On the 30th day we drove a long way to Oulu where we met my brother Pirkka in Kemira’s small open water place where we twitched a Brent Goose that was wintering with lots of Mallards as a winter-tick.

On the 31st day we woke up before 7:30 a.m. and before 8 o’clock we headed towards Oulunsalo harbor. At 8:30 a.m. the ferry left towards Hailuoto and between the icy sea we sailed to Hailuoto and after 30 minutes we were driving towards Marjaniemi.

In Marjaniemi Pirkka knew the feeder where in the past he had been twitching a Black-throated Accentor. There were people in the cottage and soon we met the owner who was kind and we discussed about twitching both now and on the next day when there would be more twitchers. Owner was putting more food to the feeder and soon after she had left Yellowhammers started to arrive. And almost immediately Pirkka noticed a European Serin that had also arrived next to the feeder. Soon it flew inside one of the feeders where it was impossible to see.

When the Serin left after Yellowhammers we tried to get a bit closer with Hanna to get better pictures but once the birds started to come back, they were a bit too shy so soon we walked back to our ordinary position. And then Serin arrived again to the ground under the feeder. When it left again, we decided to leave too.

Back in Oulunsalo we saw a flock of Black Grouses in Riuttu and a Pheasant in Pajuniemi. Then we twitched a Common Crane in Kempele Alakylä and then headed to Oulu to search a Siberian Tit that had been seen about a week earlier. But we didn’t find it. Then we headed to Tyrnävä to search any new birds but found only some flocks of Yellowhammers. While we were already leaving we saw a male Merlin with a prey in flight.

In the afternoon we did some shopping and then went to buy some food. In the evening we watched a movie and relaxed.

Fireworks started at 6 p.m. and at 11:15 p.m. we left to check if Brent Goose was still in Kemira. Of course there were fireworks there too and only 3 Mallards were present. Soon some other first of January tickers arrived but there was nothing to see. Just before midnight we drove to Kemira pools to see that there were about 100 Mallards flying in the dark sky. So soon we went to sleep.

We woke up at 6 a.m. and soon we were again in Kemira and checking ducks but there were only about 200 Mallards and no Brent Goose. So we soon continued to Riuttu where we caught 7:30 a.m. ferry. Other twitchers were also on the ferry and soon we were driving towards Marjaniemi again. There we again met the owner of the cottage who must have thought that we are crazy as it was still completely dark. But in few minutes we heard several Yellowhammers arriving to feeder. After 10 or 15 minutes Markku Santamaa arrived and told that he had heard Serin on the way from the parking place.

And after 10 more minutes at 9:15 Serin arrived next to the feeder where it was easily seen by everyone before it flew inside the feeder again. We had got the first tick of the day but still we talked with some friends and saw Great Tits and a Blue Tit as a year-tick before decided to start driving back towards harbor.

We stopped in the village shortly but saw just some Tree Sparrows and then on the way to harbor we saw some Magpies, a Willow Tit, a Red Crossbill and some Great Spotted Woodpeckers. On the ferry we saw a beautiful sunrise while talking more to some friends and saw no birds at all.

In Huikku we saw the same Black Grouse flock again and in Oulunsalo we saw some Jackdaws. The Crane was hiding somewhere but some Hooded Crows and a Greenfinch were seen. As there was still no reports of Brent Goose, we decided to drive towards Liminka. In Kempele Honkanen we saw 4 Collared Doves easily and on the way we saw a Raven. In Virkkula we met some other twitchers. They had heard that a flock of Grey Partridges had been seen flying behind the information center, but they hadn’t seen them at all. We waited for some time until I decided to walk to the field and check if they were in vegetation behind one long ditch. I could see something on the snow about 150 meters from me and called the rest to come and take a scope with them – and there they were – at least 4 Grey Partridges.

Next we drove back to Kempele Alakylä where the Crane was now present and saw a Jay and some Rock Doves on the way.

And then we headed to Oulu where we ticked a Rook in Raksila and then in Hartaanselkä we saw a couple of Goldeneyes but nothing else. We hoped that the goose might have moved there. In Hietasaari we heard some Bullfinches and when the sun was already setting, we headed to Kemira where only the same amount of Mallards was present.

It was already getting dark when we headed again to Hietasaari to try to see a Pygmy Owl but only year-tick was a Blackbird.

In the evening we got food from Sauraha Nepalese restaurant and checked once again Kemira. And after we had watched a movie we went to check it again and now there were more than 300 Mallards but still no Brent Goose.

After all I got only one first of January tick – Serin. My goal had been 2 so I would have got my 150th tick which is so big number that I could have retired but now I must continue at least one more year.

On the 2nd of January we woke up before 8 a.m. and soon we were ready to go to Kemira again. Now there were about 1000 Mallards but still nothing else! Then we said goodbye to Pirkka and left driving toward Kajaani.

On the way we saw a flock of 12 Pine Grosbeaks in Vaala, 30 Common Redpolls in Paltamo and some Black Grouses and so on. Finally we were in Kajaani and Ämmänkoski where we met some other birders too. But unfortunately there was no sign of Mandt´s Black Guillemot. It had been seen still on the previous day but now it was gone. We saw only 3 Whooper Swans, some Common Redpolls, Red Crossbills and 4 Otters. We went to eat and still came back to check the river but before it was getting dark, we decided to start a long way back home. On the way we saw no birds at all and finally we were at home pretty tired.

J.A.

On the 11th day we were photographing Yellowhammers and other birds in Tarvaslampi in our hide when I noticed a grayish bird. I took pictures and realized that the birds looked like a Pine Bunting! It disappeared soon but from the pictures we could see that there was some yellowish color on its breast – so maybe it was just a hybrid even though otherwise it really looked good. Unfortunately the bird was never seen again even though we visited the hide a few times later during the month.

On the 12th day I stopped in Imatra Vuoksi briefly and saw a Red-breasted Merganser. Also some Cormorants and so on were seen also on other visits when I was going to Lappeenranta to play. But Little Grebe managed to avoid me.

On the 13th day I saw a Hawk Owl and a Sparrowhawk in Kaukola where the big Yellowhammer flock was still around. A White-tailed Eagle flew over me in Kontiolampi and on the 15th day I saw a Whooper Swan in Tyrjä.

On the 18th day we freed a Goshawk that had been living with us for almost 2 weeks. It had been found on the road so it had probably hit by a car. In Kannas we saw 2 Nuthatches and a Treecreeper and on the next day I saw a flock of 13 Gold Finches flying over our house and in Ristimäki I saw a Goldcrest.

On Christmas Eve we did a winter-bird count with Miika Soikkeli. We saw altogether 22 Black Grouse, a Sparrowhawk, 12 Rock Doves, 6 Great Spotted and 2 White-backed Woodpeckers, 87 Waxwings, 4 Blackbirds, 277 Fieldfares, 2 Goldcrests, 65 Blue, 75 Great, 4 Willow and 2 Crested Tits, a Nuthacth, 4 Treecreepers, 15 Magpies, 4 Jays, 38 Jackdaws, 30 Hooded Crows, 48 Tree Sparrows, 7 Greenfinches, 5 Gold Finches, 5 Siskins, 52 Common Redpolls, 54 Bullfinches and 6 Yellowhammers.

On Christmas Day we visited relatives in Punkaharju and saw 2 Nuthatches and a Treecreeper in Laakkii and a Sparrowhawk in Tarvaslampi.

On Boxing Day we headed to Simpele and there were even more thrushes and Waxwings than in Parikkala. Altogether 6 Dippers and 7 Whooper Swans and 3 Mallards were seen on the river. We also saw 2 Sparrowhawks and in Siikalahti on our feeder there were 2 Great Spotted, 2 White-backed and a Grey-headed Woodpecker.

On the 28th day we saw 2 Nuthatches in Kannas and altogether even 7 Blackbirds and on the 29th day a Goshawk in Koitsanlahdenkangas.

J.A.

The 4th day was extremely cold but anyway we went to put up a feeder for woodpeckers to Siikalahti-area. On the way in Kaukola fields we found a flock of 500 Yellowhammers. We of course checked if there were something else but with only binoculars it seemed difficult. But then some birds started to land in front of us to the road and the third closest bird was a Lapland Bunting! It was the first ever in winter in Parikkala and only about sixth in South Karelia – the last one we had found in Joutseno in February 2018. It was my 100th winter-species ever in Parikkala.

In the evening I drove to Kouvola where I got accommodation from Teo Ylätalo again. We still went to search for snipes with headlights but we had no luck.

On the 5th day we left birding around 8 a.m. and same time also Antti Vänskä went to other places to prepare for the next day’s Independence Day bird-race. It was really cold – about -20 degrees and freezing northern wind.

First we saw almost nothing, just a couple of Pheasants and a flock of 40 Goldfinches. In Mustila arboretum we found 2 Nuthatches, Willow and Coal Tits and Treecreepers but nothing else. Then we headed to Elimäki fields where we drove around quite a lot and finally found a flock of 500 Yellowhammers and one single Linnet. But then from the same field we flushed a flock of 20 Grey Partridges! It was my 251st spontaneous species this year which is my record.

