Birdwatching trip to Finland: owls and grouse of the far north

Back by popular demand! In the far north of Europe lies one of the most fascinating birding areas on the continent. On this special tour we travel from the vast Finnish taiga to the rugged Arctic shores of Varanger. During the midnight sun period the north teems with life, and we enjoy long days to observe birds in landscapes that grow ever wilder and more open. This route ranks among the finest birding tours in Europe and offers a unique opportunity to see species that are rare or even entirely absent in Western Europe. From mysterious owls in silent forests to spectacular seabirds along Arctic cliffs: this tour combines sought-after species with impressive northern scenery and a long list of coveted northern specialities.

Highlights of this tour

• all-inclusive except flights (including lunches)
• 12 days!
• guidance by a professional nature guide
• focus on forest birds of Finland with a Finnature excursion
• focus on tundra birds and birds of Varanger
• … and of course the fantastic STARLING atmosphere.

The Finnish taiga: rich in owls and boreal forest birds

The first part of the tour takes place in the vast taiga forests of Finland around Oulu and Kuusamo. Here we search for typical species of the boreal forest. With some luck we encounter impressive owls such as great grey owl, Ural owl, northern hawk-owl and Eurasian pygmy owl. The conifer forests are also home to characteristic taiga species such as Siberian jay, Grey-headed chickadee, Eurasian three-toed woodpecker and always a highlight, red-flanked bluetail. Western capercaillie and hazel grouse are among the possible sightings as well. It is precisely these species that make the Finnish taiga so special and that feature high on the wish list of many birdwatchers.

Lakes and wetlands of Lapland

Further north the landscape transforms into a world of lakes, rivers and vast wetlands of Lapland. Here we find a very different bird community. On the lakes breed species such as red-throated loon, black-throated loon and common goldeneye, while the wetlands hold common crane, European golden plover and ruff. Songbirds such as rustic bunting and little bunting are also typical species of this transition zone between taiga and tundra. In national parks such as Oulanka we explore impressive river gorges and vast forests where these northern species have their habitat.

Varanger: Arctic tundra and seabirds

The undisputed highlight of the tour is the Varanger Peninsula in northern Norway, one of the best birding areas in Europe for Arctic species. On the tundra we search for snow bunting, Lapland longspur, parasitic jaeger and Temminck’s stint, while the fjords hold iconic sea ducks such as king eider and Steller’s eider. Along the coasts and on seabird cliffs thousands of seabirds breed, including Atlantic puffin, razorbill and common guillemot. With species such as gyrfalcon, rough-legged buzzard and red-necked phalarope as possible additional highlights, Varanger makes for a spectacular finale to this journey through the bird-rich far north.