. . Lintuharrastajan päiväkirja Birders diary . .

After my trip to Turkey I really needed some rest. So I only visited Siikalahti a couple of times. On the 6th of July I twitched a Quail in Tetrisuo and on the couple of next nights I heard some Blyth’s Reed Warblers, Corncrakes and a Grasshopper Warbler and a Spotted Crake. On the 11th day I heard a Great Reed Warbler.
On the 13th of July I found a surprice in Siikalahti, Little Gulls had really been breeding well and there were 102 young gulls in a colony. I also saw 75 Lapwings, 20 Ruffs, a Dunlin and a Woos Sandpiper.

On the 14th day in same place I saw 130 Lapwings, again 20 Ruffs, 4 Dunlins, 2 Spotted Redshanks and a nice Bar-tailed Godwit. Some Bitterns were seen on flight and 3 pairs of Honey Buzzards. In the evening we went to Saari with Harri Partanen and saw 118 Lapwings, 6 Golden Plovers and a Ruff in Akanpelto, a 2 c-y male Hen Harrier and 4 Red-backed Shrikes in Akanvaara, Tetrisuo and 2 Grey Herons in Tarassiinlahti.

On the 15th of July very early in the morning I drove to Lappeenranta where I picked up Pekka Punnonen and we started birding already after 6 a.m. In Askola we saw only a Dunlin, so we continued to Haapajärvi. This lake has been dried almost completely because of it is supposed to be cleaned and then filled again. So it is now a paradice for waders. On the way there we still saw a family of Great Grey Shrikes which is not normal breeder this south.

In Haapajärvi we went straight to bird-tower and found out that it wasn’t the best day for waders, there weren’t many as many stints as earlier during the week. We saw only 7 Dunlins, 2 Curlew Sandpiper and a Broad-billed Sandpiper – anyway they are good species in South Karelia. We drove around the lake and checked it from every angle and counted 150 Lapwings, 90 Wood Sandpipers, 60 Greenshanks, 12 Common Sandpipers, 7 Green Sandpipers, 5 Redshanks, 3 Spotted Redshanks and 3 Little Ringed Plovers. A Black Kite and a Goshawk were also seen and lots of Sand Martins (140) and Swifts (200). The weather looked perfect as it started to rain in the afternoon but anyway no new waders were arriving to the lake, so we continued to check Vainikkala fields where we didn’t find anything better. In the afternoon we stopped again in Askola where we saw 6 Temminck’s Stints, 2 Dunlins and 3 Little Ringed Plovers. On the way back home I still checked Siikalahti but suprisingly I didn’t see any waders.

J.A.

Once we were back from Morocco (trip report here) Hanna stayed a couple of days in Helsinki. On Monday 11th of June after work I left together with Rolf Mortensen and Harri Partanen to ring the rest of our owl nestlings. First we drove to Siikalahti where we surprisingly found mom lying on tiny small nestlings. They were of course too small to be ringed yet.

I thought that the same situation would probably be on the next nestboxes too but anyway we continued to Kolmikanta where we found Tengmalm’s Owl mom owl lying over 2 small nestlings. I already told to Harri and “rolle” that we could leave the furthest nestbox for later but they wanted to go to check it too. So we drove to Melkoniemi forests and found one more Pygmy Owl from the nest with tiny chicks.

We walked a little in the forest and tried to find Siberian Jays that were breeding close, but they didn’t show up. A Chiffchaff and a Greenish Warbler were singing on the spruces so after all the visit was worthy anyway.

On the 20th of June we went to check how big are the Tengmalm’s Owls now. It was a surprice they were already ready to br ringed. The smallest was much smaller than 2 bigger ones but anyway big enough. We also went to check if Pygmy Owls were also big enough but they still need to grow some days. The breeding of owls is really very late this year, owls are leaving their nest in the end of June!

In Midsummer weekend we went to Pudasjärvi Syöte where Janne’s relatives gathered to his brother Riku’s summer-cottage. Janne’s parent’s stayed in Riku’s cottage but together with Pirkka’s family we had rented the neighbour cottage. On the way to Syöte we tried to twitch a couple of year-ticks but Great Grey Owls were out from thei nest and Booted Warbler didn’t sing or show up because of the rain and the time of the day.

On Friday I heard a Two-barred Crossbill but almost nothing else even though we had a nice 6 km walk in the forest.

