Birdlife in Moskenes & Flakstad, Lofoten

Birdlife in the  Lofoten Islands is varied and fascinating. Approximately 100 species have been sighted in Moskenes and Flakstad, many of which are random visitors that occur due to the location and character of the islands. The geographical diversity of the Lofoten Islands is reflected in the species found here. These include birds of prey like the white-tailed sea eagle, hawks, falcons and owls; waders, divers, ducks and geese, gulls, puffins, and smaller birds like the bluethroat, waxwing, great spotted woodpecker, snowbunting, dipper, to mention but a few.
 

Birds observed mainly in Moskenes

Ducks/geese/swans

Mallard
Teal

Tufted duck

Greater scaup

Goldeneye
Eider duck

Kiing eider
Red-breasted merganser

Goosander

Long-tailed duck
Mandarin duck

Greylag goose

Pink-footed goose

Whooper swan

Red-throated diver

Birds of Prey

White-tailed sea eagle
Peregrine falcon

Hawk owl
Golden eagle

Merlin

Rough-legged buzzard

Goshawk

Sparrowhawk

Waders, etc.

Oystercatcher
Common sandpiper
Curlew
Whimbrel

Lapwing (
Pewitt)

Golden plover
Dotterel

Snipe


Grey heron


Crows, etc.

Hooded crow
Raven
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook


Doves, etc.
 
Turtle dove
 
Wood pigeon
Collared dove

Cuckoo
Rock ptarmigan

Gulls, etc.

Great skua
Arctic skua

Black-headed gull
Kittiwake

Lesser black-backed gull

Great black-backed gull

Common gull

Fulmar

Common/Arctic tern
Gannet
Puffin
Guillemot
Black guillemot
Razorbill

Small birds:

Pied flycatcher, spotted flycatcher, house martin, swallow, bluethroat, robin,willow warbler, yellow-browed warbler, fieldfare, blackbird, starling, pied wagtail, redwing, great tit, sparrow, reed bunting, great spotted woodpecker, brambling, twite, common whitethroat, wheatear, blackcap snow bunting, arctic redpoll, siskin, chaffinch, redstart, crossbill, ring ouzel, bullfinch, dipper, greenfinch, common linnet, meadow pipit, goldcrest, wren, bluetit, pine grosbeak.


White-tailed sea eagle

Red-throated diver

Rock ptarmigan

Waxwing

Meadow pipit





















Kittiwake


Oystercatcher














Red-breasted merganser


Hooded crow
















Cormorant


Herring gulls and blackbacks


Text, observations and all photos: Robert Walker
All birds photographed in Moskenes and Flakstad.




















Great tit