Winter bird census in Kärjenniemi

 

Spotted Nutcracker, new species in my route

Cloudy Saturday on 12th of November, mild and calm weather, temperature few degrees below 0° C, almost prefect weather for winter bird census. Sunny day would have been even better, but those are rare here in November.

My route is 7 km long and it goes through many biotopes so basically I have a chance to see a nice variety of bird species. But this year the winter came early and lake Kärjenniemenselkä was already covered by ice, so no waterfowls or gulls this autumn. Fortunately there were still some rowan berries left for thrushes and waxwings, also lot's of cones in spruces, so I was pretty confident that I will see many species.

Black Woodpecker

And so I did. 23 species and total 698 birds. Nice surprise were the 3 Spotted Nutcrackers, new species in my route and a new species to my year list! Small surprise was also 3 Black Woodpeckers, it's usually scarce i.e. I don't find it every time. On what comes to berry and cone eating birds, most thrushes and waxwings had already gone south, but I still found a flock 11 Bohemian Waxwings, total 12 Blackbirds, 8 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Red Crossbills but surprisingly no Fieldfares. Also the amount of Redpolls and Siskins, which were scarce last winter, was promising, we may get a nice winter on what comes to birding.  All results can be seen here, on the website of Finnish Museum of Natural History.

Next winter bird census will be after Christmas, looking forward to see what I will find from Kärjenniemi that time. Maybe Grey-Headed Woodpecker, or Three-Toed Woodpecker, both would be new in my route. Or some big owl... If you want to join, you're welcome, just contact me and come to do census in Kärjenniemi!

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Author

Olli Haukkovaara

email: olli.haukkovaara @ proton.me

Valkeakoski, Finland

Thousands of Waxwings and Thrushes

 

Bohemian Waxwing

On Sunday the 16th of October I did a few hours birding trip by bike to nearby hotspots. The landscape was full of Thrushes, Waxwings and Starlings. In southern downtown of Valkeakoski there was a flock of 1500 Bohemian Waxwings, one of the biggest I've ever seen here. Air was full of their pleasant ringing "sirrrr" sounds, as from 1500 small bells. In Lotilansalmi the soundscape was totally different; a mixture of furious chatter of 2500 Fieldfares, ringing sounds of Waxwings, rich repertoire of  Starlings and solitary calls of Redwings and Mistle Thrush.

Fieldfares

I continued to landfill areas of Kalatonlahti and Mahlianmaa, nice places for birders both. Found nine Meadow Pipits from Kalatonlahti and Lapland Bunting from Mahlianmaa, nice! Thirteen Grey Herons were flying around and a flock of 60 Brent Greese rushing southwest, nice to see both flocks. Actually I was looking for Siberian Accentor, but no luck. Maybe later this week, who knows, there seems to be lot's these rare sibes now all around Europe.

13 Grey Herons

Today Juhani Lokki ringed a Siberian Accentor in Anomaa, Hattula, it was a new species for the area of our local birding society, number #293! I wouldn't be surprised if we get #294 still during autumn, could be finally time for Pied Wheatear or Desert Wheatear, who knows
- well, only Sendari knows 😉

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Author

Olli Haukkovaara

email: olli.haukkovaara @ proton.me

Valkeakoski, Finland

Shrike! And a lifer! But what is the species? UPDATE: Red-tailed Shrike!

 

On 12th of October 2016 I received an alert of Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus) in Sastamala, some 70 kilometers away from my home. Wow! I started to arrange transportation - as I don't have currently a car, which suddenly turned out to be a big problem and I almost gave up. But fortunately Risto Vilpas called me and asked if I would like to come with him. Of course, thanks Riku! 

Time was already about 16:30 when we left Valkeakoski and we were bit worried whether we would arrive to observation site in time, sunset would be after two hours, in 18:30. But no worries, we were there well in time and got a chance to watch this beautiful shrike about 30 minutes! 

But is it Isabelline Shrike? Or Turkestan Shrike aka Red-tailed Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) ? Some birders had already paid attention to certain characters of this bird like whitish underparts and rusty crown. Or is this just an intermediate bird between Isabelline and Turkestan...?

See also the drawings of Worfolk.

Anyway, the debate continues and no matter what the species is, it's a lifer for me. Thank you Sendari and thanks to Vesa Korhonen for photos!

UPDATE: According to DNA tests, the species is Red-tailed Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides). Some authorities keep it still as subspecies of Isabelline Shrike i.e. (Lanius isabellinus phoenicuroides).

