Sweden's Upland Birds

Tour Code: SWE07

An 8-day holiday to Vastmanland and southern Lapland in search of the region's forest, mountain and wetland birds.

8 days from
£3,895
Land only price from
£3,645
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

Beginning in the lowlands of central Sweden, we travel north to Lapland, a wild, untamed landscape and home of the nomadic Saami people. As we travel, we will explore taiga forest, lakes, wetlands, mountain and tundra habitats in search of a comprehensive range of Swedish birds that includes owls, seven woodpecker species, grouse such as Hazel and Willow Grouse, and mountain specialities of Lapland, as well as summer visitors capitalising on the seasonal abundance of insect-life. The fresh air, wonderful quality of light and spectacular scenery are among the additional pleasures of birding at these latitudes – Slavonian Grebes in full summer plumage, Bluethroats singing day and night, or the whisper of Great Grey Owl wings through the forest … this is an unforgettable place!

  • Great Grey, Pygmy, Tengmalm’s, Hawk & Ural Owls all possible
  • Beautiful upland scenery of Fulufjallet National Park
  • Dotterel, plus Lapland Bunting & Long-tailed Skua on the high plateaux
  • Explore the vast Taiga forests in search of grouse and woodpeckers
  • Raptors include Gyrfalcon, Goshawk, Honey Buzzard & White-tailed Eagle
  • Breeding Black-throated Diver, Long-tailed Duck & Red-necked Phalarope
  • Enjoy watching lekking Great Snipe

 

 

Grading

As well as gentle walks through the woods and pastures of the lowlands, this holiday also includes longer half-day walks in the mountains, so an enjoyment of walking and a reasonable level of fitness are required. All walks, however, are optional.

Lapland must surely be the most evocative, exciting and intriguing region of Scandinavia. Home to the nomadic, reindeer-herding Saami people, it is synonymous with inhospitable wilderness — a wild, untamed yet spectacular upland landscape, accessible only in high summer, outside winter’s long and icy grip. It is the high summer, too, when the region’s avian visitors move in to breed, capitalising on a phenomenal abundance of insect-life during a short season. It is these charismatic birds, and the magnificent scenery, that epitomise this holiday and, in combination with the taiga and wetland birds that we also hope to see, our itinerary offers a comprehensive range of Swedish bird specialities that includes owls, woodpeckers, grouse and the mountain specialities of Lapland.

 We begin, and end, in the lowlands of central Sweden: in Svartådalen and Berslagen. Here, attractive farmland is surrounded by lush oak forests, and lakes and wetlands lie amongst meadows and pasturelands, grazed by cattle and sheep in time-honoured fashion. Colourful, summer-plumaged Slavonian Grebes, Common Cranes, White-tailed Eagles, Ospreys and Black Terns characterise the wetlands, whilst Honey Buzzards and Goshawks, seven species of woodpecker (including Three-toed, Grey-headed and Black) and such passerines as Red-backed Shrike, Icterine Warbler, Thrush Nightingale, Common Rosefinch and Ortolan Bunting breed commonly. Here also lives the Great Grey Owl, that enigmatic taiga species more often associated with the landscape, dominated by coniferous forest, into which we will shortly be heading. This most sought-after and spectacular of birds can seem remarkably oblivious to human presence, and we will pray for a calm night and memorable views! We will also look for Pygmy Owl, plus both Tengmalm’s and Ural Owls whose owlets we will hope to see ringed when we visit their nesting sites.

Next we drive north towards the southern part of Lapland and the Scandinavian mountain range known as ‘the Scands’, passing through the farmland valleys of Dalarna and up towards scenic Lake Siljan. This is a culturally rich region of Sweden, endowed with traditional architecture, craft industries and folklore. The landscape now begins to change dramatically and our first stop amongst the mountains will be in Fulufjället National Park. Here, a walk that takes us to a dramatic gorge with a high waterfall may produce our first Rough-legged Buzzards, Siberian Jays and Siberian Tits, whilst Greenshanks breed beside the park’s visitors’ centre. On Nipfjället, the first of the truly barren mountains, we will look for Whimbrel, Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting, whilst Golden Eagles are always likely above the rocky slopes. Lower down, we will drive through valleys where Red-throated and Black-throated Divers, Velvet and Common Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Wood Sandpipers and Common Cranes all breed on the small lakes and pools by the roadside. Here we are also likely to encounter our first Reindeer, though a great many more will be seen in the mountains.

The Funäsdalen region, the southern outpost of Lapland’s special avifauna, will be the highpoint of our tour. We will spend three days here amongst its fresh air, beautiful scenery and northern birdlife, based in a mountainside hotel around which Bluethroats sing during both day and night. Climbing above the birch forest to the open tundra, we will enjoy a day’s walk on Flatruet. This is a high mountain plateau with an interesting high alpine flora and fauna, where confiding Willow Grouse, Ptarmigan, Dotterels, Red-necked Phalaropes, Temminck’s Stints, Long-tailed Skuas and both Snow and Lapland Buntings, all resplendent in full breeding attire, are amongst the many breeding species. Above, Golden Eagles, Rough-legged Buzzards, Hen Harriers and Merlins command the skies ... and, where the mountains rise dramatically to form steep cliffs, we will look out for majestic Gyrfalcons which sometimes breed in the area, as do both Short-eared and Hawk Owls during good Lemming years. At the foot of the mountains we will explore the taiga forest — home to Hazel Grouse, Hawk Owls, Three-toed Woodpeckers, Siberian Jays and Parrot Crossbills — and we may cross the border into Norway to enhance our chances of a Gyrfalcon. Finally, at night (although darkness never descends on these latitudes at this season!), we will enjoy one of Scandinavia’s finest shows ... at the lek of the Great Snipe. Here, on an alpine meadow at the foot of a great mountain, they perform their peculiar song and dance display, seemingly unaware of our human presence.

After a wonderful time in this magical alpine environment, we must reluctantly return south, perhaps stopping to look for Eagle Owl and Blyth’s Reed Warbler en route. Back in Svartådalen (the Black River Valley) for our final night, we have a chance to catch up with any of the owls, woodpeckers or wetland birds that we may have missed on our initial visit, and an option to enjoy some night-time birding in search of such species as Corncrake, Spotted Crake and Marsh Warbler!

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Västerås (Stockholm); transfer Svartedalen
Day 2
Svartådalen and Dalarna; overnight Tallberg
Day 3/5
Fulufjället National Park, then Flatruet plateau; overnight Tännäs, Funäsdalen
Day 6
Taiga forest, Nipfjället; overnight Alvdalen
Day 7
Svartådalen
Day 8
Transfer Västerås (Stockholm) and fly London
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    We stay in comfortable hotels and guesthouses, where all rooms have private facilities.

  • Food:

    All food is included in the price.

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Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Sun 24th May – Sun 31st May SPACES £3,895
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Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,645
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£395

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

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