Last day of February. 28.2.2013

I am sorry that i have been silent so long time. Work takes most of my time and i have to sleep once in a while. 

Last weekend was work, next weekend again work and 84 hours in 9 days is quite a lot.. 

But today i had little time to watch birds because my lovely girlfriend pushed me out of the house. She had to make something for she´s bachelor´s degree and that was fine for me.

I start from Lauttasaari and there i found 70 Tufted Ducks, many Goldeneyes and Mallards.. 

Tufted Duck was actually year-tick for me. 

Somewhere there is open water, i promise!

After Lauttasaari i went to Töölö where Long-eared Owl has been now at least two days. I found the bird quickly and it was little surprise that i was only one in the place. 

Owl woke up when i photographed it and it looked quite angry! 

"What are you looking at!!!" 

"Thank you very much when you woke me up!!!"

Well, i took only 10 minutes of it´s sleeping time, so maybe that´s why it did not attack on me. 

After this great Owl, i went to Seurasaari. Sun was shining all morning and when i get my self to the island, clouds came and no more sun... Crap... 

I make little tour around the island but nothing special this time.. Only one Great-spotted Woodpecker, few Treecreepers, one Goldcrest and of course normal Tits and Crows.. 

Hooded Crow and snack. 

So, it´s end of the February and same time end of the Winter-ticks. I am glad that spring comes and more birds of course. Today was actually very spring-like weather. +5 degrees and sun. Next week looks horrible... -15 degrees and more snow... I´m going to stay inside and wait for spring.

Best. 

-Tomppa-

Eastern Helsinki tour. 18.2.2013

Yesterday i saw a sighting of Great-grey Owl from Laajasalo, eastern Helsinki. I haven´t any info about the place and i called to Jari Linjala, who is professional Eastern Helsinki guy. Jari told that he knows the place, so we agreed that we will meet at the morning before we go to the area.
I met Jari at ten a clock and after short drive we arrived to Stansvik country house. Are was quite big and there was a lot of forest.
We did not had any idea where to start, but that was no problem. We walked around the area and there was quite a lot of birds. Bullfinches, Tits, Great-spotted Woodpeckers, Treecreepers and maybe best bird, Lesser-spotted Woodpecker.

Female Lesser-spotted Woodpecker.

We were quite sure that Owl is not here and we should leave. We arrived back to our cars and then some people arrived, also trying to find the Owl. We decided to stay and we walked western part of the area this time. There was mostly snow and empty trees with more snow.. After 20min walking we lonely birds above us and gave a little "Tsik" sound. Voice, size and structure fit really well to Hawfinch! Always nice to see that specie.
Soon we came back to our cars and we were ready to leave.
Jari drove first and soon we noticed a couple who were in the parking lot earlier. Jari stopped and asked if they had seen something. And it came clear that they had found the Owl!!
Quick parking, camera and tripod out and we followed these people.
about 100m walk and this magnificent bird sat on a branch!

Great-grey Owl.

"Huoooooh" Tired Owl.

What a bird. Only second for me and year tick number 70. We spend 15min with the bird and then we continued our day in Kulosaari, where we check the Kulosaari country house. Many Great-spotted Woodpeckers in the are, but nothing special this time. After country house we went to the Kivinokka, witch is beautiful nature reserve. There was some nature trails witch we followed. Not much birds there eiher, but one Willow Tit, Northern Goshawk, few Great-spotted Woodpeckers and Goldcrests.

Great-spotted Woodpecker.

Kivinokka nature reserve.

We had about 2km walk and after that, Jari went back to Stansvik where he forgot he´s "binocular stick" and i went to the Seurasaari for a quick check.
Snowfall became stronger and there was only few places where birds were active, so i spend only 30min in the island. Many Black birds, Great and Blue Tits, but nothing else...

Tits.

Bird photo with my phone. Find some Great Tits.

What a day. I had great time and i hope Jari had also. Thanks for the company and guiding.
More postings maybe this week. Very slow and quiet out there.

Best.

-Tomppa-

Tengmalm´s Owl. 11.2.2013

Today finally time to go out with my camera. Not much time but anyway something.
I twitched a beautiful Tengmalm´s Owl from Haaga, where i lived my childhood. It was funny moment when i parked my car and started to walk, i heard car horn and when i turned around, Pekka Komi sat in the car and gave me some hand signs. I walked to the car and he gave me a ride to the right place and told me how to find this Owl!
So, thank you Pekka, that was very helpful. After short walk i found the bird and there i was, cute little ball of feathers sat on a branch.

Tengmalm´s Owl.

What a hell are you looking at!?!

The place was beautiful park where have been planted some Rhododendrons.

The park.

People leave some nuts and seed for the birds there, so it was not surprise to find many Tits and Black Birds.
The Owl was my year tick number 68, so i have lot´s of work coming to get a new personal record, witch is 242 in one year.
More postings this week. I have weekend off so there is time :)

Best.

-Tomppa-

February.. 7.2.2013

February... What else you can say? It´s slowest and most boring month of all..
All late stayers, rare winter birds have died in this stage of the year. Anyway, i had to go to Seurasaari today with my camera.
After two days snowing, all the trees were white. So beautiful i think.
I did not had any expectations about the birds, but today was nice surprise. Most of the birds were of course Tits, Blackbirds and Crows. When i walked around the island, i had this great idea. I tried to photo all the birds as if they in the middle of the taiga forest, or at least in a forest or at least far from the cities and so on. Do you get it?
Here is few examples:

Black bird.

Great Tit.

Blue Tit.

One of many Great-spotted Woodpeckers.

Yeah, well something. There was also one nature masterpiece witch was hanging from the roof.

Ice.

Not many quality birds today in the island, but i counted something.
Great-spotted Woodpecker 7 4males 3females.
Black Woodpecker 1
Pine Grosbeak 1 voice only.
Greenfinch 7
Bullfinch 8

Also mammals were common. I had 5 Squirrels and about 10 Bank Voles (Myodes Glareolus).
Sadly no Owls although there is plenty of food on offer. Maybe next time.

Bank Vole.

But best was last today. I was in the parking lot when i heard familiar sound, witch is more common in Estonia.
European Nuthach made some noise and jumped in the air with some Tits. I saw it with my binoculars and i am quite sure it flew in to the island.
What a nice ending for the day.
More postings tomorrow.

Best.

-Tomppa-