FINLAND & ARCTIC NORWAY Boreal and Arctic Birding at its best!
.The wild and unspoilt countryside of Finland and Norway are home to some of Europe’s rarest birds, and if you have ever dreamed of seeing the northern specialities then this tour is a must. We begin at the "owl mecca" of Oulu, which is home to arguably the most sought-after species, with the magnificent Great Grey, Ural, Hawk, Eagle, Tengmalm’s and Pygmy Owls all exceedingly possible. Moving on to Kuusamo and the vast taiga forests of central Finland we have further chances of finding owls, as well as other sought-after specialities which are easier to find here than anywhere else in Europe such as Hazel Grouse, Capercaillie, Three-toed Woodpecker, Siberian Jay, Siberian Tit, Pine Grosbeak, Northern Red-flanked Bluetail, and both Little and Rustic Buntings. Then we head north into the Arctic Circle and Lapland, before moving on to the great wilderness of the Varanger peninsula, where the landscape of barren treeless tundra echoes to the sound of breeding waders, and where spectacular mountain peaks, steep fjord bottoms and glaciers can provide us with White-tailed Eagle, Ptarmigan, Dotterel and Red-necked Phalarope, and we can always hope for a Snowy Owl or Gyr Falcon. The towering sea cliffs of Hornoya Island are home to numerous seabirds including the sublime Brünnich’s Guillemot, while the rocky coast and Barent’s Sea play host to White-billed Diver, King and Steller’s Eiders, Long-tailed Skua and huge White-tailed Eagles. With our expert local guide we will be in safe hands as we visit secret sites well off the beaten track in search of some of the Western Palearctic's most-wanted species.
Weds 29th May - Mon 10th June 2024
KEY SPECIES
Here are just a few of the key species we will be targetting on this tour:
- White-billed Diver
- King Eider
- Steller's Eider
- Smew
- Brunnich's Guillemot
- Western Capercaillie
- Willow Grouse
- Black Grouse
- Broad-billed Sandpiper
- Eurasian Dotterel
- White-tailed Eagle
- Pallid Harrier
- Gyr Falcon
- Great Grey Owl
- Northern Hawk Owl
- Eurasian Pygmy Owl
- Tengmalm's Owl
- Ural Owl
- Eurasian Eagle Owl
- Long-tailed Skua
- Pomarine Skua
- Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker
- Black Woodpecker
- Northern Red-flanked Bluetail
- Siberian Jay
- Siberian Tit
- Arctic Redpoll
- Two-barred Crossbill
- Pine Grosbeak
- Rustic Bunting
- Little Bunting
- A visit to the fantastic bird island of Hornoya!
Leader: Nick Bray and Finnature guide.
Ground Price: £4950.00 - Oulu/Ivalo
Single supplement: £575.00
Deposit: £500.00
Group size: Maximum of 10.
Included in cost: Accommodation in twin en-suite rooms, all meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 13, all ground transport throughout, boat trip to Hornoya Island, entrance fees to national parks, and services of expert local guide.
Not included: International airfare, laundry, personal tips, alcoholic drinks, souvenirs, insurance of any kind,
Tour Code: This is a standard birding tour with all-day birding for those that wish. Expect the weather to be generally unsettled, ranging from snow & sleet and very cold to warm and short-sleeve weather! Above all, be prepared for all eventualities!