Bird watching IN NORWAY

May is a good time to look for Great Northern Divers at Fedje
Tekstboks: The small island of Fedje has one of the highest species list in the county. Situated on the main migration route for many species a few days birding can give good results. During May you can see all four species of Diver in a day, and if you are lucky witness flocks of Barnacle Geese on there way to Svalbard The island itself is mostly covered by moorland with uncountable small lakes and boggy marshes. Here you will find breeding Greylag Geese as well as good numbers of Meadow Pipit and Northern Wheatear. Other species that find this habitat to their liking are European Golden Plover and Eurasian Curlew. Common Snipe can also usually be seen "drumming" over the marshes during the spring months. In some areas you will find coniferous plantations, these mostly consist of small of wind-torn trees, and do the job as a wind breaker as well as providing habitat for such species as Common Redstart, Willow Warbler, Siskin and Redpoll.   However, it is rarities that make this island of great interest to birders from the main land, and the island can boast a impressive list of rare birds including  Great Shearwater, Pratincole sp, Ivory Gull, Calandra Lark, Olive-backed Pipit, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Rustic Bunting. Just to name a few. For the past few years such species as Yellow-browed Warbler have been seen regularly. On the north and west side of the island there are many small islands, here you will find some of the commoner seabirds including Common Tern, Arctic Tern and Black Guillemot. The islands also provide breeding sites for Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Great Black-backed Gull. As with most islands out in the north sea there is very little vegetation. You  will find some plantations, but most of the trees, bushes and shrubs that can be found are in people's gardens around the island. It is this type of habitat that provides shelter for the many wind blown birds that can be found on the island. A day or two's birding on this pleasant and charming island can produce the unexpected, and quite often does.  How to reach the area: To get to Fedje from Bergen follow E39 north, heading towards Knarvik. From here follow route Rv 57 to the ferry at Sævrøy. Once on the island it is just a mater of checking the different type of habitats. Don't forget to check peoples gardens, many of the rarer birds that have been recorded on the island have been seen in this type of habitat. And don't worry, the people who live on the island are a friendly bunch, and through the years they have become use to birders wandering around peering over hedgerows. For the best seabird watching I would suggest sitting at Mulen.  For information on ferry times you can phone the following number: 56 16 43 20. Click here for map.

Fedje

Red-breasted Flycatcher  -  just one of many rarities to have been seen on Fedje

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