Early Summer in Finnish Taiga

From the very beginning, the Finnature’s most popular birding holiday package has been the Finland week in May/June, covering the forests and coastal area in Oulu region, and the westernmost extension of Siberian taiga forest in Kuusamo region.
The most sought-after specialities and definite highlights of this trip are the Owls. Oulu area is best known for its breeding owls, which include Great Grey, Ural, Eagle, Tengmalm’s, Pygmy and Short-eared Owl, most years also Hawk and Long-eared Owl. We shall spend some of these days in the forest and have an excellent chance of seeing those, at close range.

Other possible forest species are e.g. Black Grouse, Capercaillie, Black- and Three-toed Woodpeckers. We will also visit in Finland's most important wetland, Liminka Bay, which is good place especially for waterfowl and shorebirds. Ruff are lekking on the surrounding meadows and fields representing their colourful collars and tufts. Numerous migratory birds come to rest and young Common Cranes and Whooper Swans spend their summers here. Pallid Harrier and Citrine Wagtail are rare breeding birds in the area, naturally being our targets, too.

In Kuusamo we can expect to encounter a veritable feast of eastern specialities in the expansive taiga forests. Red- flanked Bluetail, Little- and Rustic Bunting, Siberian Jay and - Tit, Waxwing, Black- and Three-toed Woodpecker, Capercaillie, Hazel-, Black- and Willow Grouse, Red-necked Grebe and Little Gull all breed here.

One day we will explore the untouched Siberian taiga forest in Oulanka National Park. A natural preserve adjoining the Paanajärvi National Park across the Russian border, Oulanka is the westernmost extreme of the taiga or boreal coniferous zone. In addition to beard-lichened, thick-mossed spruce forests, lichen-clad upland pine forests, wild river valleys and miry aapa bogs, Oulanka also preserves wild flora and fauna including innumerable rarities.

Time: May-mid June, 5 – 7 days (Oulu-Kuusamo-Oulu)
Check list of species: Coming soon
Tour operators: Coming soon