The last birds of the spring
On the 25th of May I saw the first Honey Buzzards and a Spotted Flycatcher in Siikalahti, also a Wryneck was calling. In on nest in Parikkala White-backed Woodpeckers were soon leaving. I also did a short night-trip and heard a few Corn Crakes, 2 Nightjars, a Grasshopper Warbler and a couple of Blyth’s Reed Warblers. A Little Crake was calling in Siikalahti again, nobody had heard it for a couple of weeks.
On the 26th day I saw a Black Kite in Siikalahti and in the afternoon I went by bike to check Pygmy Owl and Tengmalm’s Owl nests. I also saw a Capercaillie.
On the 28th day I drove to Luumäki for a short work-visit. In the afternoon I did birding in Joutseno but saw nothing special. But then in the evening we drove to Saari with Hanna and it really was good. In Akanvaara Tetrisuo we heard an Ortolan Bunting and in Pohjanranta we saw 2 Marsh Sandpipers, 3 Broad-billed Sandpieprs, a Temminck’s Stint, a Dunlin, 2 Redshanks and so on. In suurenjärvenliete we still saw 3 Temminck’s Stints, a Little Ringed Plover and 2 Ruffs. At night we biked around Siikalahti and some other places with Harri Partanen and heard a Grasshopper Warbler, a River Warbler, a Marsh Warbler, some Corn Crakes and the same Little Crake and saw 2 Long-eared Owls and so on.
On the 29th of May we went to Saari with Hanna’s brother Miika. In Akanvaara Tetrisuo we found a strane looking harrier that after some difficulties I managed to identify as a Montagu’s Harrier. We also heard an Ortolan Bunting and in Pohjanranta almost all waders were still present, 2 Ringed Plovers were new.
On the 30th day I was in Siikalahti for some hours and the weather was too good. I felt too tired but a White-tailed Eagle, a Yellow Wagtail, a Golden Oriole and a Marsh Warbler were keeping me there for longer. During the day we slept long…
On the 31st of May at midnight we headed to night-trip with Hanna and Miika. We started with a River Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, Corn Crakes, Blyth’s Reed Warblers and 2 Nightjars and then in Kolmikannankangas we heard a Ural Owl. Then we went to Siikalahti to make a count with a rowing boat and counted 6 Bitterns, 5 Water Rails, 4 Spotted Crakes, the same Little Crake, 2 Golden Orioles and a Great Reed Warbler.
After that I biked to Moskuunniemi and heard 4 Icterine Warblers and together with Harri a River Warbler too. Then we continued to Melkoniemi forests and soon found a Greenish Warbler. We listened it for some time and then I suddenly heard a familiar song behind us. It sounded a little bit too long and there were some extra tunes, but after some songs it continued as it should be – it was a Red-flanked Bluetail! I climbed after it and managed to find it after some searching and it was a nice 2nd year male – the first ever Bluetail for Parikkala and the first singing bird ever in South Karelia! When Harri had climbed up with his camera the bird moved further and then we decided that I will try to get a picture of the bird. I took Harri’s camera and followed the bird but it always moved further when it saw me. It took a long time before I finally saw it again and this time on the South Savo side of the border. But I missed it again before I got a picture. Anyway I still decided to try once more and finally I was successful! I got some pictures and left the bird to sing. When I had walked back to our bikes, the bird returned to sing to the place we had found it – it seemed to have a territory there!
We still biked for some time and saw quite a few Common Crossbills, heard a few Parrot Crossbills and a Two-barred Crossbill and a Black Woodpecker. After 50 kilometers biking and 2 more rowing, I was back at home and ready to go to sleep.
In the evening we still went to see a Great Grey Owl that was found nearby. We also put a nest for it to a tree so hopefully it will stay there longer…
J.A.