their own right, and the area well deserves its Norwegian name “The Kingdom Of A Thousand Isles” After a day on the coast, we will head inland to Voss. Here we will find lakes, woodlands and marshlands, all holding spring migrants. Tekstboks: Bird watching along the coast can produce a whole host of species, even only if it is some of the commoner species like Common Eider, Long-tailed Duck, Red-throated Diver and Black Guillemot

Day 1 Friday

After breakfast we will head to the northern end of the island of Sotra, to Svellingen. This is just one of many localities that is good for sea-watching. By May all four species of Diver pass this point with Red-throated Diver being the most common. White-tailed Eagle is another species that can be seen, if you see a flying barn door, then you have found one. Other spectacular sights during May are the Barnacle and Brent Goose migration. Thousands of birds pass Svellingen on their way north to their arctic breeding grounds. Add to this all four species of Skua, flocks of sea-ducks, waders and seabirds then the setting is made for a few hours of prime birding. From Svellingen we will then head south, checking a few areas for the first of the spring migrants. From Sotra we will head for another coastal locality, the bird reserve at Herdla on the neighbouring island of Askøy. Here we will look for such species as Eagle Owl And Parrot Crossbill before we head for Voss.

Sea watching at Sotra is always exciting. Brent Geese often land on the sea to rest, while Long-tailed Skua are usually in a hurry to fly north. White-tailed Eagle on the other hand tend to take it easy, and what about a Great Northern Diver in full summer plumage?

Day 2 Saturday

The tides on the Hardangerfjord will determine on how the day unfolds. During some part of the day we will visit Ulvikpollen. This is a small bracken area that holds a selection of the commoner species that can be found along the fjords. However, many species that are on their way up to the Hardangervidda stop to rest and feed. There have been spring observations of Broad-billed Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope. From Ulvik we will head for a disused railway track at Granvin. Here we should find a good selection of Scandinavian passerines like Twite, we will also be keeping an eye on the surrounding mountain ridges just in case a Golden Eagle shows up. From here it is back to Voss where we spend the rest of the day checking woodland and marshland localities for such species as White-backed Woodpecker and Icterine Warbler just to name a few. After our evening meal and a time to rest, we will be off on our evening trip to look and listen for Pygmy and Tengmalm’s Owl.

One marsh we will be visiting has had breeding Common Rosefinch, Bluethroat and Marsh Warbler. Add to this the chance of Common Crane and you have the makings of a good few hours birding

Day 3 Sunday

Today we will have to start heading back to Bergen, but not before we have checked some woodlands for both Nutcracker and Grey-headed Woodpecker

 

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.

Our Friendly Hotell At Ulvik