Reindeer fat, Black Woodpeckers and Starling

Today we prepared food from reindeer leg; minced meat, sliced meat, roast, etc. As a by-product, I got big pieces of reindeer fat. It is a good diet for woodpeckers and tits, so I called to my birding friend Jussi Kallio and asked if I could bring the fat to his bird feeding site in Jutikkalanharju ridge. Jussi agreed, especially as there was currently no fat in feeding place, only seeds. So Petro and I did a short birding trip to Jutikkalanharju ridge and lake Saarioisjärvi.

After we had put the fat on place, we continued to Lapinnokka observation tower at Saarioisjärvi. While we were still on the ridge, we saw a male Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius). And then another. And third. And fourth. Wow, 4 Black Woodpeckers at the same time, that's nice! Two males and two females, obviously they had some territorial fight going on as they flew around and made a lot of noise. I tried to take some photos, but woodpeckers were too busy, they were moving all the time. No photos this time...

Lake Saarioisjärvi was still almost totally frozen, but the river was open. Nothing special there, just 6 Common Goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula). After that we we drove to bridge of Uittamo, where Saarioisjärvi connects to bigger lake Rauttunselkä. These was again some waterfowls; 3 Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) and 3 Goosanders (Mergus merganser). And one new species for this spring; Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). I really didn't expect to find a Starling yet as the weather has been so cold now, so it was a pleasant surprise.

Can't wait for a warmer weather and migratory birds... Spring, where are you ?

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)