On Saturday we did a short bird-trip to the Syöte National Park where are very good forests for Red-flanked Bluetail. We started at 3 a.m. and started to stop in evry good looking place. On the 3rd stop we found a Wren and a Three-toed Woodpecker but then on the 4th stop we found a Red-flanked Bluetail! It was a stunning adult male but the light was very bad so we didn’t really see the colours well.
We also walked a couple of kilometres long Vattukuru trail and found another Bluetail, this time a 2nd c-y bird. It was also seen well but only singing on the top of the spruces. Later we still heard another Wren, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Wood Warbler before we drove back to sleep at 7 a.m.

The rest of the weekend we were just relaxing, playing with kids, dog and cats and eating a lot! On the way back home on Sunday we tried to twitch a Siberian Stonechat and a Ruddy Shelduck in Liperi but we failed to find them. We tried only 5 minutes because of it was raining and I wanted to hurry to see Italy-England football match.

On Monday 25th of June we went to ring the nestlings of Pygmy Owls. On the first nest-box in Siikalahti there were 4 nestlings and on the second in Kirpoavankivi there were even 7 nestlings to ring.

J.A.

On Friday 25th of May we drove to Oulu region with “jassi” Kiljunen. It was a long drive and nothing interesting was seen on the way. Finally we were in Kiiminki Jääli where our good friend Harry Nyström lives. In the evening we made the final plans for the 24 hour bird-race that was starting on the next morning.

On the 26th of May we woke up at 7 a.m. and an hour later we picked up the fourth member of our team Antti Vierimaa. We had planned to visit a couple of places before the race would start between 10 and 12 o’clock. In Oritkari we didn’t find what we were looking for but we saw a couple of Grey Partridges. In Pateniemi we found so many birds that we already thought if it had been the best place to start. Even though we saw lots of Black-throated Divers, some Common Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Velvet Scoters, Barnacle Geese, Caspian Terns, an Arctic Skua and heard a Pheasant, we followed the plan and continued to Sanginjoki.

We still stopped at Pyykösjärvi and checked another lake before drove to Sanginjoki where we started to search any good species to start. Many common forest-birds were still singing but nothing better. Then at 11:14 a.m. we found a Three-toed Woodpecker and started the race! Luckily right then 2 Parrot Crossbills flew over us and made the start very good. Most of the singers had stopped but luckily we still found Treecreepers, Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs, Crested Tits, Common Crossbills and a Jay. We still had a breeding Pygmy Owl nearby so soon we were ready to continue.

In Asmonkorpi we twitched a Red-breasted Flycatcher and on the way there heard a Coal Tit. We still spent some time in the forests but after we had heard an Ortolan Bunting we finally continued to Oulu. In Pateniemi there were fewer birds but Barnacle Geese, Long-tailed Ducks, Shelducks and some common species were seen. Soon we continued to Toppila where we twitched a Black Redstart which wasn’t very easy this time.

In Hietasaari there was a marathon se the traffic was very jammed. So we had to walk a longer way but we heard even 4 Blackcaps, a Common Redpoll, a Wood Warbler and finally also a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

In Oritkari we had only Stock Doves and in Kiviniemi it was getting very windy. Anyway the first Common Whitethroat of the day was singing and a couple of Gadwalls and the first Little Tern were seen. In Iinatti we saw Linnets and in Vihiluoto 4 more Gadwalls. In Kempele Teppola we saw 4 Pheasants, more Stock Doves and then it was time to move to Liminka.

In Liminka we ticked Collared Dove easily and soon parked to Virkkula. We walked to the new tower and found out that Liminka bay was surprisingly empty of birds! 4 White-tailed Eagles, a Garganey and 2 Dunlins were seen but almost nothing else. So soon we continued towards Lumijoki. A Starling was seen easily and after we had seen a Hazel Hen we soon were in Sannanlahti bird-tower. 4 Bar-tailed Godwits were nice but a Terek Sandpiper was something very good! Unfortunately a Mandarin Duck that I had found some weeks earlier wasn’t seen even though we knew it was hiding somewhere there.

We hurried and saw a Short-eared Owl on the way to Siikajoki where Karinkanta and Alhonmäki didn’t show us anything new and continued to Tauvo. On the road to Tauvo we found a White-fronted Goose sleeping in a flock of Greylag Geese. In Tauvo we walked a long way and saw a Wryneck, an Arctic Tern, a Caspian Tern, at least 200 Dunlins, 12 Broad-billed Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 40 Common Scoters, 2 Velvet Scoters and a Hobby. There were muvh more waders far on the other side of the spit but we weren’t sure if it was ok to walk there because of the are is protected. There would have been a couple of new species but at least we stayed in our schedule. In Säikänlahti we still saw a Pochard before we continued to Raahe.

