Olli Osmonen and Heikki Karhu LIST OF BIRD SPECIES RECORDED IN INARI LAPLAND (INARI AND UTSJOKI COMMUNES) AND MOST POPULAR BIRDWATCHING PLACES cb = common breeder fcb = fairly common breeder ub = uncommon breeder rb = rare breeder vrb = very rare breeder occ = occasional, but seen every year acc = accidental Status The sites where the species can be seen. Places have been marked to a map. Red-throated Diver rb Lake Inari, Iijärvi lake, Pulmankijärvi lake , Northern part of Vätsäri Wilderness Area. Black-throated Diver ub Ukonjärvi and Myössäjärvi area, Lake Inari, Muddusjärvi and Vastusjärvi lakes, Iijärvi lake, Pulmankijärvi lake , Northern part of Vätsäri Wilderness Area. Great Northern Diver acc (<5) White-billed Diver acc (5-10) Little Grebe acc (<5) Great Crested Grebe acc (<5) Red-necked Grebe acc (5-10) Slavonian Grebe acc (5-10) Fulmar acc (<5) Cormorant occ Juvenile birds are met in summer regulary at Lake Inari. Migrating birds are also met often in spring. Bittern acc (1) Great White Egret acc (1) Grey Heron occ (>10) White Stork acc (1) Mute Swan acc (<5) Bewick's Swan acc (<5) Whooper Swan ub Resting birds are met in spring at Mielikköjänkä bog, Nauramajänkä bog and Nokijärvi lake, Kettujoki river, Kaamasjoki river delta (Haapalahti), Kessi area. Breeding rarely till mountine birch treeline. Bean Goose ub On migration Mellanaapa bog, Mielikköjänkä bog, Ivalojoki river delta, Nauramajänkä bog and Nokijärvi lake, Iijärvi lake, Lihavakalajärvi and Joutilasjärvi lakes, Kessi area. During breedingtime secretive. Pink-footed Goose acc (5-10) Recently seen almost every year on the spring migration Bean Goose flocks. White-fronted Goose acc (5-10) Lesser White-fronted Goose vrb Extremely endangered. Bar-headed Goose acc (<5) Probably escaped. Canada Goose acc (5-10) Barnacle Goose acc (5-10) Brent Goose acc (5-10) Ruddy Shelduck acc (1) Wigeon fcb Gadwall acc(vrb) (5-10) Kaamasjoki river delta (Haapalahti). Breeding confirmed once. Teal fcb Mallard fcb Pintail ub Garganey vrb Ivalojoki river delta, Kaamasjoki river delta (Haapalahti). Shoveler vrb Ivalojoki river delta, Kaamasjoki river delta (Haapalahti). Mandarin acc (1) Probably escaped. Pochard acc (5-10) Tufted Duck fcb Scaup vrb On spring migration Nauramajänkä bog and Nokijärvi lake, Vastusjärvi lake, Kaamasjoki river delta (Haapalahti), Pasijärvi lake near Karigasniemi, Pulmankijärvi lake. Very rare and endangered breeder. Breeding confirmed in 90's only four times. Eider acc (<5) King Eider acc (<5) Long-tailed Duck ub Lake Inari, Iijärvi lake, Lihavakalajärvi and Joutilasjärvi lakes, Pulmankijärvi lake, Upland lakes near the Pulmankijärvi road. Breeds mainly at lakes of Utsjoki fell area. Common Scoter ub Aksujärvi and Kesäkotajärvi lakes, Iijärvi lake, Lihavakalajärvi and Joutilasjärvi lakes, Pulmankijärvi lake. Also on spring migration at Nokijärvi lake, Vastusjärvi lake, Kaamasjoki river delta (Haapalahti), Northern part of Vätsäri Wilderness Area. Velvet Scoter ub Aksujärvi and Kesäkotajärvi lakes, Lihavakalajärvi and Joutilasjärvi lakes, Pulmankijärvi lake. Also on spring migration as Black Scoter. Goldeneye cb Smew ub Akujärvi lake near Ivalo, Mielikköjänkä bog, Ivalojoki river delta, Kettujoki river, Kaamasjoki river delta (Haapalahti), Iijärvi lake. Red-breasted Merganser fcb Goosander fcb Honey Buzzard acc (<5) Black Kite acc (<5) White-tailed Eagle vrb Number of breeding pairs: 2-3 Egyptian Vulture acc (1) Marsh Harrier acc (<5) Hen Harrier rb Mellanaapa, Mielikköjänkä bog, Nauramajänkä bog and Nokijärvi lake. Pallid Harrier acc (1) Goshawk rb Sparrowhawk rb Ivalo area, Nauramajänkä bog and Nokijärvi lake. Buzzard acc (<5) Rough-legged Buzzard fcb Number of breeding pairs varies strongly depending on the number of lemmings and voles. Steppe Eagle acc (<5) Golden Eagle rb Pulmankijärvi lake, Tana river valley, Kevo Strict Nature Reserve. About 30 breeding pairs. Osprey ub Akujärvi lake near Ivalo, Kettujoki river, Kaamasjoki river delta (Haapalahti). Kestrel rb Merlin ub Seen uncommonly overall in the region. Hobby acc (<5) Gyrfalcon rb Tana river valley, Lihavakalajärvi and Joutilasjärvi lakes, Kevo Strict Nature Reserve, Pulmankijärvi area. About 20 breeding pairs. Peregrine vrb 4 to 6 breeding pairs. Hazel Grouse ub Lush brooksides in pine and spruce forest area: Myössäjärvi area, Juutua area, alongside the road to Nellim, Sarmitunturi Wilderness Area, Kessi area. Willow Grouse fcb Ptarmigan ub Kiilopää fell, Urupää fell, Kaktsavarri fell, Ailigas fell near Karigasniemi, Ailigas and Puollamoaivi fells, near Utsjoki. Black Grouse rb Alongside the road to Kuttura. Capercaillie ub Pine and mixed pine-spruce forests: Myössäjärvi area, Juutua area, alongside the road to Nellim, Sarmitunturi Wilderness Area, Kessi area. Quail acc (1) Pheasant acc Introduced Moorhen acc (1) Coot acc (<5) Crane rb Mellanaapa bog, Mielikköjänkä bog, Nauramajänkä bog and Nokijärvi lake, Kaamasjoki river delta (Haapalahti), bogs in Kessi area. Little Bustard acc (1) Seen in 1803. Oystercatcher occ Seen mostly on spring migration. Little Ringed Plover acc (<5) Ringed Plover ub Dotterel ub Kiilopää fell, Kaunispää and Urupää fells, Kaktsavarri fell, Ailigas fell near Karigasniemi, Ailigas and Puollamoaivi fells near Utsjoki. Golden Plover fcb Grey Plover acc (<5) Lapwing rb Breeding confirmed only on Mellanaapa bog, Mielikköjänkä bog and Nauramajänkä bog. Knot acc (<5) Sanderling acc (<5) Little Stint vrb/occ Breeding confirmed twice in Eastern part of Kaldoaivi Wilderness Area. Temminck's Stint ub Mellanaapa bog, the islets at Inari Harbour, Lihavakalajärvi and Joutilasjärvi lakes, Piesjänkä bog near Karigasniemi. Curlew Sandpiper acc (<5) Purple Sandpiper acc (<5) Dunlin ub Locally common breeder on the bogs of Utsjoki fell area and Northern Inari. Broad-billed Sandpiper ub Mellanaapa bog, Mielikköjänkä bog, Nauramajänkä bog, Roadside bog near Luomusjoki river. Ruff fcb Jack Snipe ub Mellanaapa bog, Mielikköjänkä bog, Nauramajänkä bog, Roadside bog near Luomusjoki River, Piesjänkä bog near Karigasniemi, Lihavakalajärvi and Joutilasjärvi lakes. Snipe fcb Great Snipe acc (<5) Woodcock acc (>10) Black-tailed Godwit acc (<5) Bar-tailed Godwit rb Lihavakalajärvi and Joutilasjärvi lakes, Piesjänkä bog near Karigasniemi, Upland bogs near Pulmankijärvi road, bogs of Utsjoki fell area and Northern Inari. Whimbrel fcb Curlew vrb Breeding only at Ivalojoki river delta and Kaamasjoki river delta. Redshank rb Tana river valley and Pulmankijärvi area. Spotted Redshank fcb Marsh Sandpiper acc (1) Greenshank fcb Green Sandpiper rb Spruce forests of Sarmitunturi Wilderness Area. Wood Sandpiper cb Terek Sandpiper acc (1) Common Sandpiper fcb Turnstone vrb?