A known Hawk Owl was seen easily and then in Ratula we first saw a White-tailed Eagle and then found a green field with of course some snow but it was absolutely full of birds! We estimated about 250 Gold Finches, 100 Chaffinches, 5 Linnets and 10 Brambling before a Sparrowhawk came and chased the flock around. But anyway it was clear that we had to come back on the next day and check the flock more carefully.
We didn’t find anything else but calls to Antti told us that he had managed even better and it started to look very promising for the next day. In the evening we still checked one ditch for snipes before went to eat to a Chinese restaurant together and planned the next day’s schedule.

On the 6th of December we woke up early and before 6 a.m. we left with Teo to search for owls. It was snowing heavily so once again weather forecasts were completely wrong. We didn’t find owls and before 8 we went to pick up Antti and continued to Saksanaho. There we walked to a wet forest to wait. And after some waiting we heard the first Fieldfares, a Blackbird, a Blue Tit, a White-backed Woodpecker, a Siskin, a Treecreeper and then 2 Wrens too. But only Antti heard a Robin and it was not enough as more than half of the team has to identify a species to get a tick in a bird-race. After some waiting I left to drive the car to the other side of the forest where Antti and Teo would walk. But on the way I heard a Robin. I ran back and also Antti had heard a Robin in the same time but from different direction! So we couldn’t count it as we had heard different birds. But luckily Antti and Teo had got a Grey-headed Woodpecker. After we had tried my Robin for some time too, we all walked back toward the car but checked a couple of feeders on the way – and got some common species to our list. Next we continued to one forest-feeder nearby where we saw another White-backed Woodpecker and after some waiting we saw a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. We had really started well!

And next we continued to a place that Antti had found on the previous day. Surprisingly the weather had cleared and sun was shining now. Se we had hopes very high! The place was a small open pool which was full of Mallards. But there were also a family of whooper Swans and when the Mallards flushed we saw also a Teal and a Pintail! And then after some walking also a Grey Heron was seen in flight. And this was not all! In a forest nearby we immediately heard a Pine Grosbeak and after checking some flocks of Common Crossbills, we found 5 Two-barred Crossbills! We also had the first Great Grey Shrike of the day. Unfortunately we missed a Sparrowhawk that only Antti saw but luckily we soon saw a couple of them.

A Velvet Scoter that Antti had seen on the previous day was gone, but a Collared Dove was found quickly. We were even too quickly as we forgot to search for House Sparrows in the same place. Hawfinch was also missing but then in a forest nearby we were lucky again as we found always very difficult Three-toed Woodpecker, a Goldcrest and the second Grey-headed Woodpecker of the day. Soon we ticked Goldeneyes and Goosanders on the river and then headed towards our yesterday’s birds.

In Mustila we heard a Nuthatch immediately and saw a Willow Tit. Soon we found also Coal Tits and surprisingly also a Crested Tit. Next we continued to Elimäki fields and surprisingly a Pheasant was in the same spot in the middle of the field again. Also the Grey Partridges were found again – this time there were 18 birds on the other corner of the field than on the previous day.

We tried two different known Hawk Owls but without luck. So we had to hope that we could find a new one somewhere. Next we went to our green field and saw Gold Finches, at least 250 Chaffinches, 50 Linnets, 10 Bramblings and after some searching we found also a Twite. It was my 252nd spontaneous year-tick. As we still hadn’t seen Hawk Owl, Black Woodpecker or Black Grouse, we decided to drive along a longer road towards our next destination and it was good as Teo found a Hawk Owl perched on a wire on one field.

Next we headed to a rubbish tip where we found Starlings and finally also House Sparrows. Then we continued to Dipper place and after a long wait and search we finally found one.

It was already getting late when we went back to forest-feeder to see if Long-tailed Tits were feeding before they go to sleep. And there they were!

Last hour or so we still tried to find an Eagle Owl but at 4:30 p.m. the rally ended and we drove to a service nearby where the results were given after pizzas. There were 4 teams and after the 25 most ordinary-species we were in second place. Of course some sea-birds like Mute Swans and gulls had been seen on the coast. But soon it was clear that we had seen more species than other teams. And after all we won with our 54 species quite clearly, as the rest of the teams had seen 43 to 45 species. We had been in Kouvola all the time but the race area was whole Kymenlaakso. Our result was the second best in Kouvola ever and it had been real winter now! Antti told that this had been his best Independence race ever. And still we had missed species like Robin, Hawfinch, Black Woodpecker, Black Grouse, Hazel Hen, Redwing, almost all raptors and owls, all gulls and so on. So maybe one day we can get 60 species?

Finally it was time to say goodbye to everyone. Teo dropped me to my car and I had a long drive back to Parikkala. It had been a great visit in Kouvola again! Next serious birding is probably on the 1st of January 2022..

Well I visited the woodpecker-feeder on the next day but it was quiet. A Long-tailed Tit visited trees next to it and on the parking place I saw and heard a Pine Grosbeak when it flew over me.

J.A.

After 2 weeks in Säppi on the 1st ov November I visited Siikalahti and saw a Hawk Owl that Matti Lötjönen had found and also 150 Whooper Swans, Mallards, some Wigeons, 10 Tufted Ducks, 3 Greater Scaups, a flock of Black Grouses, a Coot, a Three-toed Woodpecker flew over me, a Greater Grey Shrike, a flock of Gold Finches and a lonely Brambling with a huge pox-virus tumor. In Härskiinmutka I saw a few Great Crested Grebes. After work I went back to Siikalahti and after some waiting saw a Great White Egret flying over me – it was the latest ever in Parikkala.

On the 2nd day I saw a Black-throated Diver and a White-tailed Eagle in Härskiinmutka and again a Great White Egret in Siikalahti but this was the last time that it was seen. On the 3rd day I saw a Smew, and a Long-tailed Duck in Siikalahti, a flock of 32 Smews, a Common Scoter, 4 Long-tailed Ducks, Waxwings and heard a Nuthatch in Särkisalmi.

On the 6th day we did suck-counts in Saari and still saw Whooper Swans, Mallards and Wigeons here and there, in Pohjanranta we saw a flock of 422 Barnacle Geese and a lonely Tundra Bean Goose and a flock of Goosanders with a Red-breasted Merganser. 5 Goldeneyes, 8 Tufted Ducks and a Greater Scaup were in Akonpohj and a Long-tailed Duck in Nivalahti. Outside the count we saw a flock of 30 Smews, another Red-breasted Merganser and 3 Velvet Scoters. Also some gulls and a couple of White-tailed Eagles were seen.

After the count we picked up Elissa Soikkeli and drove to Imatra Immalanjärvi to twitch. Luckily Great Northern Diver was found easily and it was showing quite well. It was my first identified big diver in South Karelia. On the way I saw a Pygmy Owl somewhere in Rautjärvi.

On the 7th of November I did winterbird-count. The weather was worse than had been in forecasts so I was very wet. But there were lots of birds anyway! I saw 95 Whooper Swans, a Wigeon, 4 Mallards, 6 Tufted Ducks, 3 Greater Scaups, 4 Goldeneyes, a Hazel Hen, 22 Black Grouses, a White-tailed Eagle, 36 Common Gulls, 2 Rock Doves, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 36 Waxwings, a Robin which was a new species to my counts, 2 Blackbirds, even 1229 Fieldfares, 2 Redwings, 13 Goldcrests, 98 Blue, 158 Great, 5 Willow, a 2 Crested and a Coal Tit, 2 Treecreepers, a Great Grey Shrike, 8 Jays, 15 Magpies, 163 Jackdaws, 22 Hooded Crows, 4 Ravens, 20 Tree Sparrows, a Chaffinch, 9 Greenfinches, 8 Siskins, 188 Common Redpolls, 17 Common Crossbills, 58 Bullfinches and 15 Yellowhammers.

On the 8th day I saw a Redwing in the village and a Great Crested Grebe, some Tufted Ducks and Greater Scaups and a Common Scoter and a couple of White-tailed Eagles around Lake Simpele. On the 10th day there were 3 Long-tailed Ducks but not many other ducks in Siikalahti anymore. On the 11th day I visited Siberian Jays and saw all 3 birds.

On Friday evening we drove to Kirkkonummi where we stayed with my parents. On the next morning we headed to Helsinki wherein Viikki we released a Starling that had been living with us for a couple of weeks. It had been attacked by Jackdaws and it was in really bad shape but now it was good to go. Then we continued to Fastholma where we tried to twitch a late Rustic Bunting without luck. We heard a Robin and saw some flocks of Bearded Reedlings, a Great Grey Shrike, a Common Scoter and a Smew.

Then we tried to twitch an Isabelline Wheatear in Vuosaari but it was also gone. Last night had been cold and wind had been northern. Then we did some shopping in Itäkeskus and Hanna continued to city to do more shopping but in the afternoon I headed to Lauttasaari to twitch a late Spotted Flycatcher. But I was too late and didn’t find it either. In the evening we went to Stam1na concert.