Somewhere on the way we heard a Thrush Nightingale through the open windows and soon we were in one more forest that Antti had been checking during the week. First we watched a funny Pygmy Owl that came to call for us when we whistled. And right after midnight we found 2 Willow Grouse and heard 2 Jack Snipes – wonderful!

In Raahe rubbish tip we didn’t find an Eagle Owl but soon we ticked a Slavonian Grebe and heard another Thrush Nightingale. In Raahe harbour we saw Mute Swans, a Canada Goose and a Turnstone.

It was a tired drive to Pyhäjoki and on the way we heard only another Thrush Nightingale. In Heinikarinlampi we heard a Spotted Crake and even a bigger surprise a Blyth’s Reed Warbler. Then in Hietakarinlahti we had another Spotted Crake. In Parhalahti only strange animal was a “Blue Fox” which was destroying nests of all birds. Someone should use a shot-gun. Then one field nearby had 2 Grey Partridges, a Whimbrel and a Wren was singing on the spruces behind the fields. Bushes along the river had already the 4th Thrush Nightingale (they are not common this north) and another Wren.

Then it was time to go to the coast and see id there was any migration going on. On the way we heard the first Dunnock and when we got to the shore we saw the first Red-throated Divers. And soon we had more divers but they were all Red-throated! 3 Red-necked Grebes, Common Scoters, Velvet Scoters and even 7 Razorbills were other migrants. On the rocks nearby we saw Barnacle Geese, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Turnstones and 4 Slavonian Grebes were swimming on the sea. The weather was perfect but soon we had to continue even though we really wanted to see a single Black-throated Diver.

But we had to hurry to another area that Antti had prepared during the week. And it was a good place! We saw 2 Montagu’s Harriers, a Hen Harrier, 4 Red-backed Shrikes, a Hobby, a Wryneck, Black Woodpecker, a young Ural Owl, an Osprey and finally a Capercaillie too!

We had known already in the evening that we hadn’t seen enough raptors so we planned to visit Siikajoki Alhonmäki twice during the rest of the race. The first stop wasn’t productive, only a Wood Lark was seen. In Sääri we tried to see some missing waders and luckily found a very good one – a Marsh Sandpiper! Also the first Cormorant was seen finally. From the fields nearby we found a Merlin and a Canada Goose. In Varessäikkä we finally saw a Black-throated Diver so we were ready to drive back to Alhonmäki.

In Alhonmäki we still had 40 minutes to go but it didn’t look good! Finally after 20 minutes we found a couple of Honey Buzzards and soon it really started to happen – first we saw a Rough-legged Buzzard and while we were still looking at it jassi found a Common Buzzard. It was 11:03 and our last species only 10 minutes before the end of the race.

Our species-list had amazing 165 species and we knew it was the 3rd best ever in the race. And there hadn’t been very many birds around so we really had managed to find almost everything that was possible to find! We also knew that we had a good possibility to win!

The results were given in Liminka Virkkula information centre and it was once again interesting to find out the results. Several teams had seen all but 1 to 3 of the basic list that had 120 species. Then the rest of the species were shouted one by one and soon it was clear that there were 3 teams better that the rest of 11. When teams started to shout forest-species it soon became clear that we had all of them and the rest of the teams had only some, so soon we were leading by 10 species! Of course in the end the best species were shouted and then there were many species that we hadn’t seen but after all we won by 6 and 8 species marginal to the second and third teams! In the whole race altogerther 201 species had been found!

Our team “Wonderful men birding” didn’t have a possibility to celebrate much because we were all too tired. Luckily we managed to get a team-photo taken before everyone hurried to sleep. We of course dropped Antti to Oulu and continued to Harry’s place to sleep.

On the 28th of May we started a long way to south-east with jassi. We decided to drive first to Ylivieska where we twitched already the third lifer of the weekend for jassi. A nice Black-necked Grebe was swimming in a small pool with some Slavonian Grebes. The rest of the day we were driving in a rain and finally at 7 p.m. we were in Parikkala. We still twithed a Ural Owl as a South-Karelia year-tick for jassi and soon I was back at home. Jassi still had an hour drive to Lappeenranta. A great long weekend trip was over.

