Hammering fields
In the beginning of September the weather was still warm and calm. I checked Lake Simpele every day from Härskiinmutka and counted big numbers of Great Crested Grebes, the maximum was on the 2nd day with 145 birds. Then I saw also 4 Red-necked Grebes and a Slavonian Grebe. There were also quite a few gulls, a young Little Gull, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Canada Geese and a Barnacle Goose on those visits.
On the evening of the 2nd day we went to hammer some fields with Hanna and Harri Partanen. We started in Kullinsuo where we flushed 10 Snipes, 4 Skylarks, 35 Meadow Pipits and 3 Red-throated Pipits. In Kontiolampi we saw a flock of 115 Cranes and in Kolmikanta a young male Capercaillie was perched on the road. In Lahdensuo we saw a Black Grouse and a Hen Harrier and then we still walked in the middle of the fields where we finally flushed a young Great Snipe!
On the 3rd of September I saw a Nutcracker again in Kangaskylä and in Siikalahti I saw a Bluethroat and a White-backed Woodpecker. There weren’t many ducks even though normally when the hunting season starts Siikalahti gets full of them. Only some Tufted ducks, Pochards, a Red-necked Grebe and 2 young Slavonian Grebes were seen with some tens of Mallards, Wigeons and Coots. 6 Grey Herons were flying around.
On the 4th day evening we put up the mist-nets to Tarvaslampi and tried to catch migrating owls. Only a Pygmy Owl came to whistle back to our tape but never got caught.
On the next day I saw a Goshawk and heard a Water Rail in Siikalahti. In the evening I drove to Lappeenranta Joutseno Konnunsuo where I immediately found an interesting looking harrier. I identified it immediately as a female-plumaged Pallid Harrier but somehow it looked strange. It was something I had thought that a 2nd c-y female should look like but I couldn’t see any moulting. I saw the bird 3 times and also together with several other experienced birders and we just couldn’t see it well enough. After all the bird landed to the field so we hope someone would see it again on the next day. Anyway we did see also a young Pallid Harrier which was very easy to identify, 7 Hen Harriers, 5 Marsh Harriers, a Merlin, 2 Nutcrackers, 55 Stock Doves, Gold Finches, Linnets etc.
Then on the next day Totti Toiskallio managed to photograph our harrier and moulting could be seen. So I was sure it was a 2nd c-y Pallid but then a member of Finnish rarity-committee saw it had too long P6 and also the shape of that feather was wrong – he thought it was a hybrid. But then the final word was given by Dick Forsman who said the bird was indeed a Pallid Harrier. Very interesting case anyway!
On the 6th day I saw a Bluethroat and a White-backed Woodpecker again and on of the Slavonian Grebes was still in Siikalahti. The first Bramblings were found fronm the flocks of Chaffinches. It really started to feel like autumn. The next day we had Finnich cup inner-bandy tournament but on the 8th of September we went to hammer some fields with Hanna and Matti Lötjönen. We started in Saari Akanvaara Tetrisuo where we found a Hen Harrier, 35 Meadow Pipits, 2 Red-throated Pipits, 4 Lapland Buntings, a Rustic Bunting and so on. In Uukuniemi Suurenjärvenliete we saw 10 Ruffs, a Red-throated Pipit, a Yellow Wagtail, a Lapland Bunting and 2 Chiffchaffs. In Jyrkilä we counted 100 Cranes and in Tarassinlahti we saw 3 Grey Herons and in Kanavalampi we saw a White-tailed Eagle, Hen Harrier and 2 Golden Plovers. In the evening we tried to catch owls again but only a Tengmalm’s Owl was heard briefly.
On the 9th of September I went to hammer the fields in Kullinsuo and Lahdensuo again and saw 2 Hen Harriers, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, a Red-throated Pipit, a Whinchat, 5 Snipes and the 2nd Great Snipe of the autumn.
On the 10th and 11th day I was in Helsinki and I visited Espoo Laajalahti a couple of times. There were again amazing numbers of birds, especially in the evening when thousands of barnacle Geese were present. I saw a White-fronted Goose, some Bluethroats, 3 Dunlins, a Little Stint, a Curlew, a Goshawk and even 164 Gadwalls.
J.A.