Trizelnieki: Birdwatching and Nature

For trip planning, two distinct nature experiences are worth considering: seasonal birdwatching near Trizelnieku Ignatiņi and the Siksala observation tower. There is also a local history connected with the name Trizelnieku Ignatiņi. Nature watching and cycling therefore offer different focuses for planning your trip.

Cranes and wildlife sightings

A report from 2013 describes the fields near Trizelnieku Ignatiņi as a resting place for cranes and geese in spring and autumn. For autumn, the report mentions up to around 5,000 cranes resting there. Both seasons are mentioned in connection with the birds; the approximate maximum number refers to autumn.

In 2013, sightings of moose, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, wolves and lynx were reported in Trizelnieki. A bear is also said to appear occasionally. A lesser spotted eagle is said to nest nearby and be visible from the house’s porch. The report distinguishes the wildlife observation towers in Trizelnieki from hunting towers.

Views over the raised bog in Siksala

Teiču raised bog is one of the largest pristine raised bogs in the Baltic states. The Teiču Nature Reserve has nature tourism infrastructure, including observation towers and boardwalks, among them in Siksala. The 28-metre-high Siksala observation tower offers views over the raised bog landscape, Lake Siksala and other mineral-soil islands.

A visitor notice gives the period from 1 June to 31 October for Siksala and its observation tower; access was possible only when accompanied by a staff member of the Nature Conservation Administration. Check before your trip whether this arrangement is still in force. This makes it possible to plan a visit to Siksala specifically if, alongside wildlife watching, you would also like to experience the landscape from above.

Cycling in the wider region

In the wider region around Lake Lubāns, the 53-kilometre cycling route “Around Lake Lubāns,” marked with number 33, runs through the area. Eight kilometres are paved; the rest follows gravel roads. The total distance and changes in surface provide concrete guidance if cycling is part of your travel plans. Unlike the seasonal birdwatching near Trizelnieku Ignatiņi, this route focuses on a longer regional ride.

Trizelnieku Ignatiņi and finding accommodation

A tourism inventory from 2022 listed Trizelnieku Ignatiņi as accommodation with nine beds in Murmastienes pagasts, Varakļānu novads. The house’s history is also connected with the name: according to a 2013 report, the Murmastiene hunting association built it on the site of an old homestead, retaining the place’s former name.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Trizelnieki, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: would you like to explore the described bird and wildlife sightings, or would you prefer to plan your trip around cycling a longer route in the wider region? Local wildlife observations and the cycling route offer different points of reference when choosing where to stay, without requiring you to assume that any particular accommodation is available.

For the broader travel overview: Murmastienes pagasts.