The beginning of geese-autumn
On the 16th of September we left early to do some birding with Pekka Punnonen. We started from Siikalahti dam-road where we heard a couple of strange Chiffchaffs. The first one was not so rare “e-ly” but another sounded like Siberian Chiffchaff. Unfortunately we didn’t see it. We also heard a Rustic Bunting shortly but didn’t see it either. Only birds we saw on the bushes were 2 Sedge Warblers and some Goldcrests.
We continued along the border-road towards Saari and first 2 stops were quiet. In Tyrjä we heard a Wren calling and Kanavalampi was almost empty. In Tarassiinlahti we stayed for an hour and saw 2 Sedge Warblers, a Bluethroat, at least 5 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff and again we heard a Rustic Bunting. Some flocks of Geese were migrating and a White-tailed Eagle was soaring on the sky.
In Jyrkilä we found about 400 Cranes, 123 Whooper Swans, a Bewick’s Swan and even 1100 Barnacle Geese. Only about 10 Tundra Bean Geese were on the fields but some flocks were seen migrating. Also some hundreds of Barnacle Geese were seen on the sky. A Hen Harrier was hunting along the fields.
Pohjanranta was empty and so were Ratila and Pohjasuo fields. In Akanvaara Tetrisuo we walked a lot in the fields but found only a Whinchat, 3 Northern Wheatears, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. Another White-tailed Eagle was seen too. The best bird was seen when we were already leaving when a Nutcracker was migrating towards north. Then we left back towards Parikkala.
After lunch Hanna left with us too and we drove towards Tetrisuo fields. On the way I found a Peregrine from the sky, but soon it continued its migration towards south-west. On Tetrisuo fields we saw Golden Plovers, Skylarks, some Snipes and Northern Wheatears and a Lapland Bunting. 80 Barnacle Geese were searching for a place where to land, a Rough-legged Buzzard and a Hobby were also seen.
Next we stopped by the dam-road again and we saw a White-backed Woodpecker flying over the bay. Otherwise nothing special was seen, only lots of thrushes flying here and there. So we continued to Kullinsuo where 3 Snipes, a bluethroat, 13 Golden Plovers and a Ruff were seen. Last we walked in Lahdensuo where only Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were found. A Rough-legged Buzzard was soaring on the sky.
The next goose-trip we made on the 22nd of September and to Saari again. We stopped first in Tarvaslampi where we heard a Rustic Bunting. There were good numbers of other passerines too, even though it was raining. We continued to Akanvaara Tetrisuo where we walked on the fields for some time and found 80 Meadow Pipits and a Tree Pipit. Black Grouses were lekking on the fields.
It was quiet in Ratila, Pohjasuo and Pohjaranta but in Jyrkilä we found about 2000 Barnacle Geese. When we were back in our car I found a harrier flying over us. It was a female Pallid Harrier and Hanna managed to get a couple of pictures of it even though it continued straight towards west.
Tarassiinlahti and Kanavalampi were empty too so we continued along the border to Siikalahti where the rain had finally stopped. A flock of 80 Brent Geese, a Smew and a Pochard were the only better birds there.
In the evening I twitched together with Pekka Punnonen a Cackling Goose in Kitee Puhos. The bird was with about 2000 Barnacke Geese but luckily it was easily observed from the road. I am not quessing which sub-species it was as I don’t know where to find the right information about the sub-species, if it is even possible to find somewhere…
J.A.