. . Lintuharrastajan päiväkirja Birders diary . .

On the 11th of August I saw a Nutcracker again in Kangaskylä and on the next day I heard a Wren while I was jogging. On the 13th day I visited Kullinsuo where I heard a Quail and saw a Goshawk, in Lahdensuo I saw 2 Red-backed Shrikes and a Common Rosefinch. In the evening I was jogging again and around Siikalahti I heard a Red-breasted Flycatcher and saw 45 Cranes. On the 14th day I visited Saari Akanvaara Tetrisuo and Pohjanranta and also Rautalahti and saw 2 Hen Harriers, a Black Woodpecker, 5 Grey Herons, 6 Curlews, a Ruff, 10 Wood Sandpipers and 2 Red-backed Shrikes.

On the 15th of August I left towards Oulu. I picked up “Potu” Suojarinne in Juva and we drove whole afternoon until we finally got to Oulunsalo ferry. At 9 p.m. we were in Hailuoto and met Pirkka, Harry Nyström and Mikko Ala-kojola who had arrived earlier. They were watching a Black Tern in the harbor. We saw the bird pretty far and soon continued to Santonen to our cottage where also Jari Kiljunen and Jani Varis were already. We ate well, had fun, had sauna and once again forgot to plan the next day’s bird-race.

On the 16th of August we woke up already at 5 a.m. The race was starting only 7 a.m. but at 6 o’clock we left birding anyway. Harry, Jani and Jari were faster and left earlier. We drove to Patelanselkä but it wasn’t good place enough so we moved to Kirkkosalmi to begin the race. We had hoped to find a place where to see passerine migration but the sky was almost empty. Anyway we found quite a few Sedge Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Redpoll, 2 Grey Herons, lots of Gadwalls, some Spotted Redshanks, a couple of migrating Honey Buzzards and so on. Unfortunately only 2 of us saw a Blackbird which was the only one during the day.

We continued towards Riisinnokka and stopped on the way. Some good species like a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Common Crossbills, a Pied Flycatcher and a Hobby were seen. In Louekari we saw a flock of 5 Cuckoos and Cuckoo was really the bird of the day as we saw at least 10 more later. In Rautaletto the forest was completely empty but in Riisinnokka we of course got plenty of new species: a Peregrine, a White-tailed Eagle, a flock of Velvet Scoters, Dunlins, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Shelduck, an Osprey and a couple of Little Terns were good ones. While walking back to the parking place we got only a Treecreeper. While driving back towards Kirkkosalmi, we saw a family of Black Grouse, but Kirkkosalmi was surprisingly quiet and nothing better was seen.

In Järventakusta fields we saw Northern Wheatears and Whinchats, 2 Skylarks and a Garden Warbler. In Pöllä we found some common species but also a Red-backed Shrike and 3 Smews. In Kuivasäikkä we found a Little Ringed Plover in a flock of Ringed Plovers and a Broad-billed Sandpiper.

While we were driving through the village again, we saw a young Hen Harrier and in Koivukylä fields we found a Common Whitethroat and Jackdaws. Once we got to Marjaniemi Pirkka noticed that there was a man walking in the sea and carrying something white – a gull! I already said that if it is a Lesser Black-backed Gull, can we tick it? Then I watched what was really going on and realized that there was a man carrying an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull! It was Esa Aalto who had seen a badly hurt gull on the sea and soon he carried it to the shore and we could see that the gull had been shot! Unfortunately there was nothing to do and Esa had to kill the bird. But hopefully the shooter will be found and hopefully killing also common gulls can be stopped in Hailuoto. We also saw families of Velvet and Common Scoters. Then we drove a little bit along the northern coast but didn’t find any thrushes or new waders. We had seen only 3 thrushes – Fieldfares during the day!

In Ulkokarvo Petsamo we saw the second Peregrine and Osprey of the day but also the first Swifts. On the way back we saw a Stock Dove that left from the road. In Ojakylä we stopped when we saw a flock of Fieldfares with a single Mistle Thrush but still no small thrushes. Then we also saw a Goshawk. In Huikku there was a ferry and too many people so we didn’t see the Black Tern or any new waders.