On the 14th day we drove back to Lauttasaari where we found the Spotted Flycatcher easily. I took some pictures of this bird and somehow it looked a bit brownish. An hour after we had left, we got a message that this bird might be a Mediterranean Flycatcher – or then some strange eastern subspecies. It was caught, measured and DNA was got so maybe soon we will find out what it was. It was also the last time it was seen as next night was very cold.

We still visited Espoo Laajalahti where we saw a young Golden Eagle and a Common Buzzard but no much else. In the afternoon we drove back to Parikkala.

During the week I saw a Blackbird in the village and a Goshawk and a Hawk Owl in Siikalahti. On Friday I did the last duck-count in Saari but there were only some Whooper Swans, 7 Mallards, a Goldeneye and some Goosanders. It started to feel like winter.

At weekend I participated rink-ball Finnish championship tournament even though I had quit playing almost a couple of years ago. But LaPo team from Lappeenranta needed a player and after all I was ready to join them. It was a good tournament and we got bronze-medals!

Next week winter really came! First all small lakes got frozen and it started to snow. On the 23rd day I still saw 5 Canada Geese and a Velvet Scoter in Härskiinmutka and a Hazel Hen in Muttelinmäki. On the 26th a Redwing was in a big flock of Fieldfares in Satumäki. Also some big flocks of Waxwings were feeding rowanberries. In Rautjärvi Kokkolanjoki I saw a couple of Dippers and in Imatra Immalanjärvi a Scaup and on Vuoksi river some Tufted Ducks and Cormorants.

At weekend we visited Siberian Jays and saw 2 of them. Also a Coal Tit and a couple of Hazel Hens were seen. On the last days of November it was snowing a lot and even Lake Simpele got frozen. Still on the 29th day I photographed a Velvet Scoter in Särkisalmi but on the next day even it was frozen!

J.A.

On Friday the 15th of October our holiday finally started and early in the morning we started driving towards Helsinki. We parked to Herttoniemi and started walking towards Viikki Purolahti.

After 15 minutes walking we were already close to the bird-tower and then we got a message that the Brown Shrike that had been found on the previous day was still present close to Mäyrämetsä. We had only 5 more minutes walking. And soon we saw a few birders and kindly they told us where to look at and soon we found the shrike that was moving low on vegetation along a ditch about 80 meters from us.

The shrike was hiding a lot so we had time to watch other birds too. We saw a Great White Egret flying over us and a flock of Lapwings. A Great Grey Shrike gave us a heart-attack when it was in the same where Brown Shrike had just seen and it was eating something brown. But luckily after a long wait the Brown Shrike showed up again and also my brother Pirkka managed to see it. Pirkka had arrived to Helsinki by car-train.

Pirkka had parked his car to the other side of Viikki, so after all we started to walk back to our cars and then started driving towards Pori. On the way we saw a White-tailed Eagle and a couple of Rough-legged Buzzards in Humppila.

In Pori we went to eat and there we met Mikko Ala-Kojola who had arrived by train from Oulu. Soon also Pirkka came there and after we had eaten Mikko packed his luggage to Pirkka’s car and we headed to supermarket to do some shopping. There we met Elissa Soikkeli and Veikka Kosonen who had driven from Kouvola. Veikka had first taken a train from Kerimäki.

We had already on the way got information that waves were too big and wind was far too strong to get to Säppi so we had asked Petteri Mäkelä where we could stay for a night or even several. Petteri had promised that we could stay in his cottage in Leveäkari. Petteri was still driving from Helsinki where he had also been twitching, so after shopping we left to do some birding.

Weather was harsh but in Leveäkari bird-tower we saw a Peregrine, a Hen Harrier, 60 Coots, 3 White-tailed Eagles and a Grey Heron.

It was getting late when we headed to Petteri’s cottage where he showed us the places and soon we were warming up sauna. We had enough room but on the next morning there were still at least a couple of more birders joining us, so we started to think that we might need another place to stay if we still can’t get to Säppi on the next day.

Birding Pori

On the 16th of October we woke up early and headed to Reposaari where we parked to Lontoo. Soon also Antti Peuna and Pyry Laurikka arrived. They had started driving early from Helsinki. We first walked a bit in the windy village before continued to the shore. Pyry and Hanna saw a Purple Sandpiper briefly but soon almost all of us saw another bird flying between the waves. Also a couple of Velvet Scoters, a White Wagtail and a Blackcap were seen.

Next we checked Surf-beach which was full of surfers – the weather was good for them. But there were no birds at all. It was easy to see why our boat wasn’t going to move today either – waves were huge! Even Petteri told us that he had never seen so big waves in Yyteri. Next we met Petteri and Ville-Veikko Salonen and walked around Kirrinsanta together but found nothing interesting.

We still visited Enäjärvi bird-tower where we saw a couple of Pochards and Teemuluoto tower where we saw young Marsh and Hen Harriers.

In the afternoon we needed to find another place to stay and luckily we got rooms from River Motel. In the evening we went to city to eat to a Nepalese restaurant. While walking we saw a flock of 500 Starlings and some Rooks.

On the 17th day we started in Yyteri dog-beach where we found 14 Dunlins and a Ringed Plover. Hanna managed to crawl close enough for some pictures. Surf-beach was quiet again and nearby on sanddynes we found nothing else than Yellowhammers. Then we headed to famous Yyteri beaches and walked first to Sannannokka. On the way some of us wore boots and managed to flush a Jack Snipe. Then while getting close to the tower we found a couple of Bearded Reedlings that were hard to see because of the wind was moving the reeds so much. From the tower we saw a Brent Goose, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a very late Black-tailed Godwit, a couple of Grey Plovers and a male hybrid between a Mallard and a Pintail.

From other 3 towers we saw nothing new so next we headed to Kallo island. There we met some familiar birders from Porvoo. With Veikka we saw a late Lesser Whitethroat briefly but otherwise it was just too windy. While getting back to our cars we still saw a Gadwall.

In Hevosluoto we walked around some pools and saw a injured Canada Goose, a Woodcock and so on. On the way back we stopped along the river in Liljanluoto and amazingly found two Kingfishers! In the evening we still headed to Tikkula where we saw Linnets, Goldfinches, a Pheasant and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Then we went to eat to same restaurant again.

On the 18th day we headed first to Eteläranta which was another great place. We saw probably the same Brent Goose again, 110 Taiga Bean Geese, a couple of Cranes, a Gadwall, 15 Smews, 3 Grey Herons and a couple of Great Grey Shrikes. In Kaarluoto we saw nothing new but in Ooviiki we saw a flock of 6 Bearded Reedlings .

Then we headed back to River Motel where we packed everything well and headed shopping again. Finally we headed to Kuuminainen harbor where we started to pack the boat immediately. The captain Tommi Salokangas arrived quite soon and started to start the engines. We had agreed to leave at 2 p.m. but it was only a couple of minutes to when Paavo Sallinen arrived too and soon we had finally packed everything and were ready to leave towards Säppi.

Finally to Säppi

Tommi had said that it was still going to be a wet trip, so we had packed everything extremely well and waterproof. And it really was a hard trip! Tommi did his best but anyway we got water in quite a lot. One killer-wave hit us quite bad, but otherwise it didn’t feel too bad. And finally after 50 minutes we were in Säppi harbor which was nice as I had started to feel sea-sick.

Then we unpacked the boat and started to carry our stuff to the station. We had really lots of stuff but finally we were ready to go to do some birding! There hadn’t been any birders for a week so we were keen to see what we could find! Hanna, Pirkka, Elissa and Veikka left to put the mist-nets ready.

It starts well

The weather was now OK but we could soon find out that there weren’t many birds in the island after storms. Several families of Muflons were seen and there were also lots of big Water Voles. In Hanhisto we found first Meadow Pipits and 3 White Wagtails and then Antti flushed a big pipit! The bird landed quite far so we called to mist-netters to join us to flush it again. And soon the bird flushed again. It was quiet and flying quite far but we managed to see it quite well and get some pictures too. And then it landed to seaweed. It was a Richard’s Pipit! Soon it was flying again and disappeared over the forest but luckily we had all seen it well.

When we continued to walk around the island, we still saw a Goshawk, a migrating flock of Bean Geese but nothing else than ordinary birds. When we were back in the station, we still had to make everything work in the station. After all 3 Aaltos, Elissa and Veikka got to the family-side and the rest to station side.

The log was long because of internet-connection was very bad and there were no needed papers. But after all we were ready to go to sleep.

On the 19th of October ringers and their helpers headed to put up mist-nets very early as the ringing was starting 30 minutes before the sun was rising. At sunrise the rest of us went to “pommikoppi” to do regular 2 hours seawatching.

There wasn’t much migration but flocks of Common Scoters and Wigeons and a Grey Heron were seen. A couple of young Lesser Black-backed Gulls were flying around the island and a couple of Smews were swimming with masses of Tufted Ducks and Goldeneyes. I also saw an Otter briefly.

