Description
Lake Sommen is quite deep and most of the lake is ice-free all-winter. During this period large amounts of isokoskelo, telkkä and silkkiuikku winter in Sommen. Sometimes in the hundreds. Among these tukkasotka, kyhmyjoutsen, laulujoutsen, nokikana, and kalalokki can often be found. The lake is also home to quite a few rarer wintering birds like kuikka, tukkakoskelo, maakotka, mustalintu, pilkkasiipi, kuningaskalastaja, kaakkuri and naurulokki.
During the spring migration marine ducks can be found in the lake. At the same time kaakkuri, and kuikka, arrive at the lake. kuikka breeds in the lake while kaakkuri feeds in the lake and breeds in small neighbouring lakes. The rare jääkuikka has been seen. Sommen archipelago hosts large colonies of kalatiira, kalalokki, naurulokki, harmaalokki, harmaahaikara and merimetso. Among these some rare birds like selkälokki, and lapintiira can be seen.
The large decidous forests around sommen especially on Torpön host plenty of quite rare birds like: pikkusieppo, pikkutikka, Pähkinähakki, and sarvipöllö. Around Sommen there is also old conifer forests around which support large populations of woodpeckers. käenpiika, vihertikka, palokärki, pikkutikka, pohjantikka (very rare), käpytikka and valkoselkätikka (extinct in the area) have all been recorded. Other otherwise rare forrest birds found here are: pyy metso, teeri (Rocks mosse), and Pähkinähakki.
During the autumn birds can be seen migrating through the lake. Most common are the doves, finches, terns, and waders. At Rocks mosse teeri and metso breed. At Visskvarn there are rapids where koskikara, and virtavästäräkki can be seen.
Details
Access
The area is quite vast, and has got many places to get a good view of the lake. The area is quite mountanous and a walk can be straining. Click on a P in the map to get directions to that point.