Our last destination was Pökönnokka where were amazing number of mosquitoes! 2 Curlew Sandpipers, a Skylark, 7 Shelducks and finally also 2 Golden Plovers and a Whimbrel were seen. At 7 p.m. the race ended and we drove to hear the results.

It was soon clear that we weren’t on the top. The winners Petri Lampila, Harri Taavetti and Samuli Lehikoinen had seen 114 species, 2nd were Harry, Jari and Jani with 109 and we were 3rd with our 104 species. After us there were still several teams with more than 100 species! There were altogether 12 teams and even 145 species had been found!

We had sauna again and ate well and then Harry had once again a chili-show that didn’t end well as the World’s hottest chili was too hot even for Harry! Soon Harry’s team was sleeping while we still continued for some time before going to sleep.

On the 17th day we woke up at 7 and our team still left birding to Pökönnokka. Now we found 3 Red-necked Phalaropes, 4 Golden Plovers, a Broad-billed Sandpiper, 2 Merlins and a Pochard. Soon we conitnued to the ferry as we didn’t wasn’t to find ourselves from the long queues like there had been yesterday.

In Oulunsalo we said goodbye to Mikko and soon saw a Pheasant along the road. With Pirkka and Potu we drove to Oulu Oritkari where we managed to twitch 2 yellow-ringed Snow Geese that were with 80 Greylag Geese. We had to walk a long was to see them on the harbor. Then we visited my brother Riku before said goodbye to Pirkka and left to a long drive back home.

We stopped in Siilinjärvi Raasio and saw 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin and 1 Little Stint. I dropped “Potu” to Juva and finally after 10 p.m. I was back at home.

On the next couple of days I was running a couple of long runs and saw a Spotted Redshank, 2 Black Grouses, a Woodcock and a Cuckoo. I also heard a female Pygmy Owl.

J.A.

On the 1st of August a couple of Nutcrackers were found in Kangaskylä as an expected year-tick. On the next day I saw 3 Grey Herons and a too big flock of 125 Hooded Crows. In the evening I got a message that a Purple Heron had been found in Virolahti. It was late but anyway I decided to go! I managed to get there when there was still a little bit light but the bird was gone. But everything that I found about the bird made me think if it had been a Purple Heron at all – usually they are not with Grey Herons and well visible. So it was not a surprise when I got a message that there were bad pictures about the bird where it looked an aberrant Grey Heron. On the way back we twitched a Lanceolated Warbler in Joutseno Kuurmanpohja, it was still singing very shortly.

Next days were quiet but on the 7th day I visited Siikalahti a couple of times and saw a Gadwall, a Smew, a Reed Warbler, a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Black Woodpecker and so on.

On the 9th of August we left to Saari with Hanna. We drove straight to Akanvaara Tetrisuo and we had driven only 500 meters along the field-road when I noticed a pale bird on the top of a bush along the road. I stopped and looked at it with binoculars and it was a Lesser Grey Shrike – a new self-found tick for me! We watched the bird for about 15 minutes while it stayed on the top of same bush. Once it caught a bumble bee and ate it, but then it suddenly flew high to the sky and landed some hundreds of meters away to the other side of the road to a pea-field. We went to check the field but the bird was never found again eve though a couple of twitchers tried for several hours. We still saw some warblers there but the shrike was gone.

We checked the other places too in Saari and saw 2 Red-backed Shrikes in Pohjasuo, 4 Lapwings, 3 Ruffs and 2 Curlews in Pohjanranta, a Goshawk in Kanavalampi and 2 Grey Herons in Rautalahti.
In the evening I went to buy gas to Svetogorsk and on the was I checked that a Bar-headed Goose was still in Vuoksi. On the way back from Russia I saw a Black Redstart landing to a car that was in front of me!