J.A.

It has become a tradition that I travel along eastern border with Dutch group during Arctic Migration. This year group was mostly women from one birding club. As in Finland, nowadays majority of new bird club members are women. During my train journey to Helsinki airport I heard from Janne (who was already in Virolahti) that major migration was going on. That was a pity because usually there is more quiet after a good migration day.

In the airport we had to change one of our minibuses because it had darkened windows. Luckily it was fast and easy and we got new one with clear windows. Drive to Harju oppimiskeskus where we stayed first 3 days took tree hours with a couple of stops. After dinner we stayed few hours in shore seeing good numbers of arctic ducks. On the way we twitched a Steppe Eagle that was jumping in ground near Lintulahti.

Saturday morning was clear and windless. Breakfast was early and quick when we heard that King Eider that has been around Hurppu for several years, was visible. After we walked to our migration watching point Verkkokallio we heard that the bird had flew behind an island again. I have tried to see this bird several years and again I did not see it.

There were very few migrating birds compared to previous morning we looked “rapakivi” granite stones and Ladybugs that had just arrived from Estonia and now resting on the stones. We decided to go to eastern side or Hurppu peak to search for the King Eider. We did not find it but a couple of Arctic Terns were nice.

Vilkkiläntura is a wetland that can be visited from southern and northern side. During our walk to southern bird tower we heard a Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Greenish Warbler among more common forest birds. Steppe Eagle had been visible close by a half an hour earlier, so we decided to stay some time but the eagle did not come up to sky again. Visit to Kurkela raptor watching tower produced Hobbies, Buzzards and Honey Buzzards.

After a lunch we visited Lupinlahti bird tower and Hamina Kirkkojärvi wetland. Hot weather was not very good for birding, but we managed to get lots of species to our trip list. After 2 hours sleep and dinner we went back to Hurppu Verkkokallio. And again birders told that the King Eider had just flown invisible. Soon there was a small boat going to that direction and I thought that it might flush the eider. After 15 minutes the King Eider flew nicely in front of us! It was swimming near small islet trying to pair with Eider females.

Our Sunday morning was similar than the previous one. We had a breakfast around four and we left again to Hurppu. King Eider was still there but now it had a female eider with it. Young White-tailed Eagle caused panic in waterfowl, gulls and Caspian terns.

There was a nice pair of Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers in the garden of Lintulahti. Blyth´s Reed Warblers were singing and waders were on the new mudflat made for them. We also visited quickly bird painter’s exhibition in Virojoki.

After a good lunch we slept a couple or hours. After refreshing sleep we started our drive towards Parikkala. On the way we made few birding stops. Birders in south coast saw many rare raptor species so we wanted to see something too. From time to time we were very close to Russian border.

We arrived to Oronmylly, our next accomodation for dinner at 18.30. After a meal and small walks around this new location, everyone was ready to go to sleep again.

Monday mornings main destination was Siikalahti and it’s surroundings. We also checked two owl nest boxes one for Tengmalm’s and one for Pygmy Owl. Both females had still eggs (so they are late this year). After a breakfast we headed to forests near Oronmylly. We got Red-breasted Flycatcher, Greenish Warbler, Hazel Grouse and Grey-headed Woodpecker.

Then we had to drive up to North Karelia. Before leaving everyone, especially, drivers could sleep for an hour. On the way we stopped many times on good birding spots. We managed to see a Short-eared Owl and Black and Hazel Grouses eating stones from road sides.

When we finally arrived the feeling was like arriving to your grandmother’s home. Good dinner was ready and the owners of Loma-Kitsi were happy to see us. Yard is always good for birding. This time there were few Golden Plovers, Waxwings and Swallows were flying around houses. Unfortunately a Dotterel flock had left a couple of days earlier.

Loma-Kitsi has several cottages and an old school building, were most of us slept. Nobody had any difficulties to fall asleep!

Tuesday morning started with an early breakfast. Night had been clear and ground was in frost. We drove to my favourite hill (vaara in finnish) in North Karelia. On the road we saw Hazel Grouses and one Capercaillie. Unfortunately not all managed to see these shy birds. One singing bird confused all of us. Song had familiar parts from many species but nothing was clear. Finally we saw a Lesser Whitethroat jumping in the bushes. This bird could imitate Red-flanked Bluetail song very well!

