Black-winged Pratincole and a visit in Hanko

On the 26th of August we woke up when we heard calls of a flock of Barnacle Geese through the open window. Local geese were flying somewhere. On my lunch-hour I saw a Blyth’s Reed Warbler in Siikalahti and a Cormorant in Härskiinmutka.

After the work we left towards Kirkkonummi with our new Skoda Yeti. We had to make a stop on the way in Vantaa Seutula where was a Black-winged Pratincole. It was a long walk from the parking place to the field where the bird was. While walking we saw a young Pallid Harrier. It was already getting dark when we finally were there. Unfortunately the bird was hiding behind some vegetation and we could hardly see it. It was already too dark to get any pictures, when it flew a little bit and landed visible in the middle of the field. When the bird flew second time, we decided to leave, but there were still twitchers arriving. I bet they didn’t see the bird very well…

On Saturday the 27th day Hanna left early towards Helsinki and BirdLife meeting and I left even earlier towards Hanko. I drove straight to Tallholmarna where I saw a Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatchers, a white-tailed Eagle and so on. In Långören I saw almost nothing as it was very windy, so I continued to Vedagrundet where I knew to get shelter from the hut that is on the shore. There were lots of waders in Veda and I was photographing a flock with 75 Dunlins, 2 Little Stints, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Sanderling, 4 Knots, 2 Turnstones, a Ruff and 50 Ringed Plovers. Also a Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 Grey Plovers landed to the shore. But on the stormy sea I saw almost nothing, only some more waders.

I still visited Svanvik where I saw 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 4 Grey Plovers and Täktom where I saw only some Kestrels before I left back towards Kirkkonummi.

I called to my parents and we decided to go to see bird-paintings to Galleria Karaija, also Hanna had 10 painting in the exhibition.

During the day I still visited Kirkkonummi Saltfjärden where I saw one possible adult female Pallid Harrier migrating but a young Pallid Harrier was showing well. 5 White-tailed Eagles were also seen.

In the evening I was relaxing and early in the next morning I left towards Azores pelagic trip.

J.A.