Birdwatching at Stjørdalselva

Many will be thinking of salmon fishing when they hear about Stjørdalselva. However, with its gravel banks, oxbow lakes, and creeks, this river is also an excellent place for birdwatchers to spend their time. Alongside the river, there are breeding and staging areas as well as overwintering areas for water birds. Many different passerines thrive around this river, creating a lifeful atmosphere during the summer part of the year. The riverbanks of this area actually contain some of the densest breeding populations of passerines in the world!

Map over Stjørdalselva

Nice Viewpoints Along the River
Below you will find a short description of nice viewpoints along the river. More details can also be found in the description of the PDF-map.

Leksosen – River mouth with beach meadows and grey alder forest. Staging area for ducks and gulls.

Reppesleiret – Riverbank. High density of breeding passerines. Easy to access, but with restrictions on driving down to the river. Protected as Reppesleiret nature reserve.

Notenget – Backwater of Stjørdalselva with muddy foreshore and beach meadows surrounded by grey alder forest. Staging area for swans, geese, ducks, and waders.

Bergshølen – Oxbow lake by the main road E14. Staging area for swans and ducks and breeding place for passerines, including Sedge Warblers.

Øfsti – Agriculture landscape on the southside of the river containing cattle grazing land, cornfields, and grey alder forest. Staging area for Common Cranes both spring and autumn. Waders and passerines also enjoy this area.

Moaneset – Fields between the main road E14 and Stjørdalselva on both sides of Gråelva. Permanent Staging area for Common Cranes both spring and autumn and to a certain degree for swans and geese. Waders like the Golden Plover, rest here in smaller flocks, and the Eurasian Dotterel is seen regularly during the spring migration, particularly when the weather is bad.

Trøite – Remains of old oxbow lakes and riverbanks. Staging area for swans, ducks, and waders (for example Jack Snipes). Breeding area for passerines, including Sedge Warblers. Previously a ringing area for Trøite ringmerkingsstasjon (Trøite Ringing Observatory) in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Bjertemsøra – Riverbanks with remains of old river courses. Breeding area for passerines, including Sedge Warblers. By the river, there is a small bay with mud bottom, whereas swans, ducks, and waders, among them Jack Snipes, rest regularly. The easiest way to see the birds in the bay is with a telescope from the caravan site on the southside of the river. In that way, you will avoid undue disturbance of the birdlife. Protected as Hegramo Nature Reserve.

Helpful Information

Accommodation

Did you know …

Bird Species Seen in the Area

Bird Species Seen in the Area

Rare Birds at Stjørdalselva
These observations on rare birds at Stjørdalselva illustrate the potential of this area:
Tundra Swan, Bar-headed Goose, Mandarin Duck, Little Bittern, Little Egret, Great Egret, Corn Crake, Greater Yellowlegs, European Turtle-Dove, Eurasian Hoopoe, Red-throated Pipit, Black Redstart, Common Grasshopper-Warbler, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Lesser Grey Shrike, Hoary Redpoll, Little Bunting.

Norsk Ornitologisk Forening
(in norwegian)