One week at Lista Fyr, Lista, Vest-Agder

This trip has been on the cards since late last year. Lista is an important stopover within the Jaeren birding circuit and makes up  one of several must go birding sites in Norway. Between April to November the coast of Jaeren offers many ticks being on the migration route, closest landmass between the UK and the continent. Waterbirds, ducks, passerines, seabirds, waders, raptors ... Lista has got it all.

Lista Fuglestasjon is located on the grounds of the lighthouse, many years of ringing and recording has taken place at this site. They've got records dating back to 1987 if not earlier.

We planned the trip such that it coincides with the spring migration, this year as it turned out Spring was a bit late. When we arrived on the grounds to pick up our keys to the apartment and lighthouse, the fields were still frozen. There was still snow on the compound.

The one week stay combined birdwatching for the family, low light photography as well as some country walking and sightseeing. The kids enjoyed running around the compound, I the birdwatching.

Shelduck, also my first on this trip. It was high on the list of ducks that I wanted to see here.

Skylarks were the most obvious passerines in the open fields at Lista. It's was still too early for the others.

A likely scene at Lista over the years. We saw migrating geese only towards the end of our week, when in started to get warmer and the winds blowing in the northerly direction.

Some Mallards settling in for the evening. 

Birders are the second common sight here after the birds.

White-tailed Eagle, new bird for me, sighted three at different locations during the trip.

The rocky coast, part of the 100km  birding coastline. Over the horizon is the town of Borhaug where the Natur og Fritid shop is located. It has a big collection of birds and nature books on sale.

The Lista Fyr.

Although the bird activity level has not peaked during our stay, many birds made it to my list of firsts. Woodcock, Gannet, European Shag, Skylark, Shelduck, White-tailed Eagle, Black-backed Seagull were among them. This was a recce trip for the many more visits planned to the area. It was a nice quiet orientation week to an important birding destination in Norway.

Nazeri Abghani/Apr 2013