Arctic Birds-Watching

Many species of bird pass through here, and the best time of year to bird watch is between mid May and the end of June. However, different birds pass through at different times, as can be seen from the table below, which looks at the types of birds you may come across in Enontekiö, and when.

Overnight Tours to Palojoki Cabin in Spring

Our Palojoki Trappers' Cabins lies on the banks of the Palojoki River, close to the edge of the Tarvantovaara Wilderness area. This is a very comfortable bird-watching base close to the large Suonttajärvi lake, in the heart of the Wilderness. Palojoki is most easily accessible by snowmobile in the Spring but it is also possible to walk there in the summer.

Wilderness Hide Transfer

At the end of April and beginning of May we can shuttle folk out to our wilderness hide where you are welcome to spend the day. There are nearly always Common Cranes and Whooper Swans to find en route. A packed lunch can be made for you on request and we can either return to pick you up at a pre-agreed time or have a bird expert stay with you for the day.

Mornings at the Farm Hides in May and June

Our bird-watching mornings are possible throughout the year, outside of our peak safari season. Most mornings are normally spent on the farm where we have a number of small hides since most people like to stay in one place. However, we are also happy to take you to visit one of the two local bird-watching towers (either the Yrjö Kokko Bird Watching Tower or the Sotkajärvi Bird Watching Tower) half way through the morning, if you like.

Arctic Nature Mornings

If you are interested in learning about arctic birds but don't want to spend the whole morning in a hide, why not opt for an arctic nature morning. This combines some tuition in bird-watching with a nature walk, during which we will look at what berries, mushrooms, lichen or plants are around, depending on the season. You are also welcome to spend some of the morning on the farm with the dogs - how you spend the morning is completely up to you.

Birds of Prey

Owls

Forest Hens & Fell Birds
(Game Birds)

White-tailed Eagles Hawk Owls Willow Grouse
(Lagopus lagopus)
Golden Eagles Tengmalm's Owls Capercaillie
Falcons inc. Gyr Falcons Pygmy Owls Black Grouse
Hawks Snowy Owls (rare) Fell Birds Present from end May
Rough-legged Buzzards Great Grey Owls Rock Ptarmigan
(Lagopus muta)
Ospreys Birds Occassionally Present due to
the closeness of the Arctic Ocean
Lapland Longspur
(Lapland bunting)
Northern Fulmar
(Fulmarus glacialis)
Eurasian Dotterel
(Charadrius morinellus)
Little Auk
(Alle alle)
Long-tailed Jaeger
(Stercorarius longicaudus)

Willow Grouse are one of the emblems of the region since they have brought income to the people living here and have been part of their traditional ways of life for many years.

Common Birds, Even in Winter

Common in Winter in Smaller Numbers

Other Typical Birds

Typical Birds Cont.

Siberian Jay
(Perisoreus infaustus)
Carrion Crow
(Corvus corone)
Long Tailed Skua (Jaeger)
(Calcarius lapponicus)
Yellowhammer
(Emberiza citrinella)
Siberian Tit
(Parus cinctus)
Willow Tit
(Parus montanus)
Bluethroat Rustic Bunting
House Sparrow
(Passer domesticus)
Blue Tit
(Parus caeruleus)
Arctic Tarn Little Bunting
Great Tit
(Parus major)
Eurasian Jay
(Garrulus glandarius)
Black-throated Diver
Common Magpie
(Pica pica)
Waxwing
European Greenfinch
(Carduelis chloris)
Eurasian Siskin
Eurasian Bullfinch
(Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
Pine Grosbeak
Willow Grouse
(Lagopus lagopus)

Whooper Swans are Finland's national bird.

In late April/early May

End of May in the Village of Hetta

Late Autumn

Rare Vagrants in Hetta

First swans, inc. Whooper Swans, ducks & geese Common Redstart
(Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
Common Goldeneyes
(Bucephala clangula)
Bee-eaters
(Meropidae)
Snow Bunting
(Plectrophenax nivalis)
Pied Flycatcher
(Ficedula hypoleuca)
Long-tailed Ducks
(Clangula hyemalis)
Great Skua
(Stercorarius skua)
Common Redpoll
(Carduelis flammea)
Willow Warbler
(Phylloscopus trochilus)
Smews
(Mergellus albellus)
Lesser Kestrel
(Falco naumanni)
Brambling
(Fringilla montifringilla)
Common Cuckoo
(Cuculus canorus)
Little Grebe
(Tachybaptus ruficollis) (rare)
Dusky Thrush
(Turdus eunomus)
American Wigeon
(Anas americana)
Bluethroat
(Luscinia svecica)
Great Cormorant
(Phalacrocorax carbo) (rare)
Long-Tailed Tit
Ruddy Duck
(Oxyura jamaicensis)
Water Rail
(Rallus aquaticus) (very rare)
White-throated Dippers
(Cinclus cinclus)
Red Throated Diver &
Great Northern Diver

The Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) is Lapland’s version of the nightingale.