Easy summer birding
At night on the 30th and 31st of May I was still tired after the bird-race weekend but anyway we went to a short night-trip. We twitched lekking Great Snipes that had arrived once again to their favorite field. At least 1, maybe 2 birds were heard. We continued to Siikalahti where a Marsh Warbler was still singing and then suddenly we heard a familiar call – a female Little Crake was calling on the southern side of the dam-road.
On the 31st of May I had a game in Lappeenranta and on the way I twitched a Grey Wagtail in Imatra Neitsytniemi. On the way back I stopped in Lappeenranta Askola where I saw a Redshank, in Joutseno Kotasaari, where I had a Golden Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper and 3 Wood Sandpipers and in VaPo pool where I had a Little Ringed Plover, a Spotted Redshank and a Yellow Wagtail. On my tour I also saw a couple of Citrine Wagtails! In Korvenkyä I still twitched a calling Moorhen.
On the 2nd of June I went by bike to listen to Great Snipes but after I had heard the first one there were already too many mosquitoes to continue! On the way I heard fledlings of Ural Owl, a Marsh Warbler, Corn Crakes, Blyth’s Reed Warblers and Nightjars, but in Siikalahti I didn’t hear the Little Crake.
On the 4th day there were again Barnacle Geese in Joukionsalmi and one couple had already 3 chicks with them. On the 5th day we visited Sari Pohjanranta where we had 6 Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, a Red-necked Phalarope, 3 Spotted Redshanks, 3 Greenshanks, a Wood Sandpiper and 5 Barnacle Geese. On the way back we still saw a Short-eared Owl in Ansunmäki.
On the 6th day I was in Lappeenranta again and on the way I saw the Grey Wagtail again. On the way back I visited all the same places again, but also twitched a Booted Warbler as a year-tick. Other better birds I saw were 2 Broad-billed Sandpipers in Askola, a Merlin in VaPo, 12 Ringed Plovers, 2 Broad-billed Sandpipers, a Ruff, a Spotted Redshank and a singing Reed Warbler in Kotasaari. In Konnunsuo I saw 5 Barnacle Geese and Moorhen was showing now in Korvenkylä.
On the 7th of June I saw a Brent Goose in Härskiinmutka and on the 8th day I managed to twitch 2 calling Quails in Saari Raikkalannurmi. In the evening of the 10th day we visited Siikalahte and had a Golden Oriole, a Spotted Redshank, a Ruff and a Long-eared Owl.
Early morning of the 12th of June I biked to Tarvaslampi where Miika joined me and we continued to forest-birding. On the way we heard some Wrens and Chiffchaffs and luckily soon found Siberian Jays that had 3 young birds with them! A Sparrowhawk was seen and plenty of Crested Tit and Treecreepers were calling here and there. We also found even 3 Greenish Warblers, more Wrens and Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, Wood Warblers, a Honey Buzzard and a female Capercaillie. So even though the weather was rainy and windy it was really worthy!
On the 13th day I had a game again so I saw a Grey Wagtail again and in Askola I saw 3 Redshanks and 3 Little Ringed Plover, but then I had to hurry to watch football matches.
On the 14th of June on a short night-trip I heard 3 Great Snipes, 3 Marsh Warblers, only a couple of Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Corn Crakes, a Nightjar and a Grasshopper Warbler. Early morning I heard a Reed Warbler in Kukonkanta.
On the 16th of May a lunch-hour visit to Siikalahti was worthy as I found 2 Black Terns! It was a new year-tick number 235.
At the end of the wee I started my summer holiday and it was time to start a long trip to our big neighbor! We were going to spend 17 days in Russia – 5 of the days we would travel by train! But luckily then we were going to do birding in Polar Ural with amazing birds and amazing numbers of mosquitoes!
J.A.