. . Lintuharrastajan päiväkirja Birders diary . .

In the mid July there was still at least 1 Great White Egret in Siikalahti. It stayed all the time in the reeds on the northern side of the dam-road and was seen only in flight very briefly. I also visited Imatra again and saw this time a couple of Grey Wagtails in Tornansilta. Other birds seen in Siikalahti were a male Hen Harrier in Siikalahti on the 13th and 2 female plumaged Smews on the 14th of July.

On the 15th of July we drove to north-west and stopped in Siilinjärvi Raasio where we saw 5 Ringed Plovers, a Ruff, 2 Red-necked Phalaropes, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Temminck Stints, 4 Dunlins, 1 Little Stint and 1 Sanderling. We continued until Siikajoki Tauvo where we put up the tent at 2 a.m.

On the 16th of July we woke up after the heavy rain finally stopped at 11 a.m. We walked to Tauvo Ulkonokka where we saw a Bittern, 16 Ringed Plovers, 24 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Sanderlings, 120 Dunlins, 4 Little Stints, a Temminck Stint, a Spotted Redshank, 7 Little Terns, 2 Arctic Skuas, a Caspian Tern and so on.

Then we continued to Sääri where we counted 192 Mute Swans! In Lumijoki Sannanlahti we saw nothing interesting and in Liminka Virkkula only 2 White-tailed Eagles. Finally we were in Kempele Vihiluoto where we had booked a room. In the evening we met my parent and my brother Pirkka’s family and ate well together.

On the 17th day we visited Oulunsalo Kemepeleenlahti and heard a Spotted Crake. During the day we celebrated my brother Riku’s daughter Oona’s confirmation parties. Unfortunately we had a long way back home so we had to leave in the afternoon. On the way we stopped in Raasio again and saw 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 10 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Temminck Stints, 144 Dunlins, 2 Little Stints, a Sanderling, 2 Common Sandpipers and a Green Sandpiper.

On the 21st day I counted 116 Barnacle Geese in Joukionsalmi and saw a White-tailed Eagle in Siikalahti. During the weekend I was sailing in Saimaa with my friends and we camped in a big tent in islands. Only better birds were a couple of migrating flocks of Common Scores and a few Cormorants.

On the 25th of July a Nutcracker had arrived again to Kangaskylä. We get every autumn some birds from Punkaharju Metla. In the afternoon we visited Siikalahti and found a young Pygmy Owl roosting in the middle of bushes. An angry Garden Warbler helped us to find the owl.

On the 29th day I saw a young Hen Harrier in Siikalahti and during the next days we found some families of Red-backed Shrikes. It is amazing how this species can be hiding until the youngsters are leaving their nests. On the 31st day a visit to Saari wasn’t good but we had the first flock of Common Crossbills in Parikkala for whole year! And in the next days I saw some more Common Crossbills. Only a couple of Grey Herons were seen, nothing else really.

J.A.

On the 8th of July, Friday morning I started to change my mind and think about twitching trip to Rauma. There had been a Rufous Bush Chat in Kylmäpihlaja island since Monday and still this morning. We had come back from a long and hard trip to Polar Ural In Sunday and I had been thinking that I couldn’t drive long distances for a long time after all that travelling by train. But I had seen too many pictures from Kylmäpihlaja and not only the bird but the island too looked beautiful.

So I sent a few SMS and asked my friends opinions about the twitch and luckily “Potu” Suojarinne replied and was interested. Also Hanna was easy talk to join us so after my lunch-hour I was already buying morning tickets to the boat to Kylmäpihlaja. An hour before we were leaving, Sampsa Cairenius called and also he joined us. So we were 4 participants.

We picked up Sampsa in Joutseno and Potu in Lahti and continued a long way to Rauma where we finally were in the evening. There we camped in Poroholma camping which was the place where the boat was leaving next morning.

On the 9th of July we woke up at 7 a.m. and after some shopping we were back in Poroholma where were already many other twitchers too. The boat left at 9:30 a.m. and it was full – there were 60 people and most of them were birders.

On the way we saw some Grreat Black-backed Gulls, Arctic Terns, Common Eiders, Greylag Geese, an Arctic Skua and so on and after 50 minutes we were in Kylmäpihlaja. On the harbor we saw Black Guillemots breeding and heard a Rock Pipit singing.