We had just stopped the seawatch when we got a message that ringers had caught a Pallas’s Leaf Warbler. We of course hurried to Peräkulma to see it. And then there were so many Goldcrests, tits and other birds in the nets that we all had to help there for an hour.

So we could start walking around the island quite late but we found a couple of Jack Snipes, a Hen Harrier, a late Tree Pipit, a Blackcap and a Great Grey Shrike – the Richard’s Pipit was gone. In calm side of the island we saw 9 Chiffchaffs feeding actively and in Takalahti I saw a Little Bunting briefly before it disappeared to the forest. A couple of other saw it only in flight and heard it calling.

Day’s ringings included 166 Goldcrests, 109 Blue Tits, 55 Great Tits, 11 Treecreepers and so on. Altogether 370 birds had been ringed. One more observation to mention was 3 Tree Sparrows that were first seen coming from the sea while morning seawatching and then they stayed on the station feeder for the rest of the day.

More little rarities

On the 20th day the weather was really bad again so there was no possibility to open up the mist-nets at all. We managed to do the morning seawatch and saw a few Razorbills, a couple of local Red-necked Grebes and Purple Sandpiper and so on. When the rain finally got weaker, we all walked around the island and found a couple of Jack Snipes, 12 Purple Sandpipers, still 3 Wagtails which one had problems with foot and one with wing. Then in Takalahti Pirkka found a Little Grebe which was only the 4th in Säppi ever! And on the other side of the bay we found a Little Bunting. So after all the day was good even though we were completely wet.

On the 21st day the weather was excellent so the ringers and their helpers headed to Peräkulma with high hopes. For the seawatching the weather was too good but a couple of Great Crested Grebes, a Red-necked Grebe, 6 Purple Sandpipers, a lonely Dunlin, 620 Common Gulls and a single adult winter-plumaged Little Gulls were seen.

But it was extremely quiet in mist-nets, so only Hanna and Elissa stayed there while the rest of us left to walk around the island. The best bird was found by Antti. Also Pirkka heard it calling and shouted to the rest of us that were walking along the shore that it sounded like a Yellow-browed Warbler. It was so windy that we could see that Pirkka’s mouth was moving but we heard nothing. Then we heard a hard shout “Humei!” We all hurried towards the forest and Antti and probably some were running too fast as when we saw Antti I managed to hear one call of a warbler and then it was gone. To me it had sounded more like a Pallas´s Leaf Warbler but Antti was sure it had been a Hume’s Leaf Warbler. We tried to find it for some time but weren’t lucky. Antti had managed to record some calls and we tried to listen to them from his recorder but in wind and bad speakers it sounded more like Yellow-browed Warbler.

When Antti was pack at home, he moved the recordings to his computer and managed to make the sounds louder. And again he thought it was indeed a Hume’s Leaf Warbler. He sent the recordings to Andreas Lindén who confirmed the identification. So after all it had been a Hume’s Leaf Warbler…

But let’s get back to the walk around the island. The best bird we saw was a Rock Pipit that Hanna and Elissa found in Hanhisto, but we all managed to twitch it.

Bad weather

On the 22nd day the weather was awful again. So again the boat had been cancelled and Pirkka and Mikko had to stay an extra-day. The best observation was dead Grey Seal that we found far from the sea but waves took it to the harbor. Most of the day was spent inside. In the evening we had sauna which was nice!

Firecrest

The 23rd day was also quiet both on mist-nets and sea. Pirkka and Mikko got their boat and Oskari Saunisto and Thomas Swan arrived. After we had carried their stuff to the station, we walked around the island. A couple of Woodcocks and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Merlin, same Woodpigeon as every day, last lonely Wagtail, a Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaffs and one Siberian Chiffchaff were seen.

Next day the weather was great but still it was quiet. Paavo and Antti left to walk around while we were still watching empty sea. Antti saw a Pine Grosbeak and Paavo an interesting warbler but too briefly. It might have been a Hume’s…

Then we got message that ringers had caught a Firecrest! Actually it was Oskari who had picked it up from the net and only then he had realized that it was something better! We had to give up seawatching and hurry to Peräkulma to see one more beautiful catch.

Boat came to pick up Elissa, Antti and Paavo and unfortunately no one arrived. So there weren’t too many birders anymore but of course we walked around the island again. The weather turned much worse, but better species during the day were a Red-throated Diver, 3 Red-necked Grebes, 8 Purple Sandpipers, 3 Woodcocks, a Black Woodpecker, a Rock Pipit, a ringed Lesser Redpoll, a lonely Arctic Redpoll in a flock of 300 Redpolls, even 300 migrating Common Crossbills and 25 more local and 8 Parrot Crossbills. It had been very cold night and day inland so also 13 Snow Buntings were seen.

Not many birds – but lots of pictures

On the 25th of October it was again windy and seawatching was better. 14 Purple Sandpipers, 20 Black Guillemots, 16 Razorbills were seen and more all these were seen also later. Also a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls were seen. But again it was a very quiet day on mist-nets.

The wind had been very hard from south so with Veikka and Oskari we walked only the calm side of the island. But in the evening Pyry went to southern side to Eteläkari too and found a Shore Lark which we of course had to twitch.

Quiet

On the 26th there was nothing much different. It was very quiet on mist-nets but on the sea Black Guillemots, Razorbills and a Common Guillemot were seen. 15 Red-throated Divers and a Black-throated Diver were also seen. The Shore Lark was still around but nothing new was found even though we walked around the whole island. Only interesting observation was that in Hanhisto Tomas saw a Brent Goose landing to the shore. We walked closer and after some searching found the birds on the ground – and it was dead. There was some blood on gooses neck and mouth. Hanna had already seen the bird earlier and it had been fine. We have no idea what had killed. We surely would’ve seen if any raptor had attacked it, if not 4 Purple Sandpipers that were seen on the shore (they’ve got sharp bills) or then one of those huge Water Voles…

On the 27th of October the best birds of the seawatching were 3 Common Guillemots, 30 Red-throated and 23 Black-throated Divers. Around the island we saw nothing new – just all the same chiffchaffs, Robins, Dunnocks, Blackcaps, Wrens, Song Thrushes and so on – only 1 to 3 birds of each species and in same places as every day.

In the evening boat took Petteri and Mimosa Mäkelä, Sebastian Andrejeff, Valtteri Salonen, Pekka Rintamäki and Ari Pitkälä with his granddaughter Sanni. It was good to have more birders.

Boys hit

After the log Veikka and Oskari took headlights and a net and left to try to catch any bird. After an hour we hadn’t heard anything from them so Hanna sent a message that they could give up. But I thought that these youngsters weren’t coming back with empty hands.

We had fallen asleep when we heard noise from outside. Hanna went to see what was happening and as she didn’t come back, I had to go out too. Veikka and Oskari were there with a small bird-bag and everyone seems to be very excited. They had caught the Shore Lark! They had first seen a Jack Snipe and a Short-eared Owl and then tried to catch a couple of Different Woodcocks without luck before Veikka had accidentally flushed a Shore Lark on his feet. He had already been sad as he hadn’t noticed the bird early enough but after some walking he had noticed the bird again just next to his feet. He managed to put net over the bird slowly and it was caught! Boys then tried to call me but the connections are really bad. So they had to carry the bird in a bag to the station.

Hanna ringed the Shore Lark and it was identified as a young male. Finally it was released to Prakala seaweeds but it flushed to a dark night-sky. It had been quite the end for a day!

Same birds

On the 28th day the morning was very foggy so we skipped seawatching. We the fog cleared we left to walk around the island. The Shore Lark was nor in Lännennokka with ring on its foot. Then we saw a Little Bunting in several places around the island but it seemed that it might have been one and the same bird. We were already close to the station when we once again found it on seaweed and managed to take really good pictures of it. When it flushed Petteri saw one in station garden. And after all we had seen a Little Bunting seven times during the day – so after all we decided that that must have been at least 2 birds. Other birds we saw were a few Lesser Redpolls and 77 Razorbills that were seen flying around in the fog.

Kittiwake

The 29th morning we saw 18 Red-throated Divers, 2 Red-necked Grebes, 111 Razorbills and even 4 Common Guillemots. Walk around the island was poor until Petteri found a young Kittiwake from the sea in Karinnokka. It was very far but still identifiable. We really tried hard whole day but we found nothing else interesting. We also tried to mist-net owls but only saw briefly and heard a Tengmalm’s Owl that never flew to the net.

Same same again

On the 30th day we had station-competition against Hanko Halias. At night the Tengmalm’s Owl was still heard and on seawatch we saw all the ordinary species with Red-throated and Black-throated Divers, Red-necked Grebes, Purple Sandpipers, Razorbills, Black Guillemot and one more Common Guillemot.

Walk around the island without surprises, only the same species, actually the same birds than every day. The Woodpigeon was still around and as I had never been in any island this late, I saw many species later than ever. When we were in Peräkulma we took away the mist-nets which was easy as we had so many people working. After all we lost to Halias quite clearly.

