January 2008
January – Euro winter continues
On the 1st of January we started the year in Ylämaa Väkevänjärvi where weren’t only Pekka Punnonen and Jari Kiljunen but also a White-fronted Goose with more than 60 Whooper Swans. Of course many other year ticks were seen, a Black Woodpecker was the best one. We continued to Rumpu where a Nuthatch was till present. Also a Crested Tit and a Trecreeper were heard. Then we continued to Lappeenranta Toikansuo where in a flock of Redpolls we saw an Arctic Redpoll, a Snowfinch flew over us and a Chaffinch was also heard. In Luukkaansalmi we twitched a Hooded Merganser that was now there with a couple of Goosanders. In Laihia we tried to find a Pheasant but we found something better – a flock of 4 male and 2 female Steller’s Eiders! While I was putting a message about the Steller’s Eiders to other birders we got a message there was a Glauscous Gull in Luumäki. So we drove there and a nice adult bird was still present with a couple of Herring Gulls. In a hurry we drove back to Lappeenranta wherein Tuohimäki we twitched a Kestrel and then to Joutseno Pulp first only a Cormorant was found but finally a Black-throated Diver too. With Hanna we still managed to get to Imatra Vuoksi before it was too late and we saw a Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Smews.
On the 2nd day I just checked the Siberian Jays were doing well in Parikkala. Also some Black Grouses and 2 Hazel Hens were seen. There was still almost no snow, so the forest-roads were drivable. And on the next day I saw a Dipper in Tyrjä and the day after that I saw a Hazel Hen and some Black Grouses in Siikalahti.
On the 5th day we birded with a Catalan birder Dani Burgas. We started from Savitaipale Kaskei where was a tame Hawk Owl. We had dead mice with us and the bird came to catch them right away the were dropped to the ground. Unfortunately the bird was too fast so we couldn’t get any good pictures. We were lucky to find also a White-backed Woodpecker which is really rare in that area – we even saw the woodpecker attacking the owl! Next we twitched 2 Three-toed Woodpeckers in Lappeenranta Hanhikemppi and 7 Waxwings from the harbour. In Toikansuo we saw 2 Arctic Redpolls and 3 Linnets in a flock of Redpolls and a Shore Lark was still there too. Also a Goshawk and a Sparrowhawk were seen. In the afternoon we saw again the same birds in Vuoksi.
On the 6th day we checked the furthermost owl nest boxes in Rautjärvi. A flock of Long-tailed Tits were seen and a Nuthatch was twitched. A couple of days later I saw a couple of White-backed Woodpeckers in Siikalahti, they were really acting like in spring already!
On the 13th day we finally got the last owl nest boxes checked with Matti Lötjönen. It was raining and only better bird was a Great Grey Shrike in Tyrjä.
On the 19th of January we had a traditional bird walk in Imatra. The city was split to 9 parts and a couple of birders were counting every single bird in their part. With Miika Suojarinne we were walking in Vuoksenniska area and altogether 17 passerine species were seen: 486 Great Tits, 299 Greenfinches, 150 Tree Sparrows, 35 House Sparrows, 26 Siskins and so on. After the race we had an hour to check the Vuoksi where were all the wintering birds 2 Smews, Cormorants, a Tufted Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Whooper Swans and of course Mallards, Goldeneyes and Goosanders but also 2 Canada Geese. Then we had a good time watching many pictures and videos and we went to sleep after 4 a.m.
Anyway we woke up early and drove to birding to Lappeeranta. In Toikansuo we saw a Rook, 2 Teals and a Great Grey Shrike. In Luukkaansalmi were 3 Herring Gulls, a Goldeneye, Goosanders, Black Woodpecker and a Goshawk. In Hakali we twitched a Blackbird and in Laihia 2 Pheasants.
On the 23rd day I had a good lunch-hour in Siikalahti where a White-backed Woodpecker was drumming and a Grey-headed and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker were seen. At night I did the first owl-trip and in Melkoniemi I heard an Eagle Owl and 2 Tengmalm’s Owl were calling shortly when I was whistling. On the 25th day In Tyrjä we heard an Eagle Owl that was calling in Russia.
On the 26th and 27th we had a Backyard birding day in Finland and we participated in our backyard and in Tarvaslampi, but nothing special was seen. On the 26th afternoon I managed to get a couple of good year ticks a Jack Snipe and a Merlin.
The last bird observation of the month was a Goshawk in Siikalahti on the 29th day. Amazingly it was still not a real winter! There was almost no snow and only in two day it had been more than minus 10 degrees.