We were hardly out of the boat, when someone already shouted that the bird had been found. So soon we also saw a Rufous Bush Chat hiding on the ground behind some vegetation. And of course soon it was flying because of too many people going too close.

There were many photographers and some of them were going too close to the bird, so after some time, we decided to go to see other birds and of course see the island. We found soon a Rock Pipit, some Linnets, Common Whitethroats and of course terns and Black-headed Gulls were all around the island. A colony of Sand Martins were breeding in an odd place under a dock in harbor and Black Guillemots were flying to the rocky breakwater.

On the sea we saw some flocks of moving Velvet Scoters, a couple of Common Scoters, another Arctic Skua and on the shore we found a Turnstone and a Dunlin. Little Gull had 2 fledlings and we saw also a Lesser Black-backed Gull with badly broken wing. We also saw some Grass Snakes.

We were walking around the island for an hour and then when the second boat of the day arrived, went to see the Rufous Bush Chat again, and of course met some familiar birders again. This time the group of birders was acting more careful and I managed to get a short video of the bird. Then we still climbed to the lighthouse to take some pictures of the island.

Finally at 2:30 p.m. we left back towards Poroholma. And there we left straight towards home. It was a long drive but after dropping Potu and Sampsa, we were in Parikkala before midnight. We still visited Siikalahti and Kullinsuo but saw only a Grey Heron and heard some Water Rails and Corncrakes and in two places 2 fledlings of Long-eared Owl.

On the next morning, the 10th of July I managed to twitch a Great White Egret in Siikalahti. One bird had been there for some days, but on Saturday there had been 2 birds together. The birds/bird stayed once again in the middle of the reedbed on the northern side of the bay and at least one bird was seen on the next days too.

J.A.

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.

On the 27th of May I visited Siikalahti on my lunch-hour and saw a Black Kite soaring low above the bay. After my work I drove 1.5 hours to Juva where I met Miska Loippo and together we continued towards Oulu.

Miska was driving a long way and we stopped only in Siilinjärvi Raasio where we saw 26 Dunlins, 25 Broad-billed Sandpipers, 2 Temmnck Stints, 1 Little Stint, 100 Little Gulls and so on. Only other interesting bird on the way was a female Red-backed Shrike in Siikalatva Piippola.

Finally we parked to Kempele Vihiluoto Airport Hotel and soon met my brother Pirkka there. We got a good room and then had perfect dinner in Spanish style restaurant. From the restaurant window we saw a Waxwing and a Pheasant. In the late evening we still visited the bird-tower where we saw 2 Black-tailed Godwits, a Dunlin, a Red-necked Phalarope, Shelducks, Gadwalls and heard a Bittern. About at midnight we were ready to sleep.

On the 28th of May I woke up after 7 a.m. when a Collared Dove was calling outside our window. Pirkka tried to find the bird outside but found only a Common Whitethroat. After breakfast Harry Nyström arrived and we decided the plan for the 24 hours bird-race. I had got an idea what to do while I had been listening snoring.

After visiting a shop we headed to Oulunsalo where we checked Akionlahti and then continued to Mustaniemi where is a good view to the sea and to Kammonkari and Kutukari islets. There weren’t many waders, but soon we realized that we had to start the race there as it was already the time. So at 11:30 a.m. we started when we saw a Garganey, 2 Red-throated Divers and a Barnacle Goose in same time. Luckily we still saw an Arctic Skua and a Sparrowhawk and of course many common species. And while walking back to our car, we had Spotted Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Garden Warbler and so on.

Next we continued to Nenännokka where we had a couple of Arctic Skuas more and luckily also a Broad-billed Sandpiper, some Shelducks and the target species a Crested Tit. The weather was almost too good, but the water-level was perfect so we hoped to see more waders later.

In Pajulampi we saw only a couple of Wood Sandpipers and in Riuttu some Mute Swans and Cormorants. Soon we were again in Akionlahti where Coots were found immediately but Smews had gone missing. Luckily a Bullfinch was singing in the forest.