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Author

Olli Haukkovaara

email: olli.haukkovaara @ proton.me

Valkeakoski, Finland

Tripreport: Midsummer birding in Tallinn, Estonia, 6.-10.7.2016

 

Male Common Linnet in Toompea hill, Old Town of Tallin

Abstract: My trip to Tallinn, Estonia, was not this time actually a birding trip, but a family vacation. Still, as an addicted birder, I keep my ears and eyes open all the time which is very rewarding every now and then. I hope this blog article will give you some hints and perhaps also ideas how to practice birding during urban holidays, this time in Tallinn.

Domestic Pigeon in Old Town

Day 1. Wednesday, the 6th of July 2016

City birding may sound dull. What could one see in the heart of the metropolis, where's no big Central Park like in New York or Mai Po marshes like in Hong Kong? Perhaps Domestic Pigeons, House Sparrows and some Herring Gulls? Well, yes, uhum... and much more!

Just do your home works before you travel; study the area, where are all the parks, even the small ones, is there a river or harbor, could there be perhaps even some nature reserve? Then plan your trip, where you want to visit in your destination and if you are with your family, could it be possible to combine shopping and/or museum visit with a walk in the park or shore?






Tallinn is actually a really nice birding site. Even without a car, you can move around the town and nearby areas easily by cheap public transportation. My sons wanted to see the Zoo of Tallinn so we left our luggage to harbor terminal at noon and jumped in to the bus and headed west. The Zoo is a park with various habitats; small wetlands, forests, open grasslands with big trees here and there. For me there were not so many interesting species, but for the birders with family from USA or Japan it could be a good place to start! There were species like European Goldfinches, European Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Barn Swallows, Common Ravens, Rooks, Tufted Ducks, Grey Heron, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Willow Warblers and many more.

One of the tens of Barn Swallows in Zoo

Tufted Duck chick in the ponds of Zoo

P.S. Before you return to the downtown, check the sea shore of Rocca Al Mare, you may see there shorebirds and during the migration period, you will undoubtedly see migrating woodland birds. Look out for raptors too!

Day 2. Thursday, the 7th of July 2016

Rainy day, not so nice to spend time outdoors... a visit to tower Kök in de Kiek and bastion tunnels (I really recommend to visit both sites), after that shopping many hours in colossal Ülemiste shopping hell, sorry, shopping center. Well, ok, I should not complain, I bought Timberland Gore-Tex hiking shoes by -50% bargain price, I was really happy at that because my old Salomon Gore-Tex hiking shoes are already leaking...

So, not much birds today, but still I saw one of the highlights of the whole trip when walking from tram to shopping center. I suddenly heard a high and silvery bouncing trill, `zir`r`r``rl` couple of times and saw a small yellow bird in a birch - an adult male European Serin, very nice indeed!

In addition to that, also a Hawfinch in a park near Kök in de Kiek was a pleasure to see. In the evening we walked around the Old Town where Black Redstarts and European Linnets were singing in the Toompea hill. Blackbirds were everywhere where is at least one tree and some grass. And for laridists, the viewpoints of Toompea Hill may be worth visiting ;)

Hyper tame Herring Gull at Patkuli viewing point at Toompea

 Day 3. Friday, the 8th of July 2016

Today it was my time to choose where we go. And I chose, of course, Paljassaare! It is the best birding place within 50 km radius from Tallinn center. Paljassaare hoiuala (special conservation area) is also a Natura 2000 area of  276 ha, 150 of it is the mainland, so be prepared to spend several hours there. We took the bus 59 from Balti Jaam and the driving time was about 20 minutes.

The day was windy, almost stormy, so I missed most of the warblers. Still, one Icterine Warbler was singing close to the trail when we approached to the wooden birdwatching tower and when I climbed to tower, Great Reed Warbler was singing somewhere close in the middle of the reedbed. I started counting the Black-headed Gulls, Mallards, Gadwalls, Coots, Great Crested and Red-necked Grebes. Suddenly I saw a small broad-winged bird flying over the reedbed. Turned my binos at it and WOW! A male Little Bittern! I watched it flying about 10 seconds, then it landed between reeds some 50 meters away from me. Thank you Sendari, I bless you!!! This was the most northern Little Bittern I've ever seen, last time I saw Little Bitterns in Hungary was few years ago and earlier in Netherlands and Spain. I sent a rare bird alert to Lintutiedotus, I hope it reached the Estonian twitchers too.

Shame that the observation time was only 10 seconds, could not get a photo of the bird. After that an Eurasian Bittern and several Grey Herons were flying around the area too.

