Niedrāji-Pilka Swamp Nature Trail

This is also a great birdwatching spot – the Niedrāji-Pilka Swamp is part of the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, home to rare bird species. Here, you will surely hear the singing of tree pipits. Pay attention to their fascinating behavior during singing – small upward flights followed by a descent with half-spread wings. At the edge of the swamp, you can hear the melodic songs of woodlarks.

In the early morning, you might be lucky enough to hear the courtship calls of black grouse, but to witness them, you must remain very quiet and cautious. In the fir branches at the swamp's edge, you may spot goldcrests – the smallest birds in Latvia and Europe, weighing only 5 grams! You might also see the great grey shrike, which nests in the high mossy areas. If you find a small rodent impaled on a sharp branch, know that the great grey shrike has stored food for the future.