When we got to Kempele and Vihiluoto it had started to get windy and so the sea-level had risen pretty much! So there were no waders, just a Little Ringed Plover and 2 Black-tailed Godwits. But luckily a flock of Smews were found on the sea. Also a Pheasant was heard.

In Teppola we heard another Pheasant, Chiffchaff and Common Whitethroat and saw a White-tailed Eagle. Soon we continued to Rajakorpi where we hoped to hear an Ortolan Bunting but we found a Kestrel and then I noticed a big raptor on the eastern sky and once we got it to our scopes it was easy to identify as an old Greater Spotted Eagle! Pirkka got a lifer! After some soaring the bird continued towards North-East.

We continued inland to check a nest-box of a Tengmalm’s Owl but it was empty! The chicks had just left the nest and of course they weren’t found. Luckily the stop was good anyway as we heard an Ortolan Bunting and saw a couple of Red-backed Shrikes and a Stock Dove. Soon we stopped to see another owl and a Ural Owl was perched on a pine next to its nest where 3 chicks were still in.

While we were driving towards Liminka I found a distant raptor from the sky and after a kilometer driving we could identify it as a male Hen Harrier. In Liminka we saw Rock Doves and a single Collared Dove.

In Virkkula we saw a Wryneck on the parking place and from the tower we couldn’t find anything new easily. Of course some Garganeys, Black-tailed Godwits and White-tailed Eagles were seen.
But after some searching we found a Great White Egret that had been there for whole morning. It was extremely far but soon flew closer so we could see it pretty well. Then we saw a flock of 2 Broad-billed Sandpipers and a Little Stint and soon after that a Grey Plover was migrating over the bay. Other good ticks were a Rough-legged Buzzard, Yellow Wagtail and a Caspian Tern.

In Lumijoki Kari we had nothing but in Sannanlahti we saw a Hobby and a Short-eared Owl. One more Arctic Skua was seen again but Gull-billed Tern that was once again in very distant Lamukari islet wasn’t seen.

After some U-turns we finally found to Karvonlahti where we had a Spotted Redshank. And on the drive to Siikajoki we had a couple of Short-eared Owls more. And one more was posing on a pole in Sääri when we parked there. In Sääri we had also a Turnstone, a Golden Plover, 2 more Spotted Redshanks, 20 Mute Swans, 2 Garganeys, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Brambling.

In Karinkanta we stopped briefly and it was worthy as we flushed 2 Grey Partridges. In Varessäikkä we had hoped to see some arctic ducks on evening migration but only flocks we saw were too distant to identify. 100 Cormorants were on the rocks and luckily 4 Common Scoters came close and then we saw a nice flock of 14 Red-necked Phalaropes migrating. We also followed 4 Elks first walking and then swimming towards Hailuoto. When they finally had to start swimming one of the Elks turned back.

Then it was time to hurry towards Tauvo. Once again we were there at midnight. While walking on the most beautiful beach in Finland we surprisingly heard first a Corn Crake and then also a Water Rail! The wind was dying again and the water very low. So it was a long walk before we finally found 2 Red-necked Grebes, 3 Little Terns and one single Temminck Stint but nothing else new. A Red Fox was walkin in Ulkonokka and it must be one reason to the absence of the waders. Once we were walking back towards our car 2 Bitterns started to call and we saw one bird flying on the sky.

But the best bird was found while driving again when a Great Grey Owl flew in front of our car and landed to a tree pretty close! Säikänlahti was too misty but on the way from there back to the main road we saw another big owl – an Eagle Owl!

Then we continued to Raahe and Pitkäkari. Some Canada Geese and Velvet Scoters were seen and a Thrush Nightingale was heard. In Aittalahti we heard one more Bittern and in Varvi another Thrush Nightingale. Kaijanaro had one more nightingale and a Corn Crake. In Hietakarinlahti we had another Water Rail and along the road back we heard some morning singers like a Wren, Blackcap and Treecreeper.

In Teerelänpuhto we had nothing new, but in Eteläinen penkkatie we had a Blyth’s Reed Warbler and a Dunnock.

