. . Lintuharrastajan päiväkirja Birders diary . .

On the last days of July there wasn’t much happening. On the 30th day we did SSP-ringing again and caught a Robin, a Blackbird, a Song Thrush, 11 Sedge and 7 Blyth’s Reed Warblers, 7 Lesser and 6 Common Whitethroats, 2 Garden and 10 Willow Warblers, a Blue Tit and a Common Rosefinch. In the evening we saw Great White Egrets, Grey Herons and a Bittern in Siikalahti.

On the 31st day we did duck-counts again in Saari and saw 3 Great White Egrets, 2 Temminck and 2 Little Stints and a Little Ringed Plover in Pohjanranta, 2 more egrets near Tarassiinlahti and a few Red-backed Shrikes.

On the 2nd of August 300 Barnacle Geese and the same White-fronted Goose were in Joukio. On the 3rd day 3 Great White Egrets, a Dunlin and 2 Temminck Stints were in Pohjanranta and a Black Kite was soaring over the main road six at Maironiemi. A couple of Nutcrackers were in Kangaskylä and they were seen almost daily there later. Also small flock of Barnacle Geese moved from Joukio to Kangaskylä and we managed to read some rings.

On the 5th day there was again a Tundra Bean Goose and a Ringed Plover and a Stock Dove in Pohjanranta. Then on the 7th day we had SSP again and ringed a Robin, 3 Sedge Warblers, a Blyth’s Reed Warbler, a Lesser and a Common Whitethroat, 4 Garden Warblers, a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, 2r+1c Willow Warbler and 2 Common Rosefinches. We also saw a Black Kite and a White-tailed Eagle. The best observation was made when we were walking to our car. Hanna found a Wasp Spider from the field! It was the first ever in Karelia!

And on the 8th day it was time to do duck-counts again. In Akonpohja we saw a White-tailed Eagle, in Pohjanranta a Ringed Plover, in Suurenjärvenliete a flock of 35 migrating Common Scoters, a Temminck and a Little Stint, in Tarassiinlahti a young Little Gull and a single Barnacle Goose and from Nivalahti we saw a distant Great White Egret. In the evening in Siikalahti the same egrets, herons and bittern were seen.

On the 13th of August 12 Osprerys were in flight in the same time in Siikalahti. On the14th day we had SSP again and we caught a Tree Pipit, a Robin, a Common Redstart, 3 Lesser and 8 Common Whitethroats, 4 Garden Warblers, a Blackcap, 6 Willow Warblers, 4 Blue and 2 Great Tits and 2 Willow Warblers. During the day I took part to a running competition and it was a surprise to see the familiar White-fronted Goose with Barnacle Geese in Parikkala sports field. Later there were even more than 200 Barnacle Geese and the same White-fronted Goose seen almost daily in different places feeding grass – they visited even our back-yard several times.

On the 15th day a visit to Saari produced a Great White Egret, a Ringed Plover and 3 Temminck Stints in Pohjanranta, a couple of Hen Harriers, a Black Kite, 2 Stock Doves and 13 Ringed Plovers in Pohjasuo and the same kite, a Stock Dove and a Hen Harrier in Tetrisuo and 32 Coots in Akonpohja.

In the evening of 16th we saw 15 Great White Egrets in Siikalahti and also 255 Cranes were already counted. On the 17th a Linnet was in our garden and in Siikalahti I saw a too distant harrier that looked promising but never came closer. In the afternoon we left to do duck-counts again and it started wel when we saw a Brown Bear crossing the road! Then a female Gadwall with 8 youngsters and 3 young Garganeys were found in Akonpohja! But then only the familiar Tundra Bean Goose, a couple of Great White Egrets and a Ringed Plover were seen on the other places. When we were driving back to home we found a Barnacle Geese flock with White-fronted Goose in Rautalahti. So they were quite far north now. But on the next morning they were on our back-yard again.