Our first target species was heard already to roadside where we parked our cars. Bluetail was singing high on the slopes of hill. We walked slowly on hill slopes at least four hours. Weather was very nice and birding was great. We found 2 Bluetails, 5 Red Throated Flycatchers, Wrens, Tree-toed Woodpeckers, Hazel Grouses and migrating Crossbills.

After a lunch and rest we drove to Erä-Eero Wolverine hide. After very detailed instructions (how to behave, what to do and what not…) we went to 2 hide huts. Eero put lots of salmon and meat around visible feeding area. Some of the salmon he placed to trees in front of our hide and one piece even under it. When all arrangements were ready he said good luck to us all. Silence started.

After less than an hour wait first Wolverine visited the feeding grounds. It walked around the area and looked what kind of food there was left for it. For second mammal we had to wait longer. Ravens and other birds were alerted, but we could not see anything. Maybe one of the eagles was flying around. Finally all birds relaxed and we had great close views of several species.

A very beautiful Red Fox arrived just after sunset. During midnight’s darkest hours it arrived a couple of times again and at least two different Wolverines visited too. One of them climbed to the trees and it came and took the salmon piece that was placed under our hide hut. It was very difficult not to comment or laugh.

Morning hours were more quiet. Birds started to wake up around at three and Wolverines did not visit again. All the birds were busy so we had things to watch. Eero arrived at seven and we packed our things. Near the hide was soft sand and on sand clear paw prints of young Wolverine.

On the way back to Kitsi we saw again some Grouses. Those of us who had been up whole night went to sleep and those who did not feel tired made small walks. Some of us visited very special museum arranged to sheds around house. There was all kinds of tools and machines from the past, hundreds of motor saws and old vehicles all in excellent condition.

Kitsi fields are like an island in sea of forest. Thus they attract migrants. Now there were Thrush Nightingales, Rose Finches and Spotted Flycatchers. Usually there are also Bluethroats but this year they were all gone already.

Our main birding spot for the day was Patvinsuo National Park. We walked in the middle of this great bog area, where you get feeling of Lapland. On the way we managed to see a Tree-toed Woodpecker, a Willow Grouse, Yellow Wagtails and waders breeding in the area. Weather was great and bog plants were flowering. Adder and thousands of insects were seen too.

Everyone was ready for a small walk during the evening, so we walked down to a shore of the lake. Black Grouse lecking was heard from distance. Lake had Bean Geese, a Brent Goose and some ducks. Waxwings and Crosbills migrated to north. After sunset at 22.30 everyone was ready to sleep.

Thursday morning was again cold. Car windows had thick layer of frost and fog covered lakes around Kitsi. We spend morning searching for Grouses and Rustic Buntings. We could not find any singing Rustic Buntings, only birds that made “tick” sounds. Most of the group did not see these birds. We managed to see a female Capercaillie and Black Grouses again. Near one stream we had superb views of Waxwing pair.

After a breakfast was time to leave and we said good byes to Kitsi folk. Our first birding destination was a Rustic bunting area, but still there weren’t any singing birds. Autiovaara trail in Patvinsuo National Park is a 2.5 km long trail in old growth forest. We spend almost tree hours in this unique place. Along the trail there were four Red-Breasted Flycatchers, two Greenish Warblers and many more common forest species.

This time we drove to Parikkala by bigger roads. On the way we saw a beautiful female Great Grey Owl. After a couple of more birding stops we headed back to Oronmylly where dinner was again waiting. In the evening we had interesting tasks to do. Ural Owl chicks were ringable size and one more Pygmy Owl’s nest had to be checked.

One of our Ural Owls is very aggressive and it is constantly attacking if someone tries to climb to its tree. Nowadays we ring youngs in the car and we carry youngs there so that the mother owl doesn’t know where they are. If juveniles can make clicking sound with their bill female can follow where they are going. But if the young can bite finger on the way it won’t make this sound. After several attacks and Janne almost falling from ladder, we managed to ring all chicks and return them safely back to their nest box. The Pygmy Owl was still incubating what was a surprise for us. It had seven eggs and hatching must be close.

Next morning we spend in the forests around Oronmylly. On the way we saw a family of Siberian Jays and a Hazel Grouse.
After a breakfast we went birding in Ladoga-Karelinian deciduous forests. Thrush Nightingales were singing, a White-Backed Woodpecker drumming and Golden Orioles singing. Sounds and species in the forests were very different than in forests in North Karelia.