Then it was time to head to Elävisluoto for morning seawatch. It was pretty good again and 15 Red-throated Divers, a Black-throated Diver, 4 Red-necked Grebes, Cormorants, Velvet Scoters, Common Scoters and even 15 Razorbills were seen. But we didn’t see any Long-tailed Ducks and only better wader was a Turnstone.

After all we had to continue to Vartti forests. After some driving there we saw a stunning male Capercaillie and our first stop was extremely good as we heard a Black Woodpecker drumming, a Three-toed Woodpecker and a Wryneck calling and a Mistle Thrush singing. Then we headed to a place where we had seen a Montagu’s Harrier in 2012 (2 males) and 2013 (1 male) and surprisingly we found a male again! Also 2 Whimbrels were heard there.

After some stops we continued to Alhonmäki where we immediately had a Linnet and a Wood Lark. So we decided to continue to check Sääri again. Unfortunately the haze was already very bad,
so only waders we could identify were the same we had seen already.

We still had some time left so we contiunued to Virkkula. There had been Pallid Harrier, Gull-billed Tern, Citrine Wagtail and many other birds seen there in recent days. An hour before the end we climbed to the tower and there we were told that a male Pallid Harrier had just disappeared. Luckily Miska found it soaring far on the sky with prey on its feet. And soon I noticed 2 female harriers flying towards us and there were a Pallid and a Hen Harrier together! The visibility and sea-level were really good, but unfortunately all the waders we had already. Other teams that had arrived ticked Little Stint, Grey Plover and Red-necked Phalarope, but we couldn’t find anything. We really tried to see Citrine Wagtail but found only Yellow Wagtails. Finally Miska found a Goshawk at 11:20 a.m. which was our last new species number 155.

After a hard and very warm race, we were happy to our result. We had found all 80 birds on the common list 1 and 37 of 40 species on list 2. Only missed species were Dunlin, Redpoll and Common Crossbill.

Harry had to still drive us to Vihiluoto from where we continued with Miska and Pirkka to twitch a Terek Sandpiper to Oritkari, but we saw only a migrating Rough-legged Buzzard. Harry still had to go to Virkkula to give the results and after all with Miska we had driven already to Kuopio once Harry called me and gave the results.

Winners were as usual in last a couple of years Petri Lampila, Harri Taavetti, Antti Peuna (was on our team last years) and Kari Soilevaara with 162 species. Second were Heikki Tuohimaa and Tuomas Väyrynen with 159 species and we came 3rd. 4th were Ville Suorsa, Kalle Hiekkanen, Pauli-Pekka Österberg and Jukka Österberg. They had seen a Wolf which was the best observation in whole race! Altogether 191 species had been seen which was much less than normally.

We still had a long drive and Miska drove until he had to sleep and I drove until Juva. There Miska continued to Mikkeli and I still had 1.5 hours to drive to Parikkala. It had once again been a hard trip but it is always so good to do a bird-race in best birding areas of the country with very good friends!

J.A.

After a couple of long twitches I was very tired. So on the 10th of May I didn’t do much birding so only Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Wren, Wryneck and White-backed Woodpecker were observed. On the 11th day I saw a Black Kite in Siikalahti and the first bigger flock of Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins in Tiviänlampi. In the afternoon we visited Saari where we heard 2 Ortolan Buntings in Akanvaara Tetrisuo and saw 2 Gadwalls, 2 Ringed Plovers, 100 Ruffs, 54 Spotted Redshanks, 130 Wood Sandpipers and so on. On the 12th day a Rough-legged Buzzard was still migrating, a Red-backed Shrike was a new year-tick and already 10 Swifts were seen in Siikalahti. A short visit to Saari was a disappointment.

On the 13th of May I twitched a Red-breasted Flycatcher in Tyrjä and in Härskiinmutka I saw a flock of 15 Scaups already before I got to work. In the afternoon we headed to Virolahti with Hanna and Miika. We reached Lakakallio at 7 p.m. when there was already a good duck-migration going. Common Scoters and Long-tailed ducks were seen about 70 000 altogether with 50 Velvet Scoters and a single Red-necked Grebe.