On the 31st of October was our last day. So we woke up early to pack and clean. I headed to morning seawatch alone. Veikka found a Hawk Owl next to sauna which we all managed to twitch before it disappeared to the forest carrying a Water Vole. I still saw all the same species with a single Common Guillemot again.

It seemed that he day was really good as thrushes and many other birds were on the move. I still had an hour after seawatch and saw a Chiffchaff in Poponiemi and a Blackcap and a Robin in Prakala. Pyry had been walking in south whole morning and still saw the Shore Lark and also a Little Bunting.

Towards home but still one twitch

At 11 a.m. the boat arrived and luckily the weather was nice and calm now. After 30 minutes we were in Kuuminainen, somehow managed to pack everything and everyone to cars and left to Pori. There we drove to Konepajanranta where we tried to twitch a Caspian Gull but there weren’t many gulls and then a White-tailed Eagle arrived and there were no gulls at all left.

Then we dropped Pyry, Veikka and Oskari to the railway station and said goodbye to everyone. We were hungry so we drove to Pori center to eat. While eating we got a message that there was a Caspian Gull in Maaviiki which we went to twitch soon. We also saw a Stock Dove there.

Then we had a long drive back to Parikkala where we were at 8 p.m.

J.A.

It was a long drive and I had plans to go to the other side of Lake Päijänne to Sysmä to try if the skua was possible to see from there as it was more than half an hour shorter drive. Luckily after an hour driving I got information that skua had been seen in Sysmä. Finally I arrived at Kähäränsaari and after some U-turns, I finally found the right road. It was a narrow track and of course a car was coming. Luckily it was the owner of the last cottage and he knew about the bird and told me to drive to the end of the road to his cottage.

Teo Ylätalo and Antti Vänskä followed me and soo we were walking towards the rocky tip to the shore. There was only one birder, Timo Leppänen, but he had just seen the skua in flight and he had seen where it had landed far to the lake. So we started scanning the lake and pretty soon Timo found the bird. It was very far but it opened its wings a couple of times so we could tell it was the right bird! But of course we wanted to see it better.

A couple of flocks of gulls flew past the skua but it didn’t do anything. Finally a fishing boat was coming very close to it and passed it but still nothing happened. But then suddenly the bird flushed and followed the boat for some hundreds of meters and we could see it pretty well! I had then seen enough and decided to walk back to my car and so make some space to the small parking place as there were still birders coming.

There was no news about the Sandhill Crane for many hours but I made a couple of phone-calls to my friends in Oulu and found out that it had been raining all afternoon. So there probably hadn’t been many birders and for sure the crane hadn’t left anywhere in that weather. So I started to drive towards Oulu.

My brother Pirkka was also driving to Oulu so we were going to do birding together there. Again it was a long drive but I stopped only once to eat and finally late in the evening I parked to my brother Riku’s yard. Riku’s family was at their cottage for weekend but I was sleeping in their camper. After all also Pirkka came to sleep there as he came so late that he didn’t wasn’t to go to wake up his daughter.

On the 9th of October we woke up after 6 a.m. and soon were driving towards Tupos where I left my car. Then we continued to Liminka Savela fields where in 3 of 4 mornings the Sandhill Crane had been seen flying from the roost from Liminka Bay towards Tyrnävä Parras fields where it had been seen every day.

There were already a few birders and we joined Jyrki Normaja and started scanning the still dark skies. After some waiting we heard the first Common Cranes and soon flocks started to pass us. Most of the flocks were flying very low so some birds were very difficult to see as there was also some fog in the air. I already started to feel hopeless that how we could see one bird with hundreds and even some thousands of cranes but then I noticed a smaller crane with 4 Common Cranes. I turned my scope towards it and there it was – a Sandhill Crane! We all saw the bird well and even managed to get some pictures when it passed us. I did sent a message that the bird was coming towards Parras with 4 Common Cranes and soon we followed the bird towards Parras too.

There were at least 20 cars along the road in Parras but the Sandhill Crane hadn’t arrived there. There were no Common Cranes either, only some distant flocks were seen in flight far over big Tyrnävä fields. Some Taiga Bean Geese flocks were also flying around with some Pink-footed Geese. A white-tailed Eagle was perched on the roof of one barn which of course caused some panic amongst the birds.

After we had seen plenty of Pink-footed Geese more and a couple of leucistic Taiga Bean Goose, we decided to go to check other fields with Pirkka. We were hoping to find a Snow Goose or a family of Lesser White-fronted Geese that had also seen around.

We checked Jokisilta and Murto fields and found plenty of more Taiga Bean and Pink-footed Geese, a couple of Hen Harriers, a Merlin and lots of Common Cranes that were still mostly just flying around.

Then we got a message that Snow Goose had arrived at Parras and soon after that Jyrki had found also the Sandhill Crane there. So we decided to drive back there.

Sandhill Crane was behind some vegetation but still visible time to time. The family of Common Cranes was chasing it a little bit and after some time it lost it nerves and flew straight towards the crowd of twitchers. It then landed to a flock of Whooper Swans about 100 meters from the road! I walked with my camera closer along the road and soon I was taking pictures with many other photographers.

Sandhill Crane was feeding very actively so not very good pictures were got. And when it finally flushed again I somehow had focus wrong. But at least I had seen the bird extremely well now!

We also saw the Snow Goose that was with a flock of Taiga Bean Geese. Pretty soon we decided to go to check some more fields to Liminka and Lumijoki where we hoped to find Lesser White-fronted Geese.

We found nothing from the fields so we continued to Virkkula bird-tower and there were amazing numbers of ducks but also geese on the protected area. Some Barnacle Geese were with Taiga Bean Geese and 8 White-tailed Eagles were seen, but nothing better than that even though there were lots of stuff.

Se we continued to Lumijoki and until Varjakka where we found only a small flock of Waxwings. Then we drove to Sannanlahti where a big flock of 195 Pintails were counted. In Lamukari there were 300 Barnacle Geese, 2 Grey Plovers were seen in flight and some small waders were there too but too far to identify. While I was zooming the waders I found a Black Guillemot flying past Lamukari. Pirkka also found it and I think there can’t be many records in Liminka Bay!

After we had seen a Hen Harrier we continued to Virkkula to see cranes and geese coming to roost. We estimated 5000 to 7000 Common Cranes but didn’t see Sandhill Crane with them. A couple of thousands of Taiga Bean Geese arrived too but only better goose was a Greylag Goose. We also saw 130 Ruffs coming from Tyrnävä fields and 32 Common Snipes which most of them left to the sky. Also Starling flocks, a Peregrine, 2 Hen Harriers, a Goshawk and a Grey Heron were seen. But soon it was getting too dark and we left towards Oulu.

We still went to eat with Pirkka and his daughter Iina and then Pirkka left towards Kemijärvi but I went again to sleep in Riku’s camper.

1oth of October I woke up too early but soon left towards Oulunsalo. The ferry to Hailuoto left at 7:30 a.m. and it was still dark. It was raining a little but soon I found out that it was also very foggy. But in the evening I had agreed with Jouni Meski that we would do seawatching from his famous cottage. He had got the first Brown Shrike for Finland and and possible Eastern Yellow Wagtail in last month!

When in Hailuoto I kept on driving towards Marjaniemi and the weather was getting worse. So in Hannusranta I didn’t take my scope at all. Heikki Tuohimaa was also there with Jouni and the next hour we were just talking and enjoying the foggy view from the terrace. But after all I had to go birding as I had came this far. There was no visibility so only thing I could do was to go to try to find some waders. Jouni and Heikki had got some wafers in North-Western corner of the island so I decided to go to Keskiniemi where it was possible to go with ordinary car. I had already on the previous day said that I would find something rare in Hailuoto – at least a Pectoral Sandpiper…

Soon I parked to Keskiniemi and of course then it started to rain hard. Anyway I walked to the shore and surprisingly met 3 birders there – Mr. Hailuoto Juha “jurtsi Markkola, Minna Mikkola and Veli-Pekka Honkanen. Together we continued along the shore and soon started to see some waders. Some Dunlins and Golden and Ringed Plovers were found and after a long walk we also found 3 Sanderlings.
We walked some more and one other birders almost turned around but the rain finally got weaker and there still were some distant birds in front of us so we all kept on going.

Finally we were on the place where we could see that the last birds were in front of us, nothing was seen further on the shore. Then I saw a head of a good-looking wader behind some vegetation – it really fit for a Pectoral Sandpiper! Our optics was wet so the rest couldn’t find the bird at all so we walked closer. After all we had walked about 20 meters closer and then the bird started to show well. And of course I wanted to get some pictures too of this self-found tick!

After all I managed to get pretty close to Pectoral Sandpiper but of course I didn’t want to flush it. My camera was pretty wet which I unfortunately didn’t notice. So the pictures weren’t as good as I had hoped but OK anyway. We were very happy while we were walking back to Keskiniemi.

I still visited Hietaniemi and stopped in Potinlahti but there was only fog. So I decided to hurry to the ferry as I knew it was a busy weekend in Hailuoto and I didn’t want to spent time queuing. In Oulunsalo I still spotted briefly in a place where had been a Hoopoe in a couple of days but the weather was bad. So I started driving towards home. After many hours driving I was finally at home and in 5 minutes started the final of Nations League. I had really had amazing weekend – 2 lifers and one self-found tick!