Oronmylly is located in the middle of forested area. So we had good views of Parrot Crossbill pair. We didn’t have Ortolan bunting in our list yet, and visiting good fields for this species did not give us this bird. It seems that they are late and still on migration. In Siikalahti we had Slavonian Grebes displaying and fighting in front of the bird tower. Ospreys and Hobbies were numerous.

Most of the group members had not visited proper Finnish sauna before. Dutch version of “Finnish sauna” is not genuine sauna. Swimming and being in pleasant hot sauna was so nice that it was hard to get people out to dinner! After eating everyone went to bed.

Everyone had their alarm clocks on before midnight. Our trip started right away when there was three Nightjars singing around us. In Särkisalmi we had Thrush Nightingales and Blyth’s Reed Warblers. Around Parikkala we had three Grashopper Warblers, one River Warbler, 20 Blyth’s Reed Warblers, couple of Corn Crakes, Water Rails and Bitterns. There was also good geese and arctic duck migration going on the dark sky.

Usually it is quite cold during nights but this time clouds kept temperature well over 10 degrees. Unfortunately clouds were part of narrow rain front that partly spoiled the end of our trip.

We had our first late breakfast during last morning in Saturday. After this we had still time for short walking tour around ponds and lakes of Oronmylly. Young Arctic hare was cute when it was hiding behind flowers.

Midday it was time to say goodbyes! Group left tired but happy back to home. Many were already thinking to come back or even to move here to Finland. We had 5 species of Owls, 7 species of Woodpeckers (Wryneck included), 8 species of Raptors, 27 species of Geese and duck, a Wolverine… Great tour for a tour-leader too!

H.A.

On the 16th of May I had a good start for a day when a Parrot Crossbill flew over our garden. I still heard a couple of Garden Warblers in Siikalahti before I had to go to work. On the lunch-hour I counted birds from Tiviänlampi and after the work I left again to Virolahti, now I had 4 days holiday for arctic migration!

I drove straight to Virolahti Vilkkiläntura and walked to Kolsinpohja bird-tower. After some searching I found a Steppe Eagle that my friend “potu” Suojarinne had found a day before. After some waiting the eagle flew amazingly beautifully over me but landed soon to the same trees again. Also 2 Great White Egrets were found from the bay so I had amazing start for my holiday!

In the evening we were in Lakakallio with potu, Jani Varis and some other but there was almost no migration. After we had made some sausage on the fire I went to sleep about at midnight.

On the 17th of May I woke up at 5 a.m. and walked straight to the top of the rock and there were already divers migrating. I had awakened too late! During the morning we counted 1087 divers (mostly Black-throated) but otherwise we saw only about 500 Barnacle Geese, 220 other unidentified geese, 9 White-fronted Geese, 2 Gadwalls, 2+1 Black Kites, 3 Arctic Skuas, 2 Red-necked Phalaropes and so on.

During the day we saw the Steppe Eagle again but Great White Egrets were gone. In Leerviikki we had some lunch and visited FotoFennica exhibition. Then we drove to Vaalimaa fields where we saw 8 White-tailed Eagles and a beautiful 2nd c-y Montagu’s Harrier! After some shopping we saw a Capercaillie in Virojoki and heard a Greenish Warbler in Hurpuntie. The evening migration in Lakakallio was again boring.

On the 18th of May I woke up 4:30 a.m. but it was raining and very foggy so after all I woke up at 6 a.m. and slowly walked to the rock to watch empty sky. After a couple of hours I was completely wet and when we got a message about a King Eider in Hurppu we decided to go. With Kai Hilditz, Jani Varis and potu we drove to Hurppu and once we had walked to Verkkokallio the rain stopped and then the migration started! We just watched the King Eider quickly and started to count migrating geese and divers! I still had all wet clothes and potu didn’t have his telescope as we had planned to go back to Lakakallio but now it was too late.

The migration was amazing strong! In hard back-wind geese and divers were going extremely fast! And there were flocks everywhere! 6 Scaups, some flocks of Long-tailed Ducks and Common Scoters, 8 Bar-tailed Godwits with a Grey Plover, 60 other unidentified plovers and 13 Arctic Skuas were seen but then 110 000 Barnacle Geese and 4804 (Black-throated) Divers! Only 25 Brent Geese were identified and no grey geese at all.