Eurasian Bittern in Paljassaare
Photo by Roni Haukkovaara

From the wooden tower we turned to eastern cape, Väike-Paljassaare. Very nice cape, reminded me of the Saaremaa in western Estonia. And lot's of birds here too, the most interesting birds for me were the 6 Barred Warblers and Little Tern, both very rare in my regular birding area. There were also Common Eiders, couple of Little Ringed Plovers, Whimbrel, Red-backed Shrike, lot's of Starlings, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Common Gulls, Common Terns and Arctic Terns. Also several Great Cormorants out in the sea.

Road to Väike-Paljassaare, you can see how strong the wind was

Time ran fast in Paljassaare and soon we had to turn back. Marsh Harrier was trying to find a prey in strong wind, big flock of Sand Martins were catching insects near Pikakari beach where I went to swim. Sea water was really refreshing!

Sand Martin in Pikakari beach
Photo Roni Haukkovaara

Strange that I did not see any House Martins in Tallinn, only Sand Martins in several locations and Barn Swallows.

Days 3./4. Saturday & Sunday, the 9th & 10th of July 2016

During last days I didn't have time for real birding, but here's some notes: Black Redstarts seem to breed in and around Toompea hill, there were at least three pairs with juveniles. European Linnets were also surprisingly common, saw them in several locations.

Black Redstart in Toompea
Photo Roni Haukkovaara

While traveling back to Finland I saw several Arctic Terns in the middle of the Gulf of Finland, heading straight to north. What is this midsummer "migration"? Also many Herring Gulls were flying directly either to north or south, from the dumping site of Helsinki to dumping site of Tallinn and back.

Lesser Black-backed Gull in the Helsinki harbor

Conspicuous fact is also that Lesser Black-backed Gulls exist during summer in Finnish coast, but not in Estonian coast. I've never seen them in the harbor of Tallinn or in the Gulf of Tallinn, but always in front of Helsinki.

More info about birding in Tallinn, please see the pages of Tallinna Linnuklubi.

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Author

Olli Haukkovaara

email: olli.haukkovaara @ proton.me

Valkeakoski, Finland

Midsummer is offspring time - but can you identify them?

 

Pair of Great Crested Grebes with their three offspring today

Lot's of nestlings and fledged offspring out there at the moment. Some are still tiny and bald, waiting for food in the nest, some are already full grown juveniles. They are all easy to identify when they are with their parents, but how about lonely young birds - can you identify them?

Just for example, what is the species below? I will tell it at the end of this text.

Waterfowl, gull, tern? And which species?

Fortunately, all the young birds are easy to learn when their parents are close to them. So take some time to study them now and next year it will be already much easier.

Hint: This old book from 1980 is still worth of gold if you manage to get a copy of it somewhere.

Or you can borrow it from me if you wish.



















At the same time, the variety of breeding bird species here is changing. Some decades ago we didn't have here White-tailed Eagles at all, Whooper Swans and Common Cranes were scarce. On the other hand some previously common species have now either turned scarce or disappeared totally. Golden Oriole is now rare as well is the  Rustic Bunting. And the Ortolan Bunting has disappeared totally from this region...

One of the newcomers is the Barnacle Goose. Three birds were today in Putaanvirta, right in the downtown Valkeakoski. My son Roni found them and called me while I was walking around the Riippusiltojen Lenkki (Suspension Bridge Trail). I'm not so sure if this is a good thing that these geese will settle down here... they are just too tame and tend to poop everywhere in parks and beaches..

Barnacle Goose to in Putaankari today

In the above mentioned trail, I saw also two Greenshanks, resting in small rocks in the middle of the lake. They took off soon and continued migration to south. Lot's of Mallards, Black-headed and Mew Gulls, some Herring Gulls too.

Dirty Black-headed Gull

Couple of Wood Warblers, Blackcaps and Spotted Flycatchers here and there, but no photos of them this time ,all hiding in forest canopy. Only the Chaffinch was a bit co-operative:

Chaffinch in Sointula

So, the mystery nestling? It's a Common Gull aka Mew Gull. Adult is a medium-sized gull which breeds in northern Asia, northern Europe and northwestern North America. The North American subspecies is commonly referred to as the Mew Gull, although that name is also used by some authorities for the whole species.

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Author

Olli Haukkovaara

email: olli.haukkovaara @ proton.me

Valkeakoski, Finland

Happy Midsummer! Spring migration continues, autumn migration has started

 

European Goldfinch is getting more common every year.

24th of June, Midsummer here in Nordic countries, towns area deserted, people are more or less drunk, many of them in summer cottages. Before I opened the sparkling wine, I did a 30 km birding trip by bike, to Sääksmäki and back.

Most of the birds have got their nestlings in flight, so did the European Goldfinches, I saw three broods with adult birds. It's getting more common every year, perhaps it's one the results of global warming here.

