7-day Tour - Finland: Oulu and Kuusamo
Birding Ecotours prides itself on two things above all; tour quality and conservation and offer many trips world wide. They have teamed up with Fatbirder to offer exclusive 'anytime' tours to couples and small groups.
Price
€2076 per person based on 4 people, smaller groups may pay a surcharge. There is a supplement of €270 for single occupancy
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival at Oulu airport. Your Birding Ecotours guide will be waiting at the airport. A five minutes’ drive to our hotel. If we have enough time, we will make an excursion to see some local species (see below).
Dinner & accommodation: Hotel Vihiluoto
Days 2-3
The Oulu Region is best known for its breeding owls, which include Eagle, Ural, Great Grey, Tengmalm’s, Short-eared and Pygmy Owl, most years also Hawk and Long-eared Owl.We shall spend many hours during these two days in the forest and have an excellent chance of seeing those owls at close range. Other possible forest species are e.g. Black Grouse, Capercaillie, Black and Three-toed Woodpecker. Depending on the breeding situation, almost all the mentioned species are possible to encounter in the Kuusamo Region, as well, if missed in Oulu.
We will also visit Finland's most important wetland, the Bay of Liminka, which is a good place especially for waterfowl and shorebirds. Bitterns can be heard booming, and a few pairs of Red-backed Shrike breed here. Numerous migratory birds come here to rest and young Cranes and Whooper Swans spend their summers here. In the Bay of Liminka there are seven observation towers providing ideal vantage points. Also the surrounding fields are the hotspot for bird migration, and many interesting species can be found, such as big numbers of Lapland Buntings. Also Pallid Harrier has been a regular visitor during the past few years.
The Bothnian Bay offers a good migration route for many waterfowls and waders. If you wish, we can spend one early morning on the peninsula watching the migration. Good possibilities for a great number of divers, scoters and scoters e.g. Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter and Long-tailed Duck. Also White-billed Diver is annually accompanied in the flocks ofBlack and Red-throated Divers.
Target Species: Spotted Redshank, Caspian Tern, Black-tailed Godwit, Velvet Scoter and Garganey. Bittern, Red-backed Shrike, Pallid Harrier, Lapland Bunting, White-billed Diver.
Dinner & accommodation: Hotel Vihiluoto
Day 4
On the fourth day we’ll drive eastwards to Kuusamo through a beautiful northern landscape blanketed in forests and boglands, lakes and rivers. Kuusamo is small city by the Russian border. Birding en route.
Dinner & accommodation: Sokos Hotel Kuusamo.
Day 5
In Kuusamo we can expect to encounter a real feast for the eye in the expansive taiga forests with their eastern species. Many target species breed here.
The climb up to Valtavaara Hill for Red-flanked Bluetail is steep and the birds are never guaranteed to be singing, though the view is magnificent. The terrain is mostly easy to walk but will involve one or two steep uphill climbs, so a reasonable level of fitness is required for this excursion.
After Valtavaara we will explore the untouched Siberian taiga forest in the Oulanka National Park. Oulanka was established in the Kuusamo and Salla Region in 1956 and expanded in 1982 and 1989. The park now extends over 270 sq. km (104 sq. mi.). A natural preserve adjoining the Paanajärvi National Park on the Russian side of the border, Oulanka is the westernmost extreme of the taiga or boreal coniferous forest zone. Lunch will be served here, in a nice restaurant with the spirit of old times.
Target Species:
Red-flanked Bluetail, Rustic Bunting, Two-barred Crossbill, Pine Grosbeak, Siberian Jay, Siberian Tit, Black and Three-toed Woodpecker, Black Grouse, Willow Grouse, Hazel Hen, Capercaillie, Red-necked Grebe and Little Gull.
Dinner & accommodation: Sokos Hotel Kuusamo
Day 6
Today we will drive back to Oulu. Before departure we shall look for some species typical for Kuusamo, if needed. Birding en route.
Dinner & accommodation: Hotel Vihiluoto
Day 7
Mid-May is a very hectic time of bird migration, so some species might have reached the Oulu Region during our visit to Kuusamo. Before the departure to the homeward flight we will look for those and also some other species that we might have missed earlier.
Price Includes:
All accommodation in en suite rooms, all meals, ground transport and guiding
Price does NOT Include:
International flights, gratuities, laundry, alcohol and expenditure of a personal nature
October 2011