Next week I saw 11th of October 5 migrating Greater Scaups and 41 Velvet Scoters, a Hen Harrier and a Kestrel in Siikalahti. On Wednesday and Thursday I did the duck-count in Saari and the best birds were a Pochard and a Gadwall in Akonpohja. There were geese only in a couple of places and about 1500 altogether. Other birds seen were Rough-legged Buzzards, Kestrels and Hen Harriers and so on.

J.A

In the beginning of September there was still a Bewick’s Swan and 12 Great White Egrets in Siikalahti. In Kangaskylä I saw a family of Linnets and on the 2nd day the same Black Redstart was seen again in our back-year and then next week I saw it every day.

On the 3rd day I saw a Ringed Plover in Kangaskylä and in the evening we went to count Cranes. 610 birds were seen but the best observation was made after the sunset when a Lynx passed us walking along the dam-road. A Bluethroat was alarming to this big cat.

On the 4th we headed early to Siikalahti and saw a Nightjar on the way. From the mist-nets we got 11 Rustic Buntings and about 20 other birds. Nothing else interesting was seen even though we stayed on the dam-road whole morning and until midday.

On the 5th day we caught 5 Rustic Buntings and 13 more were seen migrating or local. The best bird we caught was a very late River Warbler! 25 other birds were ringed. We also heard a Yellow-browed Warbler but couldn’t see it as it moved towards north. A Red-throated Pipit and a Peregrine were migrating too and a flock of 43 Canada Geese was flying around.

During the day we went to photograph to Hanna’s hide to Tarvaslampi but only interesting pictures were got were Chiffchaff-pictures.

On the 6th day we spent an hour or so in the evening in dam-road with Ilkka Jarva and his family and a Bitter, a Grey Heron and of course Great White Egrets. While driving back home we saw the same Nightjar again.

On the 10th day I did duck-counts in Saari but saw nothing special. A migrating Curlew and a heard Lapland Bunting were in Akonpohja, 450 Cranes and a Grey-headed Woodpecker in Jyrkilä and a Great White Egret In Pohjanranta. In the evening about 100 Bean Geese and 4 Barnacle Geese, a Wood Sandpiper and 3 Rustic Buntings were seen in Siikalahti.

On the 11th of September we were in Siikalahti again saw 150 Bean and 22 Barnacle Geese. 15 Great White Egrets were seen and also 2 Grey Herons. A Ringed Plover was heard and we also saw a big pipit that must have been a Richard’s Pipit but it went a little bit too far and it didn’t call. Only interesting birds we caught were 3 Rustic Buntings and a Bluethroat and about 20 other birds, 5 more Rustic Buntings were migrating.

On the 12th day we caught 3 Rustic Buntings (10 more were seen or heard migrating), 4 Long-tailed Tits, a Goldcrest, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Bluthroats, 4 Dunnocks, Wren and about 20 other common birds. Nothing else interesting was seen.

In the afternoon we saw a couple of Nuthatches in Särkisalmi and then we got a call that there was a injured Common Buzzard along the main road 6. We took this buzzard home and it seemed to start recovering quite well. On the next evening it got a ride to Pyhtää where is a bird-hospital.

On the 15th day I saw 26 Brent Geese migrating. In the morning there had been huge migration of them, but on my lunch-hour there were only Barnacle Geese anymore. On my break and after work I estimated about 18000 migrating Barnacle Geese and 6000 more were local. There were also 28 Shovelers, 50 Tufted Ducks, 2 Smews and so on in Siikalahti. I also saw 4 migrating Hen Harriers and one too distant Pallid Harrier looking bird, 2 Rough-legged Buzzards, 2 Merlins and so on. Unfortunately this all happened in the middle of the week.

On the 16th day evening we counted 955 Cranes and 10 Great White Egrets were also soon. While driving back home we saw a Ringed Plover along the road in headlights. This plover stayed local for next few days.

On the 17th day I counted ducks in Saari again. A Gadwall was still in Akonpohja and I also heard a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and saw 3 migrating Ringed Plovers. In Tarassiinlahti there was a huge flock of 15000 Barnacle Geese on the lake. Also a Common Scoter was there and in Jyrkilä I saw 200 Whooper Swans and a Bewick’s Swan and in Pohjanranta I saw a Dunlin.

On the 18th we were again in Siikalahti where we got some pictures of Ringed Plover and 3 Bluethroats. Also a Little Stint was seen when it landed to the road for a few seconds. 4 Rustic Buntings were ringed and 6 more seen on migration. More than 30 other birds were ringed and in the afternoon we still twitched a Hawk Owl in Tyrjä.

On the 19th it was quiet and only one Rustic Bunting was caught and another was seen on migration. Ringed Plover was still present and some small flocks of Brent Geese were seen – altogether 120. 631 Cranes were counted.

on the 20th day I saw a migrating Golden Eagle and there were 5 Bewick’s Swans in Huhmarinen. On the next day the best bird was a migrating Peregrine. And in the evening the same Black Redstart was seen again after it had been missing for 10 days. On the 22nd day another Golden Eagle was seen and in the evening we saw a migrating Osprey. Black Redstart was seen for the last time.

On the 24th day I counted ducks again but saw nothing interesting. Even geese were gone. It had been great winds for them to migrate and then they had been shot and frightened along the way, so they had gone fast. On Saturday it was raining so we finally went finish the wader-place project in Pohjanranta. It had been too hot and dry summer so our project hadn’t really been a success.

On Sunday the 26th we were again in Siikalahti and caught still a Blackcap but otherwise the morning was quiet. A couple of Hobbies and a Barn Swallow were still seen and 10 Great White Egrets.

During the week egret number dropped to five birds and on the 29th day I heard a late Sedge Warbler singing shortly. But all other visits to Siikalahti were quite boring.

On the first of October I counted ducks again and still the Gadwall was in Akonpohja and also a male Pochard was seen there. Only little bit more than a thousand Barnacle Geese were seen and nothing else either really.

At the weekend we still tried mist-netting in Siikalahti but Rustic Buntings were gone. On Saturday only 28 birds were caught an 7 common species. Surprisingly we saw 30 Linnets migrating. In the afternoon we ringed a Nuthatch in Kangaskylä and in the evening we tried owls for a couple of hours in Tarvaslampi and caught 2 Tengmalm’s Owls.

On Sunday Great Tits and Robins were on the move so we caught more than 60 birds. We also played tape for a Blackbirds and caught 12 of them. But nothing better was caught or seen.

In the afternoon I went to twitch a Buff-breasted Sandpiper to Lappeenranta Joutseno Konnunsuo. It was already my 4th in South-Karelia but first on October. A Merlin almost caught the sandpiper but luckily it survived! There were also Lapwings, Golden Plovers, Ruffs, 3 Hen Harriers and 2 Stock Doves. On the way back home I twitched a Red-breasted Goose in Imatra. I first saw it on Vuoksi River but soon it flew to Pajarinpelto field where it stayed with Barnacle Geese. The light was bad, but I managed to get some pictures of it.

During the week I visited Siikalahti every day but there was really nothing interesting.

J.A.

On the 31st day we did duck-counts again in Saari and saw 3 Great White Egrets, 2 Temminck and 2 Little Stints and a Little Ringed Plover in Pohjanranta, 2 more egrets near Tarassiinlahti and a few Red-backed Shrikes.

On the 2nd of August 300 Barnacle Geese and the same White-fronted Goose were in Joukio. On the 3rd day 3 Great White Egrets, a Dunlin and 2 Temminck Stints were in Pohjanranta and a Black Kite was soaring over the main road six at Maironiemi. A couple of Nutcrackers were in Kangaskylä and they were seen almost daily there later. Also small flock of Barnacle Geese moved from Joukio to Kangaskylä and we managed to read some rings.

On the 5th day there was again a Tundra Bean Goose and a Ringed Plover and a Stock Dove in Pohjanranta. Then on the 7th day we had SSP again and ringed a Robin, 3 Sedge Warblers, a Blyth’s Reed Warbler, a Lesser and a Common Whitethroat, 4 Garden Warblers, a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, 2r+1c Willow Warbler and 2 Common Rosefinches. We also saw a Black Kite and a White-tailed Eagle. The best observation was made when we were walking to our car. Hanna found a Wasp Spider from the field! It was the first ever in Karelia!

And on the 8th day it was time to do duck-counts again. In Akonpohja we saw a White-tailed Eagle, in Pohjanranta a Ringed Plover, in Suurenjärvenliete a flock of 35 migrating Common Scoters, a Temminck and a Little Stint, in Tarassiinlahti a young Little Gull and a single Barnacle Goose and from Nivalahti we saw a distant Great White Egret. In the evening in Siikalahti the same egrets, herons and bittern were seen.