On the 10th day I biked to Siikalahti early in the morning with Harri Partanen. During the morning we saw a Blyth’s Reed, a Great Reed and a Reed Warbler, an Icterine Warbler, a Thrush Nightingale and at least one Rustic Bunting. Golden Orioles were still active, 6 Temminck Stints, 204 Common Scoters in 2 flocks, a Velvet Scoter, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Water Rails, 2 Smews, a Bittern, 5 Grey Herons and a White-backed Woodpecker were also found.

J.A.

After the trip to Lapland the weather stayed amazing good! It was at least +25 degrees every day, even 30 in some days. On the same evening that we had came back home, I visited Kullinsuo and Tetrisuo floods but they were almost dry. Anyway I found 4 Temminck Stints on Tetrisuo and heard a Golden Oriole and in Siikalahti I saw a couple of Red-backed Shrikes. On the next day I still saw one Temminck Stint with a Little Ringes Plover and a Whimbrel. On the 15th of July the floods were gone but a Ruff was standing on a field.

On the night at 16th and 17th of July I went to buy gas from Svetogorsk, Russia as I now had a visa for one year. After that I drove to joutseno Kuurmanpohja and twitched a Lanceolated Warbler there. Then I continued to Taipalsaari where I slept a couple of hours in my car and woke up when an Arctic Warbler started to sing at 4:33 a.m. Then I still drove to Lappeenranta Askola where I saw 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 7 Dunlins, 3 Temminck Stints, an Oystercatcher and a Redshank. Then I drove to work. Anyway I still visited Siikalahti in the afternoon and saw 2 Grey Herons and heard a Water Rail there.

On the 19th of July we visited Siikalahti bird-tower and saw quite a few ducks. Only better ones were a Smew and 2 Pintails. On the 20th day I went by bike to Siikalahti very early in the morning with Harri Partanen but only a Red-backed Shrike, 2 Golden Orioles, a Great Reed Warbler, a Black Woodpecker and a White-backed Woodpecker were seen or heard. In Härskiinmutka we counted 90 Great Crested Grebes. On the 21st day I was jogging for 2 hours and 35 minutes and saw a Wryneck in Härskiinmutka and a Spotted Redshank and 2 Grey Herons in Siikalahti. On the 22nd I ran only a short round in Likolampi where I heard 2 Wood Warblers.

On the 24th of July we left with Juha Honkanen to Lappeenranta by bikes. It was 107 km drive. On the next morning we left with Juha and Hannu Honkanen, Kenneth Eriksson and Jarmo Laukkanen to Ristiina which was 81 km. On Saturday also Kimmo Asikainen joined us and we biked 130 km to Sulkava, but on this day I drove 30 km our service-car. Then on Sunday we drove last 110 km to Parikkala, so in 4 days I was biking 400 kilometers! Not many birds were seen, a Red-backed Shrike in Savitaipale was the best and in Parikkala I heard a Haw Finch. But the weather was perfect and we really had fun!

On the 28th of July I heard a Red-breasted Flycatched calling in Siikalahti and on the next day I twitched a Lesser Grey Shrike in Ruokolahti Utula – it was my 3rd South-Karelia tick of the year. It was raining very hard but luckily I saw the bird a couple of times briefly. When the rain stopped I drove to Imatra and twitched a Bar-headed Goose that was on Vuoksi-river with some Canada Geese.

On the 30th of July I saw 3 Rock Doves in Kangaskylä, 3 Canada Geese in Härskiinmutka and in Tarvaslampi we heard a migrating Golden Plover song from the sky evening sky.

J.A.

When the Scottish group had left it was time to go back to work. Also the weather changed totally and it was raining all the time very hard! Of course we were also very tired after all spring birding and in the evenings I was watching football WC-matches which didn’t help at all to that problem. So I was too tired to do any good night-trips.

I did only some short trips in the evenings and of course did some jogging and biking so of course some birds were seen. On the 15th of June I was checking the route of Tour de Parikkala bike-race and saw 2 Black Woodpeckers in Tyrjä. During the race I saw a Grey-headed Woodpecker in Siikalahti. On the 16th day the Great Reed Warbler was still singing on dam-road.

On the 19th day we found some Great Snipes again from their ordinary field. Also a Quail was singing there and Tawny Owls were still in Kasuri.

