One of the biggest bird cliffs in Norway is located due west of the North Cape and is home to an impressive variety of species. Tens of thousands of puffins live there, along with numerous northern gannets, cormorants, kittiwakes, common guillemots and northern fulmars.
The birds are to be found to the west of Magerøya on a number of small islands – known as Stappan – due west of the fishing village of Gjesvær. Warm and cold ocean currents meet here, so the sea is rich in nourishment. This is also one of the most accessible bird cliffs in Norway; a short boat trip from Gjesvær will put you right in the heart of this bird-watchers’ paradise and Nature Reserve.
The puffins are everybody’s favourite
Puffins keep to the grassy hills on the island. Here, they dig small holes where they lay their eggs. Come summer, the puffin flaps furiously through the troughs, food in beak and colony-bound. What we don’t see is how elegantly it swims beneath the surface.
New arrivals thrive
Two species are relative newcomers to the birdcliff. The northern fulmar arrived on Gjesværstappan in the eighties. It is a storm bird that looks awkward when walking on land, but is elegant in flight. It spends most of its life away from land and only returns to shore to lay and incubate its eggs. This is not a typical colony bird, it is found in small numbers spread around the birdcliffs.
The northern gannet was first recorded on Gjesværstappan in 1978. Since then, one of Norway’s largest colonies has taken shape here. These striking birds often struggle to take off after a hearty seafood meal, so keep an eye out for their clumsy launches.
Many other species inhabite the cliffs
Kittiwakes and common guillemots are well represented with several thousand pairs, and reefs around Stappan are also home to colonies of shags and great cormorants. Auks, Arctic skuas and great skuas are also common sights. The remarkable storm petrel nests on Gjesværstappan in August, as night darkness gives them protection.
White-tailed eagles circle the skies constantly, as there is plenty for them to eat here. And don’t be surprised if you spot seals, porpoises and dolphins on the trip out to the cliffs.
Visit Nordkapp takes you all the way
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