Some early autumn rarities
The beginning of September was still very warm. On the first days I checked the nearest fields during my lunch-hour and saw some Red-backed Shrikes and other summer-birds. On the 2nd day I finally saw some Red-throated Pipits and got a new year-tick. Soon they were found in every field. In the evening I saw a Ural Owl in Rautjärvi Vertasenkylä while I was driving away from Imatra where was the first rink-ball trainings of the season.
On the 4th of September I was again in Imatra, in Lammassaari with my colleagues and saw a Grey-headed Woodpecker. On the 5th day I visited Kullinsuo again on my lunch-hour and this time it was worthy! I found a pipit perched far on the cut field, but it looked good. It was chasing some insects and finally landed next to a Northern Wheatear and I could see that it was a big one! Anyway I wanted to see it better and walked to the field but then I lost the bird. I walked maybe 500 meters and finally flushed it and it called several times and I could easily identify it as a Richard’s Pipit! It was a new South-Karelia tick for me and only 4th record ever in Parikkala.
In the afternoon I biked to Kullinsuo with Matti Lötjönen and also Jari Kiljunen was there. “Jassi” had already heard the bird but after some searching we finally saw it again. We saw it in flight a couple of times but still didn’t manage to get any pictures. There were also some Red-throated Pipits.
Later we still visited Kontiolampi fields and Siikalahti and saw a White-tailed Eagle and the first Brambling of the autumn. In the evening I still saw a Woodcock.
On the 6th day I biked to Siikalahti already after 6 a.m. On the way I heard a Coal Tit in Muttelinmäki. Water Rails were still calling actively and along the dam-road I found still 12 Sedge Warblers, 2 Bluethroats, a Common Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler and so on. There was not much migration but a Nuthatch was nice to see again. Some Red-throated Pipits, Yellow Wagtails, 8 Bean Geese, a White-backed Woodpecker drumming, 2 Black Woodpeckers, a White-tailed Eagle and a Grey Heron on an electric wire were seen. In Tetrisuo I still saw 3 Lapland Buntings. In the afternoon I still went to Saari but only 52 Ruffs and were seen in Pohjanranta.
On the 7th of September the morning was foggy so we went to Siikalahti only at 9 a.m. A lonely Bean Goose was migrating and 8 more were still present. A White-tailed Eagle was seen again and a Hen Harrier was hunting on the fields. Water Rails were calling and a Ruff was flying over us with a Spotted Redshank. 6 Red-throated Pipits migrated, a Bluethroat was calling from the reeds and the weather was too good! In Kullinsuo we found only common pipits and a Lapland Bunting. In the afternoon I was jogging a long run and saw 4 Rock Doves, a Garden Warbler, a Yellow Wagtail and a Chiffchaff.
On the 8th day I went to Siikalahti on my lunch-hour and found almost immediately a Great Grey Shrike. I soon realized that it looked more interesting than usually as it had white forehead which continued above supercilium. Soon it flew a little bit and I could see huge white patches on its wings, white uppertail and rump and once it landed a little bit closer I still saw that it was quite pale grey. It was a “Homeyeri”! Soon it continued towards us and flew right over us and soon disappeared to south.
I also saw an Acro which disappeared too soon. On the next day I saw only a Chiffchaff and local raptors in Siikalahti and later in Härskiinmutka I saw 2 Common Terns.
On the 10th of September I visited Siikalahti early in the morning and found 2 Bluethroats. In Härskiinmutka I saw a flock of 10 Long-tailed Ducks. In the afternoon I visited Saari Pohjanranta where only a Grey Heron, a Ringed Plover and 82 Ruffs were seen. On the 11th day I saw 2 Gadwalls landing to Siikalahti, 7 Taiga Bean Geese and so on.
J.A.