On the 21st evening I did a bike-trip to twitch the Great Snipes. Quail was heard again and also a couple of Nightjars, a new Marsh Warbler and a young Long-eared Owl on the way. Then it started to rain very hard again and I was completely wet when I was back at home.

During the day we did a short trip to Oronmylly orchid-bog with my parents that had arrived earlier. Of course we checked that all 8 Pygmy Owls were still on their nest-box. On the way back home we saw a late flock of 36 migrating Barnacle Geese. In the evening we saw 7 Graet Snipes, probably 5 males and 2 females.

On the 22nd day we walked in Siberian Jay forests but they weren’t found. Some Wren families, a Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Parrot Crossbill were found. During the day I saw a Pheasant and heard 2 Icterine Warblers on my bike-trip. In the evening we visited Siikalahti and saw 2 White-backed Woodpecker and a male Smew. Later we saw only 2 Great Snipes.

During the next evenings I visited fields only briefly between the matches and there were quite good floods on the field. Great Snipes were still lekking but only other waders were some Ruffs, Wood Sandpipers and Greenshanks. I also saw a Grey-headed Woodpecker and a leucistic female Teal.

During the weekend I was participating with my friends to a national floorball tournament in St Petersburgh. It was a great trip and we even came 3rd even though our evenings were quite long.

On the 1st of July I saw a Parrot Crossbill in flight on our garden and on the 2nd day the floods had a Pintail, 60 Lapwings, 2 Ruffs, 3 Whimbrels, 13 Curlews, 12 Wood Sandpipers, a Spotted Redshank and 12 Greenshanks. Also a Quail and a couple of Great Snipes were still active. In Tetrisuo I saw 2 Grey Herons, 110 Lapwings, 2 Ruffs, 21 Greenshanks, 60 Wood Sandpipers and a Short-eared Owl and in Siikalahti a family of Black Grouse and a River Warbler. This kind of wader numbers are not normal around here…

On the next days it was raining again and I was watching football. Luckily there was some serious birding coming too as we headed towards Enontekiö Lapland!

J.A.

Once I was back from Oulu I didn’t rest much, already on the next morning, on the 28th of May, I twitched a Great Reed Warbler in Siikalahti. during my lunch-hour I drove to check the best fields in Saari, Akanvaara Tetrisuo and Pohjasuo and managed to find one Dotterel. Also a Pheasant was heard in Tetrisuo. In the evening I saw an Oystercatcher in Kangaskylä.

On the 29th day I checked the fields around Siikalahti but found only some small flocks of Barnacle Geese and 7 Ringed Plovers in Kullinsuo. In the evening I got a message that there was a Caspian Gull in Joutseno Konnunsuo and I decided to go twitching as it was raining so hard that I had nothing else to do and I also thought that might keep the gull still. When I was just turning to the field-road I got a call that the bird had left towards the bird-tower. Luckily I was there in less than a minute and managed to find the bird flying with 3 Herring Gulls. It landed pretty far to the field but I managed to see it both in flight and on the ground well. Soon it started to rain very heavily so I still checked the biggest flock of Dotterels ever that was on the back-fields and managed to count at least 133 birds! soon I got a message that there was a Terek Sandpiper on the pools nearby so I drove there and there were not only a Terek, but also 7 Dunlins, 2 Little Stints and a Broad-billed Sandpiper. But soon I was so wet that I had to leave back home.

On the 30th day I got a message that there was a Turtle Dove in Siikalahti, Tetrisuo I managed to get there very quickly and heard it calling for a couple of times. It was only my 2nd Turtle Dove ever in Parikkala. Then we left to Saari with Harri Partanen and Rolf Mortensen and in Akanvaara, Tetrisuo we found a Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Pheasant and 3 Ortolan Buntings. In Pohjanranta we counted 405 Barnacle Geese and in Suurenjärvenliete we saw another Short-eared Owl. Then we continued to Jyrkilä where I noticed a falcon flying next to our car and landing to a wire – it looked promising. We stopped and it was a 2nd c-y male Red-footed Falcon! We photographed it while it was catching bugs from the field, but it always ate them on the wire. We also saw 62 Barnacle Geese, 6 White-fronted Geese and 2 Stock Doves there.

