May 2007
May
On the 1st of May I got several common year-ticks and also 2 Pink-footed Geese were seen and 10 Water Rails heard in Siikalahti. n the afternoon we went to check all the owl nest boxes in Rautjärvi and after that we went to Kuokkalampi bird tower where a couple of Long-tailed Tits, a White-backed Woodpecker and a Grey-headed Woodpecker were the best observations. In Laurinniemi we saw some Little Ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers and a Redshank. On the next day I twitched a Black-tailed Godwit in Siikalahti and on the 3rd day I saw a couple of Scaups from our backyard.
On the 4th day we birded with Jari Kiljunen in Saari but only a Whimbrel and some Swallows and House Martins were seen
On the 5th of May we had again a traditional national Bird tower competition. In 8 hours we saw 54 migrating Whimbrels, a Grey Heron, 3 Cormorants, a Pink-footed Goose, a female Pallid/Montagu’s Harrier, a Redshank, a Little Ringed Plover, A Stock Dove, 40 Waxwings and altogether 85 species. In the afternoon I saw a Short-eared Owl in Tetrisuo.
Next days surprise was a male Gadwall in the middle of the field in Lahdensuo, also the first flocks of Barnacle Geese were migrating. In Siikalahti I saw a Jack Snipe.
During the next few days I saw 10 Oystercatchers, twitched a couple of White Storks in Joutseno and found a couple of Gadwalls. On the 12th day the first Thrush Nightingales, Blackcaps and Garden Warblers had arrived. In Akanvaara Tetrisuo Ortolan Buntings were singing and in Kanavalampi I saw a White-tailed Eagle. The strangest observation was a couple of Bitterns that were running in a middle of a field!
On the 13th day we were guiding a group from Italy. Later Hanna continued with them one more day in Parikkala and a couple of days in North Karelia. A Ural Owl, White-backed Woodpecker, a couple of Long-tailed Tits on their nest, Black Woodpeckers, Siberian Jays, Hazel Hens, Black Grouses and a Red-backed Shrike were seen on the first day and later Hanna and the group saw a Grey-headed Woodpecker, a Three-toed Woodpecker, Capercaillies, Willow Grouses, Shore Larks, Parrot Crossbills and even a Wolwerine and much more! The group continued then to Virolahti to see arctic migration and they seemed to have good time there too!
On the 14th day I saw some thousands of geese and a Short-eared Owl in Siikalahti but unfortunately I had to be working so nothing else was seen. On the 15th day I saw a Long-eared Owl and a White-tailed Eagle but I had to stop my trip to Saari soon because of Jarmo Pirhonen found a White-winged Black Tern in Imatra. When I arrived at Imatra Immalanjärvi the tern was still there together with 3 Black Terns! I still continued to Joutseno Kotasaari to twitch 3 Marsh Sandpipers, also a Temminck’s Stint was a year tick. On the 16th day I saw a Greylag Goose in Siikalahti.
On the 17th day when my holiday had finally started we drove to Helsinki. On the way we stopped in Imatra (an Arctic Tern), in Virolahti (a Black Kite and a Honey Buzzard), in Hamina (Great Reed Warbler) and Kotka (Terek Sandpiper). Then we drove to Helsinki-Vantaa airport from where we strated our 8 days Georgia trip (Kazbegi and Chachuna for example Caucasian Black Grouses, Caucasian Snowcocks, Mountain Chiffchaffs, Güldenstädt’s Redstarts, Great Rosefinches, vultures, Imperial Eagles, Wgeatears, Menestrie’s Warblers, Rufous Bush Robins and altogether 143 species).
When we came back from Georgia I drove dropped Hanna to train and even though I had slept only a couple of hours in plane I continued straight to North Botnia 24 hour’s bird rally. With Antti Pesola, Petri Nikupaavo and Petri Pelttari we drove 720 kilometres, birded in 14 counties and saw 148 species! Best observations were a Great Spotted Eagle, 3 Marsh Sandpipers, River Warbler, a couple of flocks of Dotterels, Broad-billed Sandpipers, Red-necked Phalaropes, 2 Corn Crakes, a Thrush Nightingale, a Willow Grouse, 2 Mute Swans, extremely late Snow Bunting, Grey Partridges, a Terek Sandpiper, 3 Razorbills, a twitched Lesser Grey Shrike and a couple of other yearticks. We were 4th in 16 teams race which is well done because none of us was local anymore.
After the rally we drove to Pyhäjoki from where the rest of the team started their way south and I continued to Siikajoki Tauvo ringing station. I hadn’t been sleeping more than 10 hours for last 3 days so I was extremely tired. Matti Tynjälä was ringing in a station so after a couple of hours sleep I was with him checking the mist nets. Anyway after a couple of hours I had to go to sleep again. During the day I walked to Ulkonokka where I counted all the birds: best ones were 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 flocks of Broad-billed Sandpipers and 2 Little Stints. In the afternoon I drove to Liminka where I twitched a Great White Egret in Temmesjokisuu and once I had found the bird I got a message that there was a Grey Phalarope in Oulu Pyykösjärvi! After 30 minutes I saw the bird and many old friends! We still continued to Oulunsalo with Mikko Ala-Kojola, but the best bird we saw was the same Great White Egret. After 10 p.m. I drove to my brother Riku and I was really tired!
Next 2 days I was just relaxing. Nothing better was seen on the wasy home either. But once I was home we went to ring the 2 nestlings of Ural Owl!
On the last day of May I got a message that there had been a Green Woodpecker in Kesälahti. After 30 minutes I was there but no woodpeckers were found. A Corncrake, a Golden Oriol and a couple of River Warblers were heard! It was good to be home when the best night singer time was coming!