Bird watching IN NORWAY

Check the Willow Scrub for Bluethroat. 

Tekstboks: Covering an area of 555 sq. Km. the island community of of Hasvik offers a welcome to all its guests. Like many regions along this stretch of coastline, Hasvik too has its seabird colonies with Andotten being the better known. The natural beauty of the area and the special light conditions that can be found have made Hasvik a popular place and many a motive has been caught on film as well as on canvas. Bird watching in unspoilt nature is a dream of many, and for the birders visiting Hasvik, the dream can come true. Unspoilt nature, a moorland lake, and the wailing cry of a Red-throated Diver. Is this the perfect start to a stay at Hasvik? Or will you spend your time exploring the areas rugged coastline? Here the sea can be cruel, but that doesn't stop both the Great Cormorant and Shag from fishing. Keep an eye open for wandering Fulmar and Northern Gannet on the coastal side of the island.  Areas of freshwater should always be checked if only for Common Teal and Mallard.  If you are lucky you may also see the elegant male Northern Pintail. Back on salt water, Common Eider bob around like small corks while such species Red-breasted Merganser and Goosander can be seen on both fresh and sea water. Like other stretches of the coastline, White-tailed Eagle are not uncommon. Other birds of prey to be seen on Hasvik include both Rough-legged Buzzard and Merlin. Waders are better represented with several species. Eurasian Oystercatcher are one of the commonest, their noisy call being a welcome sign that spring has at long last arrived. European Golden Plover are a long established breeding species, the same can not be said for Northern Lapwing. This species is a relative newcomer and on the increase in the county. Ringed Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe and Common Redshank can all be found though numbers do vary. Migration periods could produce other species, Red Knot, Dunlin and Ruff have all been recorded. The seas rich fishing grounds support a host of species, some of which, like the Arctic Skua provide spectacular aerial battles when they attack unsuspecting seabirds that are returning to their nest sites. Species like Common Tern and Arctic Tern have always to be on their guard while the many Black-legged Kittiwakes and Razorbills that can be found on Andotten seem to believe that there is safety in numbers. Hasvik has also produced the unexpected like both Brunnich's Guillemot and Snowy Owl. Several Passerines have been recorded, though the island is definitely under watched. Meadow Pipit breed while both Rock Pipit and Red-throated Pipit have been seen in the breeding season. White Wagtail are amongst the first of the migrants to arrive and are quickly joined by Hedge Accentor. By mid May Common Cuckoo can be heard calling and White-throated Dipper maybe all ready feeding young if they have breed.  Check areas of scrub willow for Bluethroat while Northern Wheatear prefers more open areas. Both Fieldfare and Redwing breed on the island though numbers can vary from year to year. The same can be said for Sedge Warbler while Willow Warbler seem always to be plentiful. Brambling and Redpoll are two of the commoner members of the finch family while buntings are represented by Reed and Snow Bunting.   How to get there:  The island can be reached by air or boat. Route 882 stretches across the island from Hasvik to Sørvær. Click here for map

Hasvik

Red-throated Diver

Ringed Plover

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Accommodation

Hasvik Hotel