"I'm singing in the rain... the Common Whitethroat"

Common Whitethroats were still singing actively as well as all the Thrushes and Yellowhammers. Rainshowers stopped my biking few times, but the rain did not stop birds singing. I was listening all the sounds and songs, identified all the birds I heard and saw, but nothing special today, just the ordinary breeding birds of this region.

Northern Lapwing guarding his offspring

There were lot's Northern Lapwings in the fields, adults with their offspring. A flock of 8 Black-headed Gulls was migrating south, sign of the autumn... At the same time we are still waiting for the last birds to arrive here, like the last Corncrakes and some rare Lanceolated Warblers.

Midsummer bonfire was burning in the village of Mattila, flag of Finland in every flag pole. It was very peaceful everywhere, people were barbecuing, only few cars on the road.

In Sääksmäki I turned back to home, took just another route. I stopped at Rapola, to drink some water. When I tried to continue cycling, I suddenly found myself lying on the ground with my bike. At first I didn't even realize what the heck happened, then I saw a stone on the grass and noticed that my front wheel had turned around. I had hold the handlebars only with my left hand and tried to turn my camera bag behind my back with my right hand. The front wheel had hit the stone and turned around in a second... Nothing too serious happened, some scratches in my legs and right hand is a bit aching, that's all. But the front wheel brakes got stuck. Damn! The brake cable guide was warped and the cable did not move at all. I could cycle mainly on downhills, well, also in flat, but it was really heavy to cycle, but no chance to cycle uphills...

So, I was heading home, but slowly... I stopped at Rapolanlahti for watching the Little Gulls hunting insects over the lake.

Four Little Gulls were catching insects over the bay of Rapolanlahti

Little Gull is my favorite gull, it's the smallest gull of the World, with a length of 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) and wingspan of 61–78 cm (24–31 in). Underwings are black and it has a funny nasal "keck" sound. Very sympathetic small bird, in my opinion.

In the fields of Rapolanharju there was also a local Raven family, two adults and with 5 juveniles.  A bit later, in Vuohilahti fields I saw a Mountain Hare and a lonely Common Crane.

Common Crane in Vuohilahti fields.

Only few kilometers to home... I made a phone call and asked my older son to bring me some tools. He came soon and I got the front wheel rotating pretty well. The front brake did not work though, so I know what I do tomorrow...

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Author

Olli Haukkovaara

email: olli.haukkovaara @ proton.me

Valkeakoski, Finland

Birding in nightless night, enjoying endless light

 

Orange moon rising in the fields of Linnanen
Photo by Roni Haukkovaara

Days in high latitudes are now long and you can go birding whenever you want, there's always enough light. Listening night singers between late May and early July is a traditional way of of birding in Finland. Personally I enjoy these nightless night birding trips a lot. Listening excellent singers during calm and warm nights is something that every birder and nature enthusiasts must experience at least once in a lifetime.

Last night I guided with Risto Vilpas a group of 11 birders around the countryside of Valkeakoski and Akaa, we stopped here and there, watched birds and listened to  the singers. We drove first to the fields of Linnanen, where a flock of 24 female Eurasian Curlews was resting and took off when we arrived.

Female Eurasian Curlews
Photo by Roni Haukkovaara

Here we heard also the first night singers; a Marsh Warbler, Thrush Nightingale and Grasshopper Warbler. Of those the March Warbler is an expert in mimicry with furious tempo, changing the subject all the time. Thrush Nightingale is extremely loud with over 70 dB song that can be heard over long distances, while the Grasshopper Warbler has a peculiar, continuous insect-like whirring reel.

So, this was a good start and our group was already satisfied, especially the Nightingale was a bird that they had wished.

Next we moved to Tarttila, where a Blyth's Reed Warbler was singing right next to the roadside, loud and clear. It's an other great mimic, reminds the Marsh Warbler, but it's louder and the tempo of the song is slower.

Listening and watching the Blyth's Reed Warbler

From Tarttila we drove to Päivölä and walked to the shore of lake Saarioisjärvi. Lot's of Sedge Warblers in reed beds and lonely female Water Rail calling continuously somewhere close. More Blyth's Reed Warblers in nearby fields, also a Northern Bat hunting insects in Päivölä hill.

The dusk is short and we decided to visit still one spot, the Alkkulanlammi old sewage ponds in Viiala. There we heard three more night singers; two River Warblers, Savi's Warbler and European Reed Warbler. The song of the River Warbler is like a powerful sewing-machine, while the song of Savi's is much like the Grasshopper Warbler's but differs in higher frequency and lower pitch. European Reed Warbler song instead reminds a bit of Sedge's but is "chatty" and slow-paced.