Then we still found a Tundra Bean Goose in Kanavalampi, but then we had to turn back to Parikkala. On the way we still saw 2 Haw Finches in Särkisalmi. And in the evening while jogging I saw a White-backed Woodpecker in a same place in Särkisalmi and once I was back at home I saw a flock of 150 Brent Geese migrating over our house.

On the 31st day I left to a bike-trip at 2 a.m. I drove around Ristiharju, Sammallampi, Lahdensuo, Kullinsuo, Kontiolampi and headed to Siikalahti. The weather was really good and birds were very active. I found 3 River Warblers, a Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Icterine Warblers, a Red-breasted Flycatcher, 3 Wrens, 2 Golden Orioles and numerous Blyth’s Reed Warblers. The best bird I found in Siikalahti but it was so far that I couldn’t identify it 100% sure – but I thought it was a female Little Crake. But I already knew that we were going to do a bird-count in Siikalahti by rowing-boat next night so I knew it would be identified if it would stay there where it was. I ended my long bike-trip to Tetrisuo where I managed to hear the Turtle Dove again. During the day we visited Siikalahti again but heard only the same Great Reed Warbler and saw 8 Hobbies and 2 families of Whooper Swans with tiny youngsters.

On the 1st of June we went to listen to Nightjar to Sounio and heard it immediately but we heard also a Quail! It was calling on a field pretty far along the Ristiharjuntie. But after we had listened to a Savi’s Warbler and Great Reed Warbler on dam-road, we were soon on the boat counting singers in Siikalahti. There were amazing number of Sedge Warblers, but only 6 Water Rails and 3 Spotted Crakes. We rowed a long time before we finally heard the call I had heard last night. We went closer and it was a female Little Crake! Soon after that we heard one series of calls of another female Little Crake too! Other birds there were 10 Thrush Nightingales, 5 Bitterns, 2 Blyth’s Reed Warblers, 3 Golden Orioles and a Corn Crake.
During the day I went to ring the biggest 3 youngsters of a Pygmy Owl but another youngsters nearby on another nest-box were still too small. In the afternoon I did a long bike-trip to Punkaharju and heard a Long-tailed Tit and a Red-breasted Flycatcher on the way.

On the night of 2nd of June we did a bike-trip to Siikalahti with Harri. We heard a Nightjar easily but the Quail had continued somewhere else. We also heard both Little Crakes and saw 2 Long-eared Owls. In Kukonkanta we heard a River Warbler and a Reed Warbler so the trip was OK anyway. Then on the couple of next days I visited Siikalahti on my lunch-hour, but didn’t see anything special – heard only the same Great Reed Warbler singing loudly all the time.

On the 4th day I ringed the second Pygmy Owl nestlings with Matti Lötjönen, on the way we saw a male Merlin in Malkoniemi Lahdenpohja.

On the 6th of June I did a long biking trip to Melkoniemi very early in the morning. A Marsh Warbler, 2 Greenish Warblers, a Capercaillie couple, some Hazel Hens, Black a couple of Woodpeckers and a River Warbler were found before I had to hurry to work. During my lunch-hour I saw a White-tailed Eagle in Siikalahti and a Haw Finch in Kasuri. In the late evening I biked to twitch a Quail and the trip started perfectly when I found a fledlings of Tawny Owl! Then I still found out that there were 2 Quails in Ristiharju, so I was happy to bike back home. I had to get some sleep as on the next day we started a one week tour in Eastern Finland with a Scottich group.

J.A.

Once I was back from Virolahti arctic migration watching weekend, I got the first year-tick from my back-yard where a Blyth’s Reed Warbler was singing in the morning of the 19th of May. In Siikalahti I heard a Garden Warbler and in the afternoon I heard 2 Golden Orioles and an Icterine Warbler in Moskuunniemi. I watched evening migration in Moskuunniemi but there was a huge thunder-storm coming so I managed to see only some Long-tailed Ducks, Velvet Scoters and Common Scoters and only one flock of 550 Barnacle Geese but there were a White-fronted Goose and very good-looking Lesser White-fronted Goose candidate on the flock. Then the wind started to blow too hard so I had to start biking back home. On the way I almost got hit by the lightning! It really was close! I have never got so scared before! I saw the flash breaking to sparks just over me.