On the 20th day evening 15 Great White Egrets, 5 Grey Herons and a Nightjar were seen and on the 21st day we did the first mist-netting in Siikalahti. We caught 53 birds and quite a few were project-species. 12 Robins, a Redstart, a Blackbird, a Song Thrush, 3 Sedge Warblers, a Blyth’s Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser and 3 Common Whitethroats, 10 Garden Warblers, 7 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warblers, a Blue and 4 Great Tits, 2 Chaffinches, a Yellowhammer and 4 Reed Buntings were ringed. Also a Nutcracker was seen.

On the 22nd of August we spent with cameras. First we headed to Savonlinna side of the border and on the way saw a Honey Buzzard migrating with a Hen Harrier, but surprisingly we found also a family of Great Grey Shrikes on the same forest-cut. Then we continued to photograph Red-throated Divers. The young diver was big already and maybe it was the reason why male didn’t bring any food even though we were there for several hours. It was maybe time to leave the pond? Only ones female and the young fledged but young bird hardly got to air at all. But I managed to get a couple of good pictures of mama. While lying under our hides we heard a Brambling and a Two-barred Crossbill too.

During the day we spent a couple of hours in Hanna’s hide and photographed mostly Robins. But also a Sparrowhawk visited the pool and came even too close! In the evening we still headed to Saari where a Little Ringed Plover and 3 Temmink Stints were in Pohjanranta and a Black Kite in Tetrisuo.

On the 24th evening the first 12 Bean Geese arrived to Siikalahti and again 15 Great White Egrets were seen and already 380 Cranes were counted. On the next morning we heard the last calls of local Barnacle Geese – now we will have a couple of weeks freedom before the migrants start to arrive. During the day I got a message that a Bewick’s Swan had been found in Siikalahti, but it had gone missing. I tried to relocate it and checked many places but found only a flock of 53 Canada Geese in Särkisalmi. In the evening we headed to duck-counts again and saw nothing special. 6 Gadwalls were still alive and the first Smew had arrived to Akonpohja. In Pohjanranta a couple of Great White Egrets were still present and in Pohjasuo we saw 4 Ringed Plover. But otherwise it was quite boring – hunting-season had started.

On the 26th morning I found the Bewick’s Swan on the ordinary field in Kaukola. It was the first summer-time record for me ever. This bird stayed in Siikalahti and I saw it many times later. On my lunch-hour I saw an early Merlin and a Goshawk and in the evening we went to photograph ducks to Siikalahti hide. Mallards and Wigeons came close and 2 Gadwalls were swimming further.

On the 27th of August I heard a migrating Rustic Buntings and on the 28th we had the last SSP. We caught a Tree Pipit, a Dunnock, a Bluethroat, 2 Sedge Warblers, a Blyth’s Reed Warbler, 4 Lesser and 2 Common Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Blue and 1 Great Tit, 3 Red-backed Shrikes, a Reed Bunting and even 6 Rustic Buntings!

On Sunday the 29th we ringed in Siikalahti and had players with Rustic Bunting song playing. A Dunnock, 14r+2c Robins, a Redwing, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser and 2 Common Whitethroats, 6 Garden Warblers, 8r+1c Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers, 3 Blue and 5 Great Tits, a Chaffinch and amazing 28 Rustic Buntings were caught. We also saw 2 young Black Kites migrating and finally heard the first Red-throated Pipit of the year.

On the 30th day I heard a couple of Rustic Bunting in a few minutes in Siikalahti. After work I found a young Black Redstart in our parking place! Luckily I was carrying my camera-bag and got some pictures too. We also saw the bird later when Hanna came home but then it was very shy. It was already the 3rd Black Redstart in our garden!

On the last day of August I saw the Bewick’s Swan again and in the evening we did duck-counts. It was as boring as ever! 3 Gadwalls were still alive, a couple of Tundra Bean Geese were in Pohjanranta and a Red-throated Pipit was seen in Suurenjärvenliete. Kanavalampi was completely empty – not a single bird! In the evening we still went to Siikalahti where egrets and a Bittern were seen and a Rustic Bunting was heard from the dark sky.

J.A.