On the 13th of August 12 Osprerys were in flight in the same time in Siikalahti. On the14th day we had SSP again and we caught a Tree Pipit, a Robin, a Common Redstart, 3 Lesser and 8 Common Whitethroats, 4 Garden Warblers, a Blackcap, 6 Willow Warblers, 4 Blue and 2 Great Tits and 2 Willow Warblers. During the day I took part to a running competition and it was a surprise to see the familiar White-fronted Goose with Barnacle Geese in Parikkala sports field. Later there were even more than 200 Barnacle Geese and the same White-fronted Goose seen almost daily in different places feeding grass – they visited even our back-yard several times.

On the 15th day a visit to Saari produced a Great White Egret, a Ringed Plover and 3 Temminck Stints in Pohjanranta, a couple of Hen Harriers, a Black Kite, 2 Stock Doves and 13 Ringed Plovers in Pohjasuo and the same kite, a Stock Dove and a Hen Harrier in Tetrisuo and 32 Coots in Akonpohja.

In the evening of 16th we saw 15 Great White Egrets in Siikalahti and also 255 Cranes were already counted. On the 17th a Linnet was in our garden and in Siikalahti I saw a too distant harrier that looked promising but never came closer. In the afternoon we left to do duck-counts again and it started wel when we saw a Brown Bear crossing the road! Then a female Gadwall with 8 youngsters and 3 young Garganeys were found in Akonpohja! But then only the familiar Tundra Bean Goose, a couple of Great White Egrets and a Ringed Plover were seen on the other places. When we were driving back to home we found a Barnacle Geese flock with White-fronted Goose in Rautalahti. So they were quite far north now. But on the next morning they were on our back-yard again.

On the 20th day evening 15 Great White Egrets, 5 Grey Herons and a Nightjar were seen and on the 21st day we did the first mist-netting in Siikalahti. We caught 53 birds and quite a few were project-species. 12 Robins, a Redstart, a Blackbird, a Song Thrush, 3 Sedge Warblers, a Blyth’s Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser and 3 Common Whitethroats, 10 Garden Warblers, 7 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warblers, a Blue and 4 Great Tits, 2 Chaffinches, a Yellowhammer and 4 Reed Buntings were ringed. Also a Nutcracker was seen.

On the 22nd of August we spent with cameras. First we headed to Savonlinna side of the border and on the way saw a Honey Buzzard migrating with a Hen Harrier, but surprisingly we found also a family of Great Grey Shrikes on the same forest-cut. Then we continued to photograph Red-throated Divers. The young diver was big already and maybe it was the reason why male didn’t bring any food even though we were there for several hours. It was maybe time to leave the pond? Only ones female and the young fledged but young bird hardly got to air at all. But I managed to get a couple of good pictures of mama. While lying under our hides we heard a Brambling and a Two-barred Crossbill too.

During the day we spent a couple of hours in Hanna’s hide and photographed mostly Robins. But also a Sparrowhawk visited the pool and came even too close! In the evening we still headed to Saari where a Little Ringed Plover and 3 Temmink Stints were in Pohjanranta and a Black Kite in Tetrisuo.

On the 24th evening the first 12 Bean Geese arrived to Siikalahti and again 15 Great White Egrets were seen and already 380 Cranes were counted. On the next morning we heard the last calls of local Barnacle Geese – now we will have a couple of weeks freedom before the migrants start to arrive. During the day I got a message that a Bewick’s Swan had been found in Siikalahti, but it had gone missing. I tried to relocate it and checked many places but found only a flock of 53 Canada Geese in Särkisalmi. In the evening we headed to duck-counts again and saw nothing special. 6 Gadwalls were still alive and the first Smew had arrived to Akonpohja. In Pohjanranta a couple of Great White Egrets were still present and in Pohjasuo we saw 4 Ringed Plover. But otherwise it was quite boring – hunting-season had started.

On the 26th morning I found the Bewick’s Swan on the ordinary field in Kaukola. It was the first summer-time record for me ever. This bird stayed in Siikalahti and I saw it many times later. On my lunch-hour I saw an early Merlin and a Goshawk and in the evening we went to photograph ducks to Siikalahti hide. Mallards and Wigeons came close and 2 Gadwalls were swimming further.

On the 27th of August I heard a migrating Rustic Buntings and on the 28th we had the last SSP. We caught a Tree Pipit, a Dunnock, a Bluethroat, 2 Sedge Warblers, a Blyth’s Reed Warbler, 4 Lesser and 2 Common Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Blue and 1 Great Tit, 3 Red-backed Shrikes, a Reed Bunting and even 6 Rustic Buntings!

On Sunday the 29th we ringed in Siikalahti and had players with Rustic Bunting song playing. A Dunnock, 14r+2c Robins, a Redwing, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser and 2 Common Whitethroats, 6 Garden Warblers, 8r+1c Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers, 3 Blue and 5 Great Tits, a Chaffinch and amazing 28 Rustic Buntings were caught. We also saw 2 young Black Kites migrating and finally heard the first Red-throated Pipit of the year.

On the 30th day I heard a couple of Rustic Bunting in a few minutes in Siikalahti. After work I found a young Black Redstart in our parking place! Luckily I was carrying my camera-bag and got some pictures too. We also saw the bird later when Hanna came home but then it was very shy. It was already the 3rd Black Redstart in our garden!

On the last day of August I saw the Bewick’s Swan again and in the evening we did duck-counts. It was as boring as ever! 3 Gadwalls were still alive, a couple of Tundra Bean Geese were in Pohjanranta and a Red-throated Pipit was seen in Suurenjärvenliete. Kanavalampi was completely empty – not a single bird! In the evening we still went to Siikalahti where egrets and a Bittern were seen and a Rustic Bunting was heard from the dark sky.

J.A.

In the evening we continued to Kuhmo Jongunsalo where we put up the tent and were soon ready to go to sleep. Next morning we walked about 10 kilometers and visited Hiidenportti. White walking we saw some Common Crossbills, Bramblings and a Waxwing.

Then we drove to Widlife Safari Finland center where we got a room where we still rested for some time before about at 5 p.m. we left with other photographers to hides. We got a private hide for ourselves and organized everything ready while food was put in front of the hide to the shore of a pond. And then we started to wait for animals to arrive.

After 30 minutes Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Common Gulls and some Ravens and a few Hooded Crows arrived. But soon we saw a Grey Wolf standing on the shore!

We of course started to take pictures while the Wolf was moving on the shore. Soon another very similar-looking Wolf followed it and it was easy to see that the first one was a young and the second was an alfa. The first one was moving slowly and carefully and kept its tail between the legs but the second one was relaxed and strong-looking. Another Wolf took a piece of meat when a Brown Bear was getting close and left. But another Wolf and the Bear stayed on the shore for a long time and it really seemed that the Bear was going to eat everything!

Finally the Wolf left with a meat and also Bear had eaten enough. Then we had to follow gulls and corvids for some time. It was funny to see that a Barn Swallow was breeding over a window of one hide where a photographer was inside. They didn’t mind, the parents were feeding the youngsters all the time.

Finally at 8:30 p.m. a couple of big Wolverine males visited and also a small female that stayed much longer. Then it was quiet again until at 9:15 p.m. a Bear was walking towards our hide along the path. It was already very close when I had to move a little bit so it jumped away from the path and went behind our hide and then continued to the other side of the pond to eat.

When it was getting dark we decided to get some sleep as we were now on photographing-trip. It had also started to rain and there hadn’t been any animals for some time.
It was raining very hard. Hanna had awaken once and seen a couple of Bears eating. I woke up at 1:30 a.m. when I heard a Bear coming. Soon it went to the pond to swim and I had to wake up Hanna to see it too. The Bear was swimming around the pond for almost 10 minutes before it got up and walked to the dark forest.

Still at 4:40 a.m. I saw a Bear searching for food. But when we finally woke up there were no animals anymore, just a Goldeneye, gulls and some Yellow Wagtails.

During the day we slept in our room and at 5 p.m. we left again towards hides. This time we went to bog where we saw a Bear already waiting when we were getting inside the hide. So we had to be quick with our equipment. And once the food was ready we soon saw a couple of Bears coming over the bog. Another one was coming slowly but the other one was running.

Also Ravens, gulls and a Black Kite arrived to get some food and we of course tried to get flight-pictures of the kite. It was very fast but we managed to get some pretty good shots. Surprisingly was saw also a Wolverine coming close but it wasn’t brave enough to come to eat as the bears were still there. It disappeared somewhere behind our hide.

When the Bears finally left, we heard a slam behind our hide and there the Wolverine was again. It was probably been in the terrace of our hide waiting for the Beard to leave! It would’ve been quite a surprise if one of us had visited a toiled and found a Wolverine there!

Pretty long we followed Ravens, Hooded Crows, gulls and a Mistle Thrush family until at 7:10 Hanna saw a Wolf briefly but soon it arrived to visible and was showing well for a short time. Then an hour later we heard a Bear grunting somewhere further but it never showed up. But then behind the bog a Bear and a Wolf came together. And this Wolf came really close and even sat in front of one of the hides but unfortunately that hide was empty. Anyway we got lots of pictures and then alfa-male also arrived and walked between the hides. It is good that cameras are completely silent nowadays so animals didn’t hear anything even though we took pictures all the time.