/occ Has bred at Lake Inari a few times. Red-necked Phalarope ub Mellanaapa bog, Mielikköjänkä bog, Nauramajänkä bog, Kaamasjoki river delta (Haapalahti), Piesjänkä bog near Karigasniemi. Grey Phalarope acc (1) Pomarine Skua acc (5-10) Arctic Skua occ Long-tailed Skua ub Piesjänkä bog near Karigasniemi, Ailigas fell near Karigasniemi, Kalatonjärvi and Joutilasjärvi lakes, Ailigas and Puollamoaivi fells near Utsjoki, Upland bogs near the Pulmankijärvi road. Great Skua acc (<5) Little Gull rb Akujärvi lake near Ivalo, Ivalojoki river delta, Kaamasjoki river delta (Haapalahti). Black-headed Gull ub Common Gull fcb Lesser Black-backed Gull occ Herring Gull vrb Migrating and wandering birds seen regularly especially near Lake Inari and Tana river valley. Glaucous Gull acc (<5) Great Black-backed Gull rb Lake Inari. Kittiwake acc (>10) Ivory Gull acc (1) Caspian Tern acc (1) Common Tern vrb Only a few breeding pairs: Kettujoki river, Inari area. Arctic Tern fcb Guillemot acc (5-10) Exhausted birds found in Wintertime, most of them have landed on roads. Br³nnich's Guillemot acc (1) Razorbill acc (<5) Found exhausted in January. Black Guillemot acc (<5) Little Auk acc (>10) Seen in autumn and early winter. Puffin acc (<5) Rock Dove vrb A few pairs breeding in Ivalo village. Stock Dove acc (1) Woodpigeon rb A few pairs breeding near Ivalo village. Collared Dove occ Most seen in Ivalo village. Turtle Dove acc (5-10) Cuckoo ub Eagle Owl vrb In recent years only three permanent territories found. Snowy Owl vrb 15 pairs bred in 1987 and 1988 in Utsjoki fell area. No confirmed breeding after that. Several records every year; mostly in Kaldoaivi Wilderness Area. Hawk Owl rb Can be seen anywhere in coniferous forest area. More common in vole years. Pygmy Owl vrb Ural Owl acc (5-10) Great Grey Owl vrb A few pairs breeding in vole years, Kessi area. Long-eared Owl vrb?/acc (<5) Breeding confirmed twice. Short-eared Owl ub Ivalojoki river delta, Kaamasjoki river delta (Haapalahti), Tana river valley. Tengmalm's Owl rb Swift rb Bee-eater acc (1) Hoopoe acc (>10) Seen almost yearly - mostly in September and October. Wryneck rb Black Woodpecker vrb Irrupting in some years, then more common. Great Spotted Woodpecker rb Numbers vary according to the irruptions. White-Backed Woodpecker acc (1) Lesser Spotted Woodpecker rb Three-toed Woodpecker ub Best seen in autumn and winter. At summer easiest to find alongside the road to Kuttura, and spruce forests of Sarmitunturi Wilderness Area. Breeds also in mountainbirch forest: e.g. Pulmankijärvi area. Skylark rb Shore Lark vrb? No observations during breeding time in 90's. A few seen almost every year on spring migration. Formely bred on Kaunispää fell and Ailigas fell near Karigasniemi. Sand Martin ub Swallow vrb Many individuals seen on spring migration every year. House Martin fcb Tree Pipit ub Meadow Pipit cb Red-throated Pipit rb Lihavakalajärvi and Joutilasjärvi lakes, Roadside bog near Luomusjoki river near Karigasniemi, Piesjänkä bog near Karigasniemi. Yellow Wagtail fcb Citrine Wagtail acc (1) Grey Wagtail acc (5-10) Pied Wagtail fcb Waxwing fcb Juutua riverside, Kessi area. Dipper rb Ravadasköngas falls in Lemmenjoki National Park, Vetsijoki river near Utsjoki. More visible in wintertime: Juutuanjoki river, where max. 20 individuals at Jurmukoski. Wren vrb/occ Seen mainly in birch groves of Kultahamina in Lemmenjoki National Park. Dunnock rb Spruce forests. Also in birch forests in valleys of Utsjoki and Tana rivers. Robin rb Spruce forests near Ivalo and Sarmitunturi Wilderness Area. Bluethroat fcb Red-flanked Bluetail acc (<5) Redstart fcb Whinchat ub Stonechat acc (1) Northern Wheatear fcb Ring Ousel vrb Steep riversides, Tana river valley and Kevo Strict Nature Reserve. About 10 breeding pairs. Blackbird occ Fieldfare fcb Song Thrush ub Redwing cb Mistle Thrush ub Sedge Warbler ub Blyth's Reed Warbler acc (<5) Icterine Warbler acc (1) Lesser Whitethroat acc (<5) Whitethroat acc (1) Garden Warbler vrb