On the 20th day I woke up early and saw 3 Scaups, 2 Velvet Scoters and 9 Common Crossbills from our own shore. Then I continued to Siikalahti where I still saw 2 Cormorant, a Black-tailed Godwit and 7 Common Crossbills, also Savi’s Warbler was still singing. The rest of the day I was at work and it was raining.

On the 21st day I saw a Pheasant in Keskusmaa and in the evening I went to twitch a Black Tern in Siikalahti. On the 22nd day we went to ring 2 Tengmalm’s Owl youngsters and we also checked that Pygmy Owls still had too small nestlings. At night I woke up when a flock of migrating Bewick’s Swans were calling and later I heard a Golden Oriole singing.

During the day I left to drive towards Oulu. I drove straight to Saarela to Mikko Ala-Kojola’s home where we soon met with the rest of the team, Antti Peuna and Harry Nyström. Also Antti Vierimaa came to give us some tips for the bird-race.

On the 24th of May we woke up at 7 and soon Harry was also there to pick us up. Before 9 a.m. we were in Hietasaari where we started to check all the places. We wanted to find so good species that we could begin the 24 hour’s race there between 10 and 12 o’clock. I found immediately a Greenish Warbler which was really good species! But even though I saw and heard twice a good-looking birds in flight, I couldn’t be sure if they had been Haw Finches or not. Anyway we found enough, so at 10:03 a.m. we started with Greenish Warbler that was singing very badly already. Luckily soon we found 2 Haw Finches so the start has been excellent. Then we got a Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and even a Gold Finch before we moved to another part of the island where we got a Stock Dove and a Wood Warbler etc. Then we moved to Pitkämöljä where we saw 3 Velvet Scoters, a Sparrowhawk and 2 Little Terns.

Then we headed to Sanginjoki but it was already late so there weren’t many birds singing. Luckily we saw a Red-backed Shrike on the way, but then only 2 of us saw a female Capercaillie, but while searching for it we found a Hazel Hen. Pygmy Owl was easy as we knew the nest-box and luckily a Wren was singing shortly. Then we still saw Bullfinches, but we had lost too much time… We rushed to Iinatti, but there were no raptors in the air – only species we got was a Linnet.

Next we saw the famous Terek Sandpiper and a Common Whitethroat and the a Pheasant. In Vihiluoto we saw Shelducks and Gadwalls, but Teppola was quiet. In Liminka a Collared Dove was easy as was a Tree Sparrow too. Then in Rantakylä Harry noticed a stunning Pallid Harrier that flew across the road in front of us. Then Virkkula was good! I found immediately a Broad-billed Sandpiper and a Temminck’s Stint and soon Harry was talking about a Pallid Harrier again but Antti started to talk about a Montagu’s Harrier so we left Pallid alone and all started to watch a female Montagu’s Harrier that had lost it’s tail some time ago. Soon I heard a Citrine Wagtail but unfortunately all of us weren’t that familiar with the call, so we left it unidentified. A flock of Oystercatchers, a Caspian Tern and a White-tailed Eagle were still seen before we had to continue. And soon we had ticked Tengmalm’s Owl too.

Soon we were in Lumijoki Sannanahti which was full of birds but nothing special. Only 2 Barnacle Geese were found from Lamukari. In Säikkälänperä we saw 2 Bean Geese and soon we were heading towards Siikajoki Tauvo. But then we got a message that there was an Avocet in Sääri. So we changed our plans and hurried there. Luckily we got there just in time – Avocet was already in flight and it moved towards north calling on the way. Antti got a lifer and it was only second for the rest of us in Finland. We also found a Little Stint, a Dunlin and some Broad-billed Sandpipers there.

