Follow The Norwegian Birding Route

 

Jæren  -  The marshes, lakes and  coastline that form this part of the county of Rogaland is possibly Norway’s best birding area. Other than that it is a great hiking area. Jærstrendene is a seven mile stretch of shoreline with marked paths and constantly changing atmosphere. Smell the salt of the sea, let the wind ruffle your hair, take a swim in the clear blue waters of the north sea, but most of all, just enjoy what this great area has to offer

Spring is a fantastic time to be at Jæren and one word sums it all, “movement”. Species like divers, grebes and seaduck that have spent the winter along the Jæren coast will be getting restless, anticipating the forthcoming breeding season. Some, like the Great Northern Diver or the rarer White-billed Diver do not breed in Norway and will have to fly further a field to their breeding grounds, while others like the Common Eider will already have paired up and be on the lookout for a local nest site. Wader movement will also be evident along the coast, many of the species will be in full breeding plumage. Search the fields for Eurasian Dotterels or enjoy the vocal breeding displays of Black-tailed Godwit.

Passerines too will be passing through, the coastal fields are the first stop-over for arriving larks, pipits, finches and buntings while the many areas of coastal pine forest provide habitat for resident species as Crested Tit and Coal Tit or a rarer wind blown migrant that is just waiting to be found.    

Summer: Many of the species that arrive during the spring soon find out that Jæren also provides a varied selection of good breeding habitats. A late evening walk along farmland roads may produce calling Common Quail and Corncrake while a visit to marshier habitats cold produce Water Rail and Spotted Crake. By the end of July the first of the migrating waders will be heading south. Species such as Red Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit are amongst the first to arrive, joining the resident Ringed Plovers, Dunlins and Turnstones. Gulls too will be in good numbers, both along the coast and on the many lakes. Its always worth while checking for any “White Backed” gulls amongst the flocks as well as Little Gull that breed in the area. Passerines are well represented with most of the commoner Scandinavian species, but once again a late evening walk could produce that special species, or even the unexpected. Check areas of reedbeds or adjoining scrubland. Grasshopper Warbler breed most years while both Great Reed Warbler and Blyth’s Reed Warbler have been seen during the summer months.

Autumn: If you are interested in rarities then this is the month to visit. Both waterfowl and waders will be on the increase. The first migrating flocks of Barnacle’s and Brent’s can be observed flying south to their wintering areas. The variety of waders will also be on the increase with species like Little Stint, Temminck’s Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff and Spotted Redshank. The increase in passerines will be visible. Small flocks of the commoner members of the finch and thrush family will be gathering in the fields and wood-lands, increasing as autumn wares on. The advancement of the months will also bring with it rarities. For the rarity enthusiast, Jæren could produce the bird of a lifetime. The list of rarities is far too long to write here, but rest assured there is no better place in Norway to look for them.  

Jæren One Huge Wetland

A striking male Long-tailed Duck in breeding plumage

The repeating “kehe-itt” call of The Black-tailed Godwit can be heard at Jæren

Autumn is wader time at Jæren with the chance of something special turning up like this Pectoral Sandpiper