After a long quiet moment we heard a Wolf howling behind us and then answers behind the bog. We guessed that alfa-male was calling the pack. I even managed to record the howling! And soon we could see that we had been right when one young wolf came visible and started to walk towards us. And then there it was; a stunning pale female that we had seen also 4 years earlier. It also walked through the bog and we got pictures even though it never came very close. And then one more young Wolf followed and walked nicely in front of the hides.

Before we started to sleep a Bear still visited a couple of times but it was already too dark to get good pictures.

In the morning we woke up too early but there was thick fog on the bog. We managed to get some nice pictures of a Bear in foggy landscape. But soon it disappeared to the fog. When the sun rose the light was very nice but we saw only some gulls and Ravens.

At center we ate well and loaded our batteries before started driving. On the way we saw a family of Hazel Hens and on one walk in a stunning old forest Hanna found a nest of a Capercaillie. It still had eggs! Finally we drove until Lieksa Rauvunvaara to camp.

In the morning we walked 8 kilometers in Lieksa Patvinsuo Teretti. There weren’t many birds but on Ilomantsi side from Teretti bird-tower we saw a couple of Peregrine Falcon and a Smew.

Pretty early we continued to Erä-Eero where we soon met Eero himself. We had something to eat inside while talking to Eero and waiting for the other groups to arrive. But for some reason two groups that should have come, never arrived.

So after all we left to the hide while Eero still stayed waiting if anyone was still coming. On the way to the hides we saw amazing numbers of Mourning Cloak butterflies and there were more on the hides too. While we were checking which hide to go, we saw a Wolverine already coming, so we chose to stay in that hide where we were then. A male Wolverine came right in front of us and we got good pictures already before there was food at all. As it found nothing, it soon swam over the bay to the other side and disappeared to the forest.

Soon Eero came to bring the food and soon we started to wait for more animals to come. But it took some time and at 6:30 a female Wolverine arrived and stayed for 30 minutes before it left with a big meat. It probably had cubs somewhere? And soon another female came and acted very similarly.

At 7:55 the third female-looking dark Wolverine arrived but it showed only shortly, but soon came again before left with meat.

Then at 8:45 p.m. a female Bear arrived with 3 tiny cubs! They were coming closer very carefully and then mom just picked up the first big meat it found and they all rushed to the forest.
Soon a couple of female Wolverines came again in same time but they were visiting quite briefly. Then at 10:10 p.m. we heard a slam and then some grunting under the hide – a Wolverine was checking if there was meat hidden under the floor! Almost same time, there were 3 small Wolverines on the other side of the bay. Two of them were chasing each other and were probably youngsters but only the third one came closer and was one of the females that we had seen earlier.

At 11 p.m. we still saw the mama Bear with cubs on the other side of the lake but they soon climbed to the hill and disappeard to the forest. Then we saw nothing before we started to sleep.

At 3 a.m. I checked that there was a female Wolverine in front of the hide and after one hour I checked again and saw another small Wolverine on the other side of the bay. But when we woke up there was no action anymore, just some gulls and Mallards. Still at 7 a.m. we heard something turning stone behind the watching-hide. It was probably a Bear but it never came visible. At 8 a.m. we had packed everything and walked to our car.

We still heard a Cuckoo calling and when we were driving we saw first a male Capercaillie and later a female with chicks and then still one young Black Grouse and a family of Hazel Hens. Then we stopped again in Kontiolahti Linnunsuo but saw even fewer birds than on the previous visit. Only birds to mention were a Temminck Stint and a family of Red-backed Shrikes.

Finally we were at home and on the trip we had taken abou 20 gigas of pictures both! And we still take Jpeg-pictures, so we had taken lots of pictures of amazing animals!

J.A.

On the next night we headed to Saari with Veikka Kosonen and Oskari Saunisto. The Eagle Owl wasn’t heard anymore and we found nothing else either before midnight. So all birds we found were on the 3rd of July. In Kuposenmäki the same Quail was still calling and near Suurenjärvenliete we saw a Short-eared Owl and in Jyrkilä we heard altogether 8 young Long-eared Owls and saw one adult briefly.

Of course we heard plenty of Corn Crakes and Blyth’s Reed Warblers and even tried to catch one Corn Crake without luck. But at least we managed to spend some time and when we continued a Golden Oriole was already singing. After we had seen a family of Northern Wheatears and a Stock Dove we headed towards Akonpohja.

In the end of Selkäsaarentie we heard a Common Grasshopper Warbler already through open windows. We decided to try to ring it. While we were getting our equipment from the trunk, Hanna heard another “locustella” singing behind the very loud Grasshopper Warbler. She thought it was a Lanceolated Warbler! I left to listen to it with my microphone and also to sound-record it, but it was now quiet. So we decided to try to catch both birds. Soon we had the mist-net up and we started to play Lanceolated Warbler and soon the bird was showing well! We managed to get some good pictures before it flew close to the net. It went under the net like a mouse a couple of times but finally we caught it. And soon we had ringed, measured and photographed this first Lanceolated Warbler in Finland this year and the first in Parikkala for 15 years and the bird was released to the same meadow.

We tried to catch the Grasshopper Warbler too but it was too sneaky and only hit the net once and then was singing perched on the net. So after all we left it singing. While catching the birds, we had also heard an Icterine and a Marsh Warbler and seen 3 young Gold Finches and a Whimbrel.

It was already morning when we continued to Melkoniemi forests where our goal was to find Red-flanked Bluetail and hopefully them breeding. In Siberian Jay forests we weren’t lucky even though there had been 2 males singing earlier. So we continued to check that a Red-throated Diver was still on its nest on one pool nearby.

Then we continued near Oronmylly where we had found a female-looking Red-flanked Bluetail earlier. We first heard a Greenish Warbler calling a couple of times but soon found a Bluetail alarm-calling. We also heard a male singing, so there was a couple! We followed the female and soon it started to call intensive “krak-krak” calls. We moved a little bit backwards and waited and finally we saw both male and female carrying food under some branches. Unfortunately boys train was soon leaving so we decided to come back soon.

On the 4th of July we came back to try to find the nest of Red-flanked Bluetails. After all Hanna stayed near the nest for a couple of hours but saw nothing at all! But when we started walking in the forest nearby, we found the female and soon it carried food under one tree-trunk and we found a young bird! Surprisingly this tiny bird was already flying but I still managed to catch it. And of course we ringed it. Then we followed the female and found another fledling that was ringed too. But even though we really tried, we couldn’t find more fledglings, but sure there were more. We even came back in the evening too but saw only the female and heard a male singing further. In the morning Hanna had heard 2 singing birds.

In the evening we headed to Saari and first tried to catch the Quail but it wasn’t interested our tape at all. We did see a couple of Tundra Bean Geese and a couple of Barnacle Geese. Before midnight we headed to try to listen to Lanceolate Warbler but it was already gone. The Grasshopper Warbler was still singing all the time and also a Savi’s Warbler was heard from the lake. It was the same bird that we had heard in spring but now it was closer and it could be heard again after a long time.

On the 5th day the only birds to mention were a family of Nutcrackers that were in Kangaskylä. It would be great to know where they are breeding? The youngsters weren’t very old.

On the 7th day a couple of Red-backed Shrikes were seen in Tetrisuo and the first Great White Egret in Siikalahti. On the 10th day we had SSP-ringing again and we caught 2 Robins, 1 control Sedge Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 r + 1 c Common Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Pied Flycatchers and 1 Common Rosefinch.

From the 12th day there were 2 or 3 Great White Egrets every day in Siikalahti and usually on evening visit it was possible to see also Great Bitterns and Grey Herons. In mid July we worked again in Saari Pohjanranta and tried to make a small area good for waders but summer had been so dry that the area didn’t look as good as we had hoped.

On the 15th day we went to ring Barnacle Geese to Joukio and caught amazing 38 ad and 22 pull geese. We also caught 6 birds that we had ringed in earlier years. With us there were Matti Lötjönen, Miika ja Elissa Soikkeli, Juho Saukkonen sekä Merja Laari.

On the 17th day we had SSP again and we caught a Common Snipe, a Blackbird, a Song Thrush, 1r + 1c Sedge Warblers, 2 Blyth’s Reed Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, 4r + 1c Common Whitethroats, 4r + 2c Garden Warblers, 2r +1c Willow Warblers, a Pied Flycatcher, a Blu Tit, a Great Tit, 3 Greenfinches and a Common Rosefinch. We also saw a Bar-tailed Godwit flying over us.

On the 18th of July there were nothing interesting on the muddy area that we had made to Pohjanranta but a couple of Dunlins were seen on a tiny sandy area on the shore and 3 Spotted Redshanks flew over us. A couple of Black Kites were flying around so they are probably breeding nearby. On the next day only birds to mention were a couple of Stock Doves in Tetrisuo and again Great White Egrets, Grey Herons and Great Bittern were seen in Siikalahti.

J.A.