After midday we moved to Lakakallio and I got dry clothes. Divers weren’t migrating at all but some 20 000 Barnacle Geese were still seen during the rest of the day. In the afternoon we visited Vilkkiläntura where a Blackcap was singing and a couple of other places but in the evening we were again in Lakakallio. We still saw 21 Arctic Skuas, 150 Brent Geese, 2 Red-necked Phalaropes and a rook.

On the 19th of May I woke up 4:30 but not much migration was seen. 80 White-fronted Geese were in a flock with Barnacle Geese and also 5 Arctic Skuas and 136 divers were seen. The drive during the day didn’t show us anything else than 2 Red-backed Shrikes and the evening in Lakakallio was also boring: 24 swans, and some flocks of Long-tailed ducks (some thousands), Common Scoters (some hundreds) and Velvet Scoters (65) were seen.

On the 20th of May the morning was again bad even though the weather was very nice. 55 divers (half of them Red-throated), 3 Arctic Skuas and almost nothing else were seen. So already at 7 a.m. I was ready to leave. I wanted to twitch a European Serin as a South-Karelia tick on the way home. Potu and Jani decided to leave too so soon we were driving towards Savitaipale. We were on the half-way when we got a message about a Firecrest in Virolahti Harvajanniemi. With potu we made a U-turn but Jani continued to Savitaipale. Potu left his car to Virojoki and we continued to Harvajanniemi. Luckily we heard the Firecrest right away when we got out of the car! A lifer! It was singing very actively on the spruces and we managed to see it briefly. After I had taken some recordings too, we continued on our plan and left towards Savitaipale where Jani had already seen a Serin.

Behind Savitaipale S-market we found first some birders and soon we heard a European Serin singing. The bird was told to be very shy so we didn’t try to see it at all, but drove to ABC to eat something. We were already leaving to our homes when I checked how long it was to Kauhajoki and surprisingly it was only 385 kilometres. Somehow I managed to talk potu with me and soon we were driving towards Mikkeli. We left potus car to his parking place and then had still 300 kilometres to drive!

It was a long way but somehow we made it to Kauhajoki Ikkeläjärvi at 5 p.m. But then the bay where a Surf Scoter had already been for several days was empty, only some Common Scoters were found. A nice local couple helped us and told us to check the lake from the swimming place and luckily we found the bird! A Surf Scoter was swimming on the opposite side of the lake but already the second lifer of the day for me and potu! We still wanted to see this bird better and the same couple helped us a lot. We drove to the other side of the lake where the man had seen it but it was gone again. Then we checked the lake from these people’s own beach and saw it again but far. We drove again to the other side of the lake and then managed to see it better. It was swimming with Common Scoters and Goldeneyes in the middle of the lake, what a stunning bird!

The way back home was long and only a Great Grey and a Red-backed Shrike were seen in Kihniö on the way. Finally, after 10 p.m. I dropped potu in Mikkeli and I still had a couple of hours drive to Parikkala. In Särkisalmi I stopped to listen Blyth’s Reed Warbler as a year-tick and finally at 00:30 a.m. I was able to get to sleep. I had really had a good 4 days arctica holiday!

On the night of 22nd and 23rf of May I went to listen to night-singers to Siikalahti and heard 13 Water Rails, 3 Spotted Crakes, 2 Corn Crakes, 4 Blyth’s Reed Warblers, a Great Reed Warbler, many Thrush Nightingales and 3 Nightjars. On the next days I did duck-counts again but didn’t see anything special, 2 Long-tailed Tits were seen and a Golden Oriole was heard.

On the 24th of May I twitched an Icterine Warbler as a year-tick and in the evening we went to ring Ural Owls with Hanna and her Dutch group. The group was watching from the car when we got kicked asses from the aggressive Ural Owl mom. The Pygmy Owls had still eggs on their nests and I still went to check the further Tengmalm’s Owl nest which was unfortunately empty. There hadn’t been enough foo so the mom had given up breeding.

J.A.

On Friday 11th of May we left to Virolahti. On the way we checked the last owl nest boxes that we have in Rautjärvi. No owls but a Hazel Hen, a Black Grouse and a male Capercaillie were seen.

The weather was getting rainy so we didn’t hurry to Virolahti but drove to Kouvola Junkkarinjärvi where we twitched a Black-necked Grebe in heavy rain. Also a Spotted Flycatcher was seen as a year-tick.

