Follow The Norwegian Birding Route

 

The thought of the west of Norway conjures up an image of high mountains and steep and narrow valleys. This is not so at Voss, though it has its fair share of high mountains the main valley is far from steep. The landscape changes dramatically, two major waterway systems, lakes and marshes dominate the surroundings. These waterways are not only dramatic to look at, they also act as a migration route for the many species that visit Voss.

Spring: The bubbling sound of water breaking through the melting ice is a true sound of spring. Add to this the bubbling song of Norway’s national bird, the White-throated Dipper and the scene is complete. No other Norwegian species is so at home, disappearing into the icy waters, only to appear somewhere else, bobbing up and down as if to shake the water of its back. But the White-throated Dipper will not be the only species to look out for around the lakes and marshes of Voss. Common Crane are an annual spring visitor, and though numbers are never high, the species is seen most springs. Wildfowl and waders will also be on the increase. By the end of March Chiffchaff will be one of the first migrants to arrive, closely followed by Pied Flycatcher and Common Redstart. Though these species are great songsters, it isn’t until such species as Icterine Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Blackcap turn up  that a dawn outing comes into its own right. If this is not enough, dusk can be as equally exciting, especially if you go out and look for Europe’s smallest owl, the Pygmy Owl or its slightly larger cousin, the Tengmalm’s Owl.

Summer: Summer is a time of intense breeding activity. Most of the interesting breeding species are migrants, and they are full aware of the fact that time counts, and that they have to make the most of the summer months. The marshes at Voss hold a large number of species. Waterfowl are well represented with several breeding species and there is a good selection of the commoner waders as well as some more interesting like Little-ringed Plover, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper. The marshes will also be good for passerines. Whinchat can be found in most areas with some marshes having several breeding pairs. One species that seems to arrive well into the summer months is the Marsh Warbler, though this species is rare in the west of Norway, Voss is the exception with the species being recorded most years if only single birds. Another species that seems to established itself is the Common Rosefinch. Listen out for its characteristic call from May onwards, and if you are lucky enough to see a stunning male, then you will see what we mean.

Autumn: Though late July is not regarded as being an autumn month, this is when wader movements can start. Usually it is adult birds moving down from their mountain breeding grounds before they start their southbound migration. 31 species of wader have been recorded at Voss and by the end of July such species as Temminck’s Stint or Great Snipe could be joining the commoner Dunlin, Greenshank and Common Sandpiper on the marshes or the shores of the many lakes. Passerines to will be on the move.  Generally numbers will be good, helped by the years young. Tree Pipits will become more evident while around the grassy slopes of the lake in Voss, large numbers of White Wagtail will start to congregate, always on the lookout for an attacking Eurasian Sparrowhawk or Merlin. By late autumn the once green woodlands change to a thousand shades of browns and gold. Thousands of Fieldfare, Song Thrush and Redwing are on the move, a sight for those who like watching visible migration.

 

Voss  -  Great Birding  - Great Scenery

Icterine Warblers nearly always sing from the tops of small trees

Merlin, a small bird specialist, no pipit or wagtail is safe when this species is hunting.

Small numbers of Common Rosefinch are seen at Voss most years