Back at home about at 02:00, long, 23 hour day behind. Off to bed and lot's of coffee next morning. Have to go still at least couple of times more to night birding trips during this summer, especially if south eastern winds bring more birds to Finland.

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Author

Olli Haukkovaara

email: olli.haukkovaara @ proton.me

Valkeakoski, Finland

From blind spot to a hotspot, I hope so...

 

One more to my year list, Red-backed Shrike

I've been birding in Valkeakoski region already for over 40 years. I thought that I know this neighborhood like my own pockets, but obviously there are still some secret pockets... because few days ago I studied aerial photos and satellite pictures of this region and noticed something interesting in the middle of my regular birding area. The interesting spot is about size of 2,5 hectares and in pictures it was clearly an old field, which was not in cultivation use anymore. And about 500 meters south from it there seemed to be another large area which is out of cultivation use too.

So, early this morning, Aatu Rundgrén and I headed to those fields right after sunset, we arrived there at 04:15. At first we walked to the northern field (Koivumäen pakettipelto) which looked like a perfect habitat especially for night singing warblers, like Grasshopper Warbler or Blyth's Reed Warbler - or even Booted Warbler. But this time only couple of Sedge Warblers were singing there in the morning, so we should make another visit during night. Lot's of regular day time singers, like Common Whitethroats, Garden Warblers and others were singing though. So, it is a very promising place!

Yellow Flags in river Oikolanjoki

Next we walked towards south to fields of Munakas. This area looked even better! The fields are almost at the same level as the river Oikolanjoki, and they looked really wet, good for migrating waders! The whole area of Munakas is at the lower level than the surrounding fields, so it will stay more or less wet for ever.

And the birds liked this area! There were for example 20 Northern Lapwings, several Meadow Pipits which is a scarce breeding species in this region, Whinchat, Thrush Nightingale, several Sedge Warblers and many more. But the highlight of this place was the Red-backed Shrike, gorgeous male of the species which population has been declined fast.

We found three pairs of Meadow Pipits

But why these fields have been overlooked? Perhaps it's just the fact that they are in blind spot when birders are looking for birds from nearby country roads. Also many birders, including me, have noticed during years that there are flocks of birds in that area, and raptors seem to like the area too. And as almost everyone has a scope nowadays, it's not so tempting to go stomping around the fields...

But - at least I will stomp around Munakas fields and Koivumäen pakettipelto in future regularly and I'm 100% sure there will be many interesting and some rare birds waiting to be found from those areas too. Perhaps already during this autumn...

Part of the flock of 16 Curlews

After one and half hours of stomping around we jumped in to Aatu's car and drove to Linnanen, from where we found a flock 16 Eurasian Curlews and Marsh Warbler, both nice observations. Also couple of Kestrels, a family of 2 adult and two small Common Cranes and finally a Common Cuckoo flying over the fields.

That's it from the early morning, next trip late tonight as a bird guide for the participants of night singer trip of our local birding society.

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Author

Olli Haukkovaara

email: olli.haukkovaara @ proton.me

Valkeakoski, Finland

Evening at Vallonjärvi, testing the Olympus LS-P2 recorder

 

Whooper Swan was eating Water Horsetails in front of the tower 

After three days of summertime flu, I finally felt a bit better and decided to go for a short birding trip by bike. I cycled to lake Vallonjärvi and Heikkilänmetsä old taiga forest nature reserve. Lot's of mosquitoes everywhere, especially in the forest. But first I spent some twenty minutes in bird tower. Eurasian Hobby was chasing Swifts over the lake, with no luck. Coots had their nestlings, and so did the Whooper Swan and Common Cranes.

The Coot family

The "Ugly Duckling " with mama

Four Cranes and a Swift

Common Crane

In addition to the local Crane family also a flock of 4 + 1 non-breeding teenager Cranes visited the lake when I was there. They flew around the lake and continued somewhere to the nearby fields.

From the tower I hiked to Heikkilänmetsä forest and tested recording bird sounds with my new Olympus LS-P2. I really like it, it's small and handy, easy to use and high quality. Here's two examples; Common Chaffinch and Song Thrush. I tried to embed them to this blog but damn Google prevented it...

In the forest there were also lekking Eurasian Woodcocks, singing Chiffchaffs, Coal Tits, Blackcaps and many more. Just too dark in the cloudy evening to take photos of them. Soon it started raining and I decided to get back to home. Nice evening though!


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Author

Olli Haukkovaara

email: olli.haukkovaara @ proton.me

Valkeakoski, Finland