On the 14th of May I woke up before 4 a.m. and climbed to the top of the rock. Black-throated Divers started to migrate soon and after all I counted 1718 of them. Only 64 Red-throated Divers were identified. Only a couple of thousands of geese were seen and only interesting bird was a too distant female ring-tail harrier. After 8 a.m. we headed to Vilkkiläntura Kolsinpohja where we had a Red-breasted Flycatcher, 2 Long-tailed Tits, a couple of Temminck Stints and in Kellohiekantie we saw a Honey Buzzard and heard a Wood Lark. In Leerviikki we saw 2 Common Shelducks and in Lintulahti we saw some Caspian Terns and heard a Garden Warbler. In the evening we were again in Lakakallio but there was no migration at all. Only a too distant eagle was seen. It looked like a Greater Spotted Eagle but it was too far.

On the 15th of May we woke up at 3.m. and headed towards South Karelia. On the way we stopped in Lintulahti where a Corn Crake was calling. In Ylämaa we saw a Nightjar flying over the road and finally we stopped in Hanhijärvi where a Savi’s Warbler started to sing soon. Then we headed to Haapajärvi but we didn’t hear a Little Crake that had been there for a couple of days. We heard only a Water Rail and a distant Pheasant. From the tower we saw 3 Gadwalls, and then we headed to Joutseno Kotasaari where we soon found a male hybrid between Citrine and Yellow Wagtail. Luckily after a short wait also a pure male Citrine Wagtail was seen and other birds seen were 5 Temminck Stints, 4 Little Ringed and 1 Ringed Plover, a Merlin and a Linnet. In Konnunsuo we saw and heard several Ortolan Buntings but soon we had to head back home to sleep.

In the evening we still visited Saari and counted 120 Whooper Swans and saw a Hen Harrier in Akanvaara Tetrisuo but Pohjanranta was almost empty, all Barnacle Geese had left. At night I visited Siikalahti and heard a Ural Owl calling.

On the 16th of May I did a short morning trip and had a Spotted Flycatcher in Siikalahti, an Icterine Warbler and a Golden Oriole in Moskuunniemi, some Common Rosefinches and then twitched a Greenish Warbler in Liuharanta where also a flock of 12 Parrot Crossbills were seen. Garden Warblers were already here and there. In the afternoon Barnacle Geese started to migrate and I counted 15 000 of them in a few hours. Also 270 Long-tailed Ducks, 78 Black-throated Divers and a Honey Buzzard was seen.

On the 17th of May I twitched a River Warbler in Tyrjä and heard a Corn Crake in Suursuo, saw and heard Nightjars and heard a Blyths Reed Warbler in Argusjärvi. A Cormorant was seen in Härskiinmutka and in Siikalahti I still saw 4 migrating Waxwings.

On the 18th day a Scaup was seen in Härskiinmutka and once I got to work I could see through window that Barnacle Goose migration had really started. My window points towards west which is wrong direction but I still saw thousands of geese including 10 Brent Geese while working. On my lunch-hour I saw 7000 Barnacle Geese but most of the flocks were missed as the same Greater Spotted Eagle was displaying over the bay! In the evening we went to ring the 3 chicks of our only owl – a Ural Owl.

On the 19th day on a short visit to Saari Pohjanranta I saw 2 Temminck Stints and a Black-tailed Godwit and on a night-trip to Siikalahti I heard a Grasshopper Warbler and a Marsh Warbler. On the 20th day the same Greater Spotted Eagle was again in Siikalahti and I also heard a Ringed Plover and a Golden Oriole. In the afternoon I headed to Virolahti again and on the way I saw a White-tailed Eagle in Imatra Immalanjärvi. At 6 p.m. I was in Lakakallio again and in 3 hours I saw only a flock of 100 Dunlins with 1 Bar-tailed Godwit. While we were sitting by the fire and making sausage, a Nightjar started to sing.

On the 21st of May I was on the rock already at 4 a.m. again and saw a flock of 23 Knots and a flock of 26 Dunlins. Then it started to rain and I headed to Vilkkiläntura where I saw 11 Temminck Stints, 8 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Garganey, 3 White-tailed Eagles and heard a Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Reed Warbler. In Kellohiekantie I sound-recorded the singing Wood Lark and then headed back to Lakakallio where in a couple of hours I saw a flock of 60 Grey Plover and 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Ringed Plovers and altogether I had seen only 62 Black-throated Divers and 1 Red-throated Divers and no geese at all.