We continued to Hamina Lupinlahti where a Great Reed Warbler was singing in a rain. In Kirkkojärvi Thrush Nightingales were singing even though the rain was extremely heavy! We just sat in a car and listen Finland loosing Canada. When the rain finally stopped we tried to hear Little Crake and also Savi’s Warbler nearby in Savilahti but didn’t hear them. After the rain it started to blow very hard so no wonder the birds weren’t active. Finally we drove to Virolahti Hurppu where we slept in a car.

On the 12th of May I woke up early at 4:30 a.m. Soon I was in Verkkokallio to watch migration. The first 15 minutes were boring but then flocks of Barnacle Geese started to come to horizon and soon many flocks were migrating on the sea and over the land all the time. Mostly they were far and in bad light but some of them flew over me but the wind made them fly very fast. So I really couldn’t do anything else than count them somehow.

At 5:50 a.m. I saw a Pomarine Skua flying close to the shore and soon several Arctic Skuas too. But there were so many flocks of Geese that I really couldn’t check the sea often enough. The wind was so hard that my telescope almost fell down a couple of times. Pekka Saikko and later also Hanna came to watch the migration too and then the flocks started to get bigger. But soon the migration wasn’t so strong anymore and at 9 a.m. we had to do some breakfast. I counted that I had seen 40000 Barnacle Geese, a couple of flocks of Tundra Bean Geese, 6000 sea-ducks (Long-tailed Ducks and Common Scoters but too far), 4 Gadwalls, a Honey Buzzard, some Red and Black-throated Divers and a flock of 13 Bewick’ Swans. Of course I had seen also Arctic Terns and in Heinäluoto there were more than 50 Caspian Terns in a colony, there I had seen also a Dunlin briefly.

Some flocks of Barnacle Geese were still on the sky when we left to Virojoki Rajasali where Hanna had to go to put her paintings to a wall. There was a Arctic Migration in Virolahti – art gallery starting in the afternoon.

I continued to Kurkela where I tried to see some raptors but because of the wind it wasn’t clever. I saw only 8 local White-tailed Eagles but nothing else. I also visited Lintulahti where I saw 3 Gadwalls before I went to see the opening ceremony of the gallery.

In the afternoon we were sleeping a couple of hours in Lakakallio where we hoped to see some evening migration but the wind was too bad, no birds were migrating at all. So we went to night-trip again. In Heinäluoto we saw a Turnstone and in Lintulahti a Temminck’s Stint, 2 Garganeys and heard a drumming Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Then we drove to Hamina again where the weather had changed and it was now a perfect weather to listen night-singers but no Savi’s Warbler or Little Crake were heard. A Reed Warbler was singing and a Nightjar was perched on the road in Kirkkojärvi so a couple of new year-ticks anyway. After all we drove again to Hurppu to sleep.

On the 12th of May I woke ap after 4 a.m. and at 4:30 I was watching migration again. Or actually there was no migration to watch at all. The wind was now from north which wasn’t good direction. In a couple of hours all I saw was 5 Red-throated Divers. In Heinäluoto I saw 60 Caspian Terns and these amazing terns were nice to watch. Once Hanna had awakened we visited Vilkkiläntura where a Red-breasted Flycatcher was singing. Then we drove back to Hurppu to have breakfast and check that there was still no migration at all.

At 10 a.m. we drove to Kurkela where it was extremely windy. My telescope nearly fell down several times! Only 7 local White-tailed Eagles were seen and a Black Kite.
So after all we left towards South-Karelia much earlier than we had planned.

In Ylämaa Väkevänjärvi we didn’t see anything interesting and in Lappeenranta Haapajärvi we saw only 2 Redshanks. In Nuijamaa Pohjola we twitched a hybrid Collared x Pied Flycatcher which was very interesting looking bird. The collar was just a little bit too thin, the white patch on the wing was a little bit too small and wrong shaped and also the forehead-spot was too small. The bird was calling and also singing both species!
In Hyvättilä we saw a flock of 500 geese (3 common species) and in Kotasaari we saw 3 Temminck’s Stints and a Redshank. In Imatra Immalanjärvi we still counted 63 Little Gulls before we drove home.

On the next 2 days there was really good Barnacle Goose migration both in Virolahti and also in Parikkala but I was working and not able to do much birding. On the 15th of May I saw the first Scaups of the year, a couple in Härskiinmutka and an early River Warbler was singing close to Siikalahti bird-tower. In the afternoon I still heard 2 Wood Warblers and a Common Rosefinch in Moskuunniemi.

J.A.