But soon we were heading to Tauvo but on the way we still heard an Ortolan Bunting and saw 2 Grey Partridges. But then Tauvo was extremely quiet! Only interesting animal was an Arctic Fox which was of course an escapee, but we really saw it well and it somehow fit t the landscape. But of course someone should shoot it before it destroys all the nests in Ulkonokka. Only Common Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks and 2 Arctic Skuas were seen and again we lost too much time.

While we were packing our car we still heard a Bittern and soon we were in Säikänlahti which was luckily much better with 2 Scaups, a Slavonian Grebe and a Water Rail. Unfortunately nothing else was found even though there were hundreds of Little Gulls and ducks.

After midnight we continued to our traditional forest-place but unfortunately only Willow Grouses were found. But luckily we saw a male Capercaillie from the car soon. Then in Raahe Aittalahti we saw a Pochard and a Coot and in Lapaluoto Mute Swans, Cormorants and a Turnstone. Then we hurried to Pyhäjoki but the first 2 places Heinikarinlampi and Hietakarinlahti were quiet. In Teerelänpuhto we saw only a Whimbrel but luckily along the river we heard 2 Blyth’s Reed Warblers and a Thrush Nightingale. But then we had to hurry again, it was already morning.

We walked to Elävisluoto spit after we had heard a Brambling and soon saw both common divers on migration. Soon I found 2 Sanderlings migrating with 2 Turnstones but not all of us were so familiar with the species in summer-plumage so Harry went to get a bird-book so we all could make the identification sure. Of course then I found a Razorbill that landed to a rough sea before 3 of us managed to see it. Luckily I still found a Hobby so after all the morning sea-watch had been quite good. But there were dark clouds getting closer and it really didn’t fit to our plan for the morning.

In Parhalahti we had nothing new and soon it started to blow very hard and soon also rain. We were in troubles – we had too many easy species missing on our list and usually morning was the best time but not this time… We had to change our plans completely but we really had no good plans. So we headed to Pattijoki Mikonkari but in a heavy rain we saw only some Canada Geese. Then we had to continue to Siikajoki Vartti which usually had been our most important place but now we didn’t expect much. Soon we had seen both Great Grey and Ural Owls on their nesting places. But then we got only a Jay and a Treecreeper even though we really needed more. So we still headed to the shore but finally we were in Kivikasanpelto at 10:02 when we ran out of time.

The results were given in Virkkula and it wasn’t a surprise that we didn’t take our 3rd victory in a row. We came 3rd with 151 species and the winner had got amazing 167 species. In the evening we drove to Mikko’s place, Harry continued home and soon we were all sleeping.

Antti woke up early and also I left before 8 a.m. while Mikko was still waking up. I checked that the Greenish Warbler was still singing in Hietasaari, visited Terek Sandpiper and then stopped in Vihiluoto where Antti Vierimaa had found the same Avocet in the previous day, but it wasn’t there anymore. Then I stopped in Virkkula but there weren’t much, only too many school-children. So after all I started a long way towards Lappeenranta. I stopped in Siilinjärvi Raasio where I saw a Dunlin and 3 Scaups and heard a Water Rail and a Reed Warbler. Then I stopped in Mikkeli Pynnönsaari where I twitched a male Little Crake that was surprisingly calling actively at 6 p.m.

Finally I was in Lappeenranta and I continued to Joutseno Konnunsuo where it was raining very hard. I checked Kotasaari and Kivisaari but soon I went to sleep to my back-seat. I woke up a couple of times during the night and heard some Corn Crakes and checked some pools again but heard only a Great Reed Warbler in Kotasaari. At morning I heard 3 Ortolan Buntings and finally also Booted Warbler started to sing. Then I continued to Askola where I found a nice flock of 14 Grey Plovers and 5 Dunlins which left to the sky soon. I still twitched a Marsh Warbler before I had to continue to hospital where a doctor checked my ear again and finally everything seems to be OK after 3 surgery and 17 months awful uncertainty! Anyway I am still not celebrating – I still want to wait 3 more months to be sure…

J.A.