ulvik

Bird watching IN NORWAY

Spotted Flycatcher - often seen darting out to catch insects.

Tekstboks: The small hamlet of Ulvik, which is situated at the very end of Norway's second longest fjord makes the ideal place to explore the surrounding countryside. Here you can follow the winding road from Osa into the mountains looking out for Golden Eagle on the way. Once in the mountains, European Golden Plover, Meadow Pipit and Northern Wheatear are some of the commoner species you should find. By spring Great-spotted Woodpeckers can be heard drumming from the depths of the woods, while the "laughing" call of the Green Woodpecker can be heard across the valley. Make sure to double check your Green Woodpecker, there are also Grey-headed Woodpeckers in the area. By late April Fieldfares will be forming nesting colonies, while its near relatives, the Redwing and the Song Thrush can be heard calling, often from the top of a pine or other high tree. By May the true songsters have arrived, and it is not impossible to hear Icterine Warbler, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap all singing from different areas. It is however Willow Warbler that is the commonest member of the warblers. Other species that can be encountered along the way include Goldcrest, check areas of pinewood for this species. Spotted Flycatchers are often easier to find, and can be seen darting out from a fence wire or a post along the road. Thanks to the variety of woodlands, the number of species that are in the area make it well worth exploring. Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit and Great Tit can all be found. During late summer and early autumn Nutcrackers are actively collecting Hazel nuts and can be seen flying to and from areas with Hazel trees. Common Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Siskin should be the commoner members of the finch family that you will find. If you are lucky however you could just see Common or Parrot Crossbill. Numbers vary from year to year depending on the pinecone harvest. At Ulvikpollen you will find a small nature reserve with a hide. This is only one of a few areas in the county where you will find saltmarsh. The area is very small, making viewing very easy. Some of the characteristic species for the area include Grey Heron and Mallard. Both Common Teal and European Wigeon arrive in the spring, while ducks such as Tufted Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter and Common Goldeneye can be sometimes encountered feeding in the shallow fjord. At low tide small areas of mudflats appear, this attracts Eurasian Oystercatchers, European Golden Plovers, Northern Lapwings, Common Redshanks and Common Snipe during the spring. The area is known however for its fair share of rarer waders. Little Ringed Plover has been seen most springs during the past few years. Autumn is the best time however with the chance of seeing Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, Broad-billed Sandpiper and Great Snipe. The areas of small bushes and trees that can be found on the reserve hold such species as Whinchat, Common Whitethroat and Reed Bunting during the summer months. During the autumn Bluethroat can usually be seen skulking around in the vegetation. How To Get There: From Bergen it is about a two hour drive, from Voss, a little over half an hour. From Voss follow the RV13 towards Granvin. Here you will see road signs for Ulvik. You can also get to Ulvik by train to Voss, and then by bus. To find Ulvikpollen, follow the road along the fjord towards Osa. After2 km you will come to a road that is signposted Hjeltnes, follow this road for a few hundred metre, at the greenhouses you will find a map of the area, and though well hidden by trees and bushes, there is a small hide on the shoreline.

Click here for map.

Ulvik

Little Stint - just one of the more interesting waders to have been recorded at Ulvikpollen

Tekstboks: Interesting in seeing some of the area’s more interesting species. If you need a guide, then just send me an e-mail

Tekstboks: Ulvik is on the Norwegian Birding Route. Click here for more information

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