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Lapland
Saturday 9 - Thursday 21 June 2007 (13 days) |
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© Mike Read  Siberian Jay |
We travel to Europe's ultimate wilderness at the best time of year for the Arctic specialities in the company of local experts. Join us in the land of the midnight sun!Our tour aims to make the most of the fabulous bird and wildlife possibilities of this magical region. Starting with the forests and wetlands on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, we travel east, to the hills of Kuusamo on the Russian border, where the birds have a distinctly Siberian quality. Then we travel north to Ivalo, for the best of the northern taiga forest zone, through to the open tundra and wader-rich marshes on the Norwegian border, on to the fabulous Varangerfjord in north-east Norway. June is a time when spring arrives with amazing suddenness here, and birds are rushing on to their breeding grounds. We finish with an overnight stop in Helsinki, and a chance to see and hear many of the local marsh birds singing at dusk and on the final morning.Our local agents Finnature have unrivalled local contacts in the region, who know exactly where to find the specialities, including the all-important northern owls. Itinerary Days 1 - 3 We depart London mid-morning to arrive in Helsinki and connect with an afternoon flight to Oulu for a three night stay. The wooded shores of the almost land-locked sea of the Gulf of Bothnia are home to a good range of both resident and migrant birds at this time. Freshwater pools may have displaying Wood Sandpiper, while Fieldfare and Redwing sing from the forests. The area is unique in Europe as a breeding site, though in declining numbers, for two Siberian birds: Terek Sandpiper and Yellow-breasted Bunting. The latter can sometimes be found at an excellent wetland reserve that should also have a good range of wildfowl, including Whooper Swan and, always surprising in the far north, Garganey, as well as Marsh Harrier and Ruff in their wonderful breeding finery, and breeding Little Gull. But perhaps the bird that attracts birdwatchers to the Arctic forests more than any other is the magnificent Great Grey Owl. Sometimes they breed in this area, and our local contacts should give us the best possible chance of seeing them on an evening visit, either here or further north. Three nights Oulu Days 4 - 6 Stretching in a broken belt around the northern hemisphere, the vast coniferous forest zone, generally known by its Lapp name "taiga", is a wild wood of mammoth proportions and great biological riches. In Europe this great forest ribbon just stretches into Northern Scandinavia, but it is truly at its best here in the north of Finland. Probably the best single area of taiga in Finland is at Kuusamo, right next to the Russian border. This area of lakes and forested hills has long had a reputation for attracting Siberian forest birds, including Siberian Tit and Siberian Jay. This is the best place in Europe to look for Red-flanked Bluetail, which sing during the early hours from the tops of conifers. We stand a better chance with Little and Rustic Buntings, and there is always a chance of Two-barred Crossbill. Three nights Kuusamo Day 7 We drive through the taiga zone of forests and bogs today, north towards the small town of Ivalo. This is a marvellously beautiful wilderness area, and offers some truly exciting birdwatching. These vast mixed forests and bogs are home to a wonderful range of breeding birds. In the birches Brambling are widespread, while both Little and Rustic Buntings take more searching for. The conifers have Three-toed Woodpecker, Pine Grosbeak, and those elusive game birds, Capercaillie, Black Grouse and Hazel Grouse. We shall also visit some excellent Lapland "quaking" bogs. Out on these marshes, Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Broad-billed Sandpiper and Jack Snipe can be displaying, the latter producing a remarkable sound like hoofbeats in the sky. Wildfowl here can include Taiga Bean Goose and Whooper Swan, while small pools may hold the odd pair of Smew. Overnight Ivalo Days 8 - 10 We continue north along the Arctic Highway, where the trees gradually thin and give way to open tundra proper, where reindeer graze and Rough-legged Buzzard soar. It is a starkly beautiful land, still at this time of year with patches of lying snow. Pools here may harbour Velvet Scoter and Long-tailed Duck, the latter calling noisily, with beautiful Red-necked Phalaropes spinning for food on the edges. On the surrounding bogs trilling Temminck's Stint display, while on higher ground we may come across breeding Bar-tailed Godwit, or the dashing Long-tailed Skua patrolling a hillside. The woods along the Tana River are enchanted places, where Bluethroat twang their songs from the birches, and, with luck Waxwing and possibly Hawk Owl may be found. As the snow thaws on the tundra, an amazing range of low-growing plants are revealed, some still bearing edible berries that have spent the winter in deep-freeze. We are making for probably the best birdwatching area of Arctic Europe: Varangerfjord, where we stay for three nights at Vardø, a fishing port on the far eastern tip. On the north-east coast of Norway, and away from the benign influence of the Gulf Stream, Varangerfjord is an accessible fragment of the true High Arctic, with several birds found nowhere else in Europe. Above cliffs teeming with seabirds including Brünnich's Guillemot, we can gaze across the fjord to the mountains of Pasvik and Russia, while on the slopes around us Snow and Lapland Bunting and Shore Lark are all nesting. Arctic Skuas nest on nearby moorland, occasionally flying off to buzz the Arctic Tern colony on the shore. Eider are common along the coast here, and, uniquely in Europe, are joined by the two other species, Steller's and King Eider, while the odd Glaucous Gull patrols the beaches. If we are lucky we may also find White-billed Diver. Inland can be found some of the best fjell areas, with Golden Plover and Dotterel together with Ptarmigan, as well as smart Red-throated Pipit and Arctic Redpoll. Travelling eastwards, small, neat villages, each with their own array of fish-drying racks, and grassy meadows give way to a more and more desolate and rocky landscape. We hope, weather permitting, to take a boat from the fishing port of Vardø to Hornøya. This island boasts a huge colony of five auk species, and we always have a chance of seeing either Gyrfalcon or White-tailed Eagle, or both! Three nights Varangerfjord Day 11 We spend the day driving back into Finland to spend a night back in the taiga zone. Overnight Ivalo Day 12 We have a morning for some final birdwatching around Ivalo before flying to Helsinki, where we should have some time for birdwatching as dusk falls. Birds in song at this time may include Thrush Nightingale, and Blyth's Reed, Marsh and River Warblers, while Corncrakes call from the wet meadows. Overnight Helsinki Day 13 An early start will give us a little more time for birdwatching around Helsinki, before our flight home to the UK. |
| Principal Leader: | Tim Earl and a Finnature guide |
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| Numbers: | Max. 12 clients | |||
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Price: |
£ | 2,695 | ||
| Single supp.*: | £ | 310 | ||
| Deposit: | £ | 400 | per person | |
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The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of scheduled economy-class flights London-Oulu and Ivalo-London, airport taxes, accommodation, all meals, minibus transport, boat trip to Hornøya, incidental tips, and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes travel insurance, optional tip to local guide, drinks and other personal expenses. Manchester departures to Helsinki may be possible depending on flight schedules. Please enquire for details. |
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