Blackcap occ Seen every year in late autumn. Greenish Warbler acc (<5) Arctic Warbler rb Mostly seen in birch groves of northern riversides, Kultahamina in Lemmenjoki National Park and Kevo Strict Nature Reserve. Yellow-browed Warbler acc (1) Wood Warbler acc (>10) Chiffchaff occ Willow Warbler cb Goldcrest occ In some autumns fairly common in spruce forests. Spotted Flycatcher fcb Pied Flycatcher fcb Long-tailed Tit acc (>10) Willow Tit ub Siberian Tit fcb Common at feeders in Wintertime. Easy to find also in autumn and late summer. Often hard to see in summertime. e.g. Myössäjärvi and Juutua areas, Karvaselkä spruce forests, Sarmitunturi Wilderness Area, Kessi area. Crested Tit acc (<5) Coal Tit acc (5-10) Blue Tit vrb A few pairs breeding in Ivalo. Great Tit ub Nuthatch acc (>10) Treecreeper acc (5-10) Golden Oriole acc (1) Red-backed Shrike acc (1) Great Grey Shrike ub Jay vrb?/occ Wanders in autumn. Some obviously breed near Ivalo village. Siberian Jay fcb In wintertime common at feeders. Loud and easy to find in autumn. Often hard to see in summer. Myössäjärvi area, Juutua area, Lemmenjoki National Park, Sarmitunturi Wilderness Area, Kessi area. Magpie fcb Nutcracker acc (>10) Heavy autumn irruption in 1995. Jackdaw acc (>10) Rook occ Seen regularely during the spring migration in March-May. Carrion Crow fcb Raven fcb Starling vrb Almost extinct Rose-coloured Starling acc (<5) House Sparrow fcb Tree Sparrow acc (>10) Chaffinch ub Brambling cb Greenfinch ub Numbers begun increasing on 80's; in Ivalo now even fairly common, because of the winter feeding. Goldfinch acc (1) Siskin rb/occ Number of bird varies hevily, can be quite common especially in summer in coniferous forests. Linnet acc (1) Twite acc (5-10) Mostly seen on spring migration in 90's. Redpoll cb Arctic Redpoll rb Some winters even more common than Common Redpoll in Ivalo area feedingtables. Two-barred Crossbill vrb Spruce forests of Sarmitunturi Wilderness Area and Karvaselkä. Crossbill ub Numbers vary from year to year. Parrot Crossbill ub Numbers vary from year to year. Some years more common than Crossbill. Scarlet Rosefinch acc (5-10) Pine Grosbeak ub Mostly seen in March and April. Hard to find in summer. Hills at Ukonjärvi and Myössäjärvi area, Hills in Juutua area, Karvaselkä spruce forests. Bullfinch ub Hawfinch occ Lapland Bunting fcb Lihavakalajärvi and Joutilasjärvi lakes, Aksujärvi and Kesäkotajärvi lakes, Roadside bog near Luomusjoki river near Karigasniemi, Piesjänkä near Karigasniemi, Upland bogs near the Pulmankijärvi road. Snow Bunting rb Kaktsavarri fell, Ailigas fell near Karigasniemi. Yellowhammer ub Ortolan Bunting acc (5-10) Rustic Bunting rb Thicket brookside spruceforests: Along the road to Kuttura, Sarmitunturi Wilderness Area. Little Bunting rb Pinebogs, with mixed birchs trees: Bog areas to the East of Ivalo. Reed Bunting fcb Corn Bunting acc (1) Indigo Bunting acc (1) Probably escaped A total of 247 bird species has been recorded in Inari Lapland area, 144 of them are breeding. Also 5 introduced or escaped species. This checklist is based on formerly published birdlists and reports concerning this area, records forwarded to Heikki Karhu and Olli Osmonen, and our personal records. Our thanks go to all observers who have reported their records. We would still like to receive your records concerning birds of Inari Lapland. Records will be published in a detailed account after they have been accepted by local and national rarities committees. Olli Osmonen Sairaalantie 6 99800 IVALO Heikki Karhu Hukkaperä 4 99800 IVALO