Once I had planned to go to sleep, I got a message that there was a Red-footed Falcon in Kattilainen and so I went to twitch it. It was a nice female but it stayed too far on the field and also disappeared soon, so I decided to continue to Hamina Kirkkojärvi where I got a Great Reed Warbler as a year-tic.

After the good day-sleep I climbed to Lakakallio again and while listening to Finland beating Russia in ice-hockey I finally saw some flocks of Brent Geese. Anyway I saw only 3410 Brent Geese, 1390 too distant geese and 900 Barnacle Geese. I probably missed many flocks as I found a Lesser Spotted Eagle that was visible for more than 30 minutes and while watching it suddenly another Lesser Spotted Eagle was flying to the same picture! This another bird continued straight towards east but the first bird stayed still visible for a long time. Other nice birds were an Arctic Skua and a Short-eared Owl.

On the 22nd of May the morning was extremely foggy. I had planned to stay in Harvajanniemi but after a short walk in the forests where we heard a Hazel Hen and a Chiffchaff, I decided to drive back to South Karelia. In Joutseno I picked up Sampsa Cairenius and soon we were in Hyvättilä fields. There we managed to twitch a Collared Dove and soon saw also a male Montagu’s Harrier nearby. Several Ortolan Buntings were heard and a couple of Honey Buzzards were seen. We also saw a White-backed Woodpecker in a new place and heard a Wryneck. In Konnunsuo we heard an Icterine Warbler and a Stock Dove and saw a Bean Goose, a Bewick’s Swan and a Hen Harrier. In Kotasaari we saw 19 Ringed Plovers, 4 Temminck Stints and so on. In Karhusjärvi we heard a couple of calls of a Great Reed Warbler. Then we headed back to Konnunsuo where we found a Quail! But then I started to feel too tired and I had start driving towards home.

On the 23rd of May I was still tired but anyway I did a couple of short trips. At night we did a longer night-trip with Miika but heard mostly the same birds as before. 6 Spotted Crakes, 4 Water Rails, 4 Bitterns, 7 Corn Crakes, 3 Nightjars, a Marsh Warbler, a Blyth’s Reed Warbler and 2 Ural Owls were heard.

On the 24th day I visited Saari Pohjanranta and saw a flock of 3 migrating Caspian Terns! It was only my 2nd observation of the species in Parikkala! On the 25th day we visited Siberian Jay forests but saw nothing interesting.

On the 26th of May I did a morning visit to Saari Pohjanranta and again it was worthy when I saw a Red-necked Phalarope. On my lunch-hour I saw 102 Black-throated Divers migrating and there were about 100 Swifts on the sy. While I was talking with Pertti Koskimies, we saw three times Swifts copulating! I had never seen that before! A Sparrowhawk was also acting strange as it was walking in the middle of the road and then finally walked to the reedbed!

J.A.

On the 9th of May I had to go twitching again when a Black Scoter had been found in Keuruu Isohiekka Keurusselkä. I had to stay at work for a couple of hours but then I managed to leave early enough.

It was a long drive and about at 6 p.m. I finally parked to Isohiekka. It was still some hundreds of meters walk to the shore where plenty of twitchers were already.

The bird had once been flushed by a boat and soon after that it had stayed with a flock of 28 Common Scoters in very bad light against the sun. So the bird hadn’t been possible to identify for more than an hour.

The flock was swimming slowly to a better light and once I managed to find a bird that shape looked perfect for Black Scoter but then a boat came again and flushed the flock back to much worse light.

The flock kept on swimming back again and towards one small island and finally I managed to see the bird better and the coloration of the bill. The shape was exactly what I had seen earlier.

The flock continued behind the island and finally they were coming from the other side of the island to good light but once again a boat came and flushed them to the worst possible light again!

After more than 3 hours the sun started to set and then the visibility got much better but of course there wasn’t much light anymore. Anyway the bird was again possible to see time to time but the flock was very active and it always disappeared behind the other scoters.

Finally I decided to start a long way back home and I was able to go to sleep at 2:30 a.m. But I had got 2 WP-ticks in 3 days which I had thought never happen again in Finland.

J.A.