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Rovaniemi

Lapland

Finland

   

10-17 Jan 2024

Observers: F. Simpson, L. Simpson, J. Simpson

 

Introduction


This was a family break for our son's birthday to meet the real Santa Claus in Lapland, Finland. We stayed at the Santa Claus Holiday Village on the Arctic Circle. Having visited Finland twice previously in midsummer for birding, I was happy just to note down any species I encountered on this non-birding trip. Daily temperatures were mainly around -20°C but I never felt too cold with the appropriate clothing on and our cottage accommodation was very toasty with underfloor heating and a sauna. I saw 17 species around the site, in Rovaniemi town, and Ounasvaara (hill to the east of Rovaniemi).

 

View from Rovaniemi Airport at sunset © Fraser Simpson View from Rovaniemi Airport at sunset

 

Santa Claus Holiday Village, Napapiiri, Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland © Fraser Simpson Santa Claus Holiday Village, Napapiiri, Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

 

Winter walking trail, Ounasvaara, Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland © Fraser Simpson Winter walking trail, Ounasvaara, Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

 

Reindeer sleigh ride, Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland © Fraser Simpson Reindeer sleigh ride, Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

  

 

 

 Species List


Feral Pigeon  Columba livia


Singles/pairs + flock of 14, Rovaniemi town centre, 11-Jan.

5, Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, 14-Jan.

Noted, Rovaniemi town centre, 16-Jan.

 

Great Spotted Woodpecker  Dendrocopus major


2, on edge of Siberian Spruce forest, Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, 11-Jan.

1, flew over the E75, Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, 11-Jan.

9, Mykkälä-Rinteenmäki-Syväsenvaara, Rovaniemi, 12-Jan.

2. Rukinpolku, Rovaniemi, 14-Jan.

3, Tarvantie, Rovaniemi, 15-Jan.

3, Ounasvaara ruokinta 1 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

 

House Sparrow  Passer domesticus


A few daily, Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, 10-17 Jan.

14, coming to sunflower seed feeder, Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, 14-Jan.

Noted, Rovaniemi town centre, 16-Jan.

 

Blue Tit  Cyanistes caeruleus


5, Mykkälä-Rinteenmäki-Syväsenvaara, Rovaniemi, 12-Jan.

2+, Ounasvaara ruokinta 1 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

4+, Ounasvaara ruokinta 2 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

 

Great Tit  Parus major


2, including singing male, Rovaniemi town centre, 11-Jan.

4, Mykkälä-Rinteenmäki-Syväsenvaara, Rovaniemi, 12-Jan.

12+, coming to sunflower seed feeder, Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, 14-Jan.

Noted, Rovaniemi town centre, 16-Jan.

7+, Ounasvaara ruokinta 1 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

10+, Ounasvaara ruokinta 2 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

 

Crested Tit  Lophophanes cristatus


2+, Ounasvaara ruokinta 2 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

 

Willow Tit  Poecile montanus


4, Mykkälä-Rinteenmäki-Syväsenvaara, Rovaniemi, 12-Jan.

4+, Ounasvaara ruokinta 1 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

5+, Ounasvaara ruokinta 2 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

 

Treecreeper  Certhia familiaris


1, near Ounasvaara ruokinta 2 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

 

Siberian Jay  Perisoreus infaustus


1, near Ounasvaara ruokinta 2 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

 

Black-billed Magpie  Pica pica


2+ daily, Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, 10-17 Jan.

4, Rovaniemi town centre, 11-Jan.

7, Mykkälä-Rinteenmäki-Syväsenvaara, Rovaniemi, 12-Jan.

Noted, Rovaniemi town centre, 16-Jan.

1, Ounasvaara ruokinta 1 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

 

Jackdaw  Corvus monedula


Singles/pairs + group of 5, Rovaniemi town centre, 11-Jan.

Noted, Rovaniemi town centre, 16-Jan.

 

Hooded Crow  Corvus cornix


c250, leaving roost at 08:30, Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, 11-Jan.

Several singles/pairs, Rovaniemi town centre, 11-Jan.

2, Mykkälä-Rinteenmäki-Syväsenvaara, Rovaniemi, 12-Jan.

371, flew in to roost 15:00-15:40, Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, 13-Jan.

Noted, Rovaniemi town centre, 16-Jan.

2, Ounasvaara ruokinta 1 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

 

European Greenfinch  Chloris chloris


2, Mykkälä-Rinteenmäki-Syväsenvaara, Rovaniemi, 12-Jan.

 

Eurasian Siskin  Carduelis spinus


2, Mykkälä-Rinteenmäki-Syväsenvaara, Rovaniemi, 12-Jan.

 

Common Redpoll  Carduelis flammea


3, feeding in Silver Birch outside Three Elves Restaurant, Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, 12-Jan.

7, Mykkälä-Rinteenmäki-Syväsenvaara, Rovaniemi, 12-Jan.

 

Common Crossbill  Loxia curvirostra


8, Mykkälä-Rinteenmäki-Syväsenvaara, Rovaniemi, 12-Jan.

2, over Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, 14-Jan.

8, over Ounasvaara ruokinta 2 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

 

Common Bullfinch  Pyrrhula pyrrhula


4, Mykkälä-Rinteenmäki-Syväsenvaara, Rovaniemi, 12-Jan.

4, Ounasvaara ruokinta 1 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

12, Ounasvaara ruokinta 2 feeding site, Rovaniemi, 16-Jan.

14, Rovaniemi Airport, 17-Jan.

 

 

View from Rovaniemi Airport at sunset © Fraser Simpson Partially-frozen Kemijoki (longest river in Finland), Rovaniemi

 

View from Rovaniemi Airport at sunset © Fraser Simpson

Low winter sun, Rovaniemi

 

View from Rovaniemi Airport at sunset © Fraser Simpson

Low winter sun, Rovaniemi

 

Road to Syväsenvaara, Rovaniemi © Fraser Simpson Road to Syväsenvaara, Rovaniemi

 

Ice bar, Snowman World, Rovaniemi © Fraser Simpson

Ice bar, Snowman World, Rovaniemi

 

Cottages at Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi © Fraser Simpson Cottages at Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi

 

Cottages at Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi © Fraser Simpson Cottages at Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi

 

Cottages at Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi © Fraser Simpson Cottages at Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi

 

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), Santa's post office, Snowy footpath/cyclepath © Fraser Simpson Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), Santa's post office, Snowy footpath/cyclepath

 

Ounasvaara, Rovaniem © Fraser Simpson Ounasvaara, Rovaniemi

 

Ounasvaara, Rovaniem © Fraser Simpson Ounasvaara, Rovaniemi

 

Center Parcs, Whinfell Forest © Fraser Simpson

  

Arctic Circle (Napapiiri) marker on the E75, Rovaniemi © Fraser Simpson Arctic Circle (Napapiiri) marker on the E75, Rovaniemi

 

View from Rovaniemi Airport at sunset © Fraser Simpson View from Rovaniemi Airport at sunset

 

Center Parcs, Whinfell Forest © Fraser Simpson

 

Flying over the frozen Gulf of Bothnia at sunset © Fraser Simpson Flying over the frozen Gulf of Bothnia at sunset

 

 

 

 


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