Norway Ramsar wetland
Roaldsand Wildlife Sanctuary
204 bird species recorded; the most from April to May.
Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 by EOX IT Services GmbH (contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data), CC BY 4.0, with relief shading from Copernicus WorldDEM-30
This month here
102 species in January.98 species in February.108 species in March.134 species in April.143 species in May.131 species in June.116 species in July.125 species in August.131 species in September.131 species in October.105 species in November.104 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
NT
VU
VU
VU
NT
VU
VU
NT
NTNT
NT
VU
VU
NT
NT
NT
VU
NT
NTNT
NTNTNT
NTNTNTNT
NT
NT
NT
NTNT
NT
NTNT
NT
NT
NTNT
VUNTNT
NTVU
NTNTVUVUVUNT
VUVUVU
NT
NTVUVUVU
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
204 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 204Speciesrecorded more than once
- 129Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 10ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 15,203Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 13Raptors
- 5Owls
- 30Waders
- 26Gulls & seabirds
- 31Ducks & geese
- 9Herons, ibises & grebes
- 2Storks & cranes
- 75Songbirds
- 13Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 204 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors13 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicilla
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Eurasian GoshawkAccipiter gentilis
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Rough-legged BuzzardButeo lagopus
- Gyr FalconFalco rusticolus
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
Owls5 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Northern Eagle OwlBubo bubo
- Long-eared OwlAsio otus
- Northern Hawk-OwlSurnia ulula
Waders30 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- RedshankTringa totanus
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima
- Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- Temminck's StintCalidris temminckii
- Great SnipeGallinago mediaNT
Gulls & seabirds26 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common LoonGavia immer
- European Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Common GullLarus canus
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Red-throated LoonGavia stellata
- Black GuillemotCepphus grylle
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Northern gannetMorus bassanus
- Black-legged kittiwakeRissa tridactylaVU
- RazorbillAlca torda
- Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
- Iceland GullLarus glaucoides
- Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus
- Black-throated DiverGavia arctica
- European Storm-PetrelHydrobates pelagicus
- Common MurreUria aalge
- Yellow-billed DiverGavia adamsiiNT
- Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaVU
- FulmarFulmarus glacialis
- Little AukAlle alle
- Great skuaStercorarius skua
- Pontic gullLarus cachinnans
Ducks & geese31 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Common EiderSomateria mollissimaNT
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
- Velvet scoterMelanitta fuscaVU
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
- Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisVU
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
- Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Brent GooseBranta bernicla
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollisVU
- Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalis
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- King EiderSomateria spectabilis
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostris
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Snow gooseAnser caerulescens
Herons, ibises & grebes9 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis
- Horned GrebePodiceps auritusVU
- Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Storks & cranes2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common CraneGrus grus
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
Songbirds75 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- European Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Great titParus major
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Willow TitPoecile montanus
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Common RedpollAcanthis flammea
- TwiteLinaria flavirostris
- Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- Western JackdawColoeus monedula
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- European Crested TitLophophanes cristatus
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- Parrot CrossbillLoxia pytyopsittacus
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Common crossbillLoxia curvirostra
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Lesser whitethroatSylvia curruca
- Paddyfield WarblerAcrocephalus agricola
- Rosy StarlingPastor roseus
- Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus
- White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucoptera
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus
- Marsh warblerAcrocephalus palustris
- Icterine warblerHippolais icterina
- Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris
- Blyth’s Reed WarblerAcrocephalus dumetorum
- Eurasian TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Citrine WagtailMotacilla citreola
- Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatus
- HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes
- Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
- Eurasian River WarblerLocustella fluviatilis
Other birds13 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- European Water RailRallus aquaticus
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Corncrake, corn crakeCrex crex
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- Bee-eaterMerops apiaster
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- European SwiftApus apus
- Black GrouseLyrurus tetrix
- Spotted CrakePorzana porzana
- WryneckJynx torquilla
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species from April to May.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan2°/-1°172 mm
- Feb2°/-1°147 mm
- Mar3°/0°138 mm
- Apr7°/3°105 mm
- May10°/6°102 mm
- Jun13°/9°116 mm
- Jul16°/11°131 mm
- Aug16°/12°155 mm
- Sep13°/9°183 mm
- Oct9°/6°152 mm
- Nov5°/2°172 mm
- Dec3°/0°194 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Roaldsand Wildlife Sanctuary.
Protected area in Norway
Roaldsand Wildlife Sanctuary is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in Norway.
204 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 15,203 open records.
The most recorded are the Eurasian Curlew, the Common Loon and the Eurasian Oystercatcher.
63 species come for the summer, 63 for the winter and 3 only pass through.
10 are threatened worldwide, including Velvet scoter, Horned Grebe and Black-legged kittiwake.
The most species are recorded from April to May.
Get there and watch
- Vigra fjordhotellplace to stay · 6.2 km · 3 within 10 km
- Nordstrandanearest town · 6.0 km in a straight line
- Ålesund Airport (AES)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 1 km in a straight lineCar hire at AES airport (Ålesund)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 1viewpoints within 5 km
- 12car parks within 3 km
- 2restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 3places to stay within 10 kmVigra fjordhotell, Alnes Gård
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- campsites within 10 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Roaldsand Wildlife Sanctuary.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas586 mountains within 25 kmGoaldet490 m · 6.6 kmAksla166 m · 10 kmMyklebosthornet329 m · 11 kmSukkertoppen, Heissa314 m · 12 kmTverrfjellet777 m · 17 kmBergetindane620 m · 19 kmHellandshornet · 20 kmFonnehesten540 m · 21 km
Islandyasthe islandVigra20 km²
Coastya1 beaches within 10 kmBlimsanden · 4.0 km
Lakeyas2 lakes within 15 kmSøvikvatnet0.3 km² · 11 kmAlnesvatnet0.5 km² · 13 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Other places nearby.
Roaldsand Wildlife Sanctuary
Norway
- 86Birdyas Score
- 204Species
- 129Migrants
- 10Threatened
Rørvikvatnet Nature Reserve
Norway · 2 km
- 87Birdyas Score
- 245Species
- 137Migrants
- 15Threatened
Blindheimsvik Wildlife Sanctuary
Norway · 3 km
- 87Birdyas Score
- 242Species
- 135Migrants
- 15Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q11998042) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 15,203 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas, Islandyas, Coastya, Lakeyas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.
beaches
Find your beach: sea temperature, sun and swimming month by month.Visit lakes
Every lake on Earth: water temperature, ice, depth and the shore.Visit mountains
Every summit in 3D: summit weather, the 0 °C line, huts and trails.Visit 
waterfalls
Every waterfall: height, flow month by month and when it roars.Visit islands
Every island from the sea up: size, sea temperature, ferries and 3D.Visit 
rivers
Every river from source to sea: the journey, the flow and the basin in numbers.Visit 
canyons
Every canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit 
caves
Every cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit 
dark skies
Where the night is still dark: the sky of every place, the Milky Way month by month, the Moon, eclipses and auroras.Visit 
viewpoints
Every viewpoint with its real 360° panorama: the peaks you can name, how far you see and where the sun sets.Coming soonVisit 
birdwatching
Every bird sanctuary and wetland with the species recorded month by month: who is resident, who comes for the summer, who only passes through.You are here
forests
Every forest with its land-cover rings, what grows and lives in it, and the best months to walk it.Coming soonVisit