On 21st of January Owen Foley, an Irish bird watcher who lives here in Finland found interesting looking Bunting hanging around with big flock of Yellowhammers. Bird was looking very good for male Pine Bunting. Information moved quickly and that same day some dozens of twitchers saw the bird. I was at home but had some other things to do, of course and same time I tried to find a way to go and see this bird, which is on my list of those "must see" kind of things. I was talking with Jände on a phone and together we decided that we are going next morning. Sanni was not happy with that decision, but I risked my marriage and went there anyway.
On 22nd we arrived to the site around 10 a clock and just before we started to walk to the pointwhere it was seen yesterday we got info that bird was showing about 1km further in a Yellowhammer flock.
We drove there and from the car we had about 200m walk. Lots of Yellowhammers in the area and situation was messy, I´d say. Lots of people everybody watching in different direction.
At some point someone saw the bird, but no one else did... Better guidance guys, please!!!
First better bird was Lapland Longspur in Yellowhammer flock. It was a wintertime tick for me (Dec-Feb).
These photos are taken trough my telescope and distance was around 100m.
Finally after 40 minutes a big flock of Yellowhammers landed on a field and they were easier to watch. Soon Owen, the same guy who found the bird in a first place, found it again!
I was feeling something between happines and sorrow (and both at the same time) when I realized that I can´t find the bird. I was looking and looking and looking, but all the birds were Yellowhammers and of course I found the Longspur... Finally I heard the exact spot where the bird was and BOOM there is was. What a relief. It was looking very good, handsome and a real deal Pine Bunting male. Shame that after few seconds the flock took of and I never saw the bird again. Jände saw the bird when it took off, so after 20 minutes we called it a day.
So, we went to have some coffee and same time we talked about the bird and about some other birds. With Jände there is no boring day or moment, thank you for that.
These days rarities committees does not accept female Pine Buntings from Finland and other Northern countries. Male bird is the only way to get this species on your list. After we left there has been some discussion about some yellowish feathers with this bird, but I think the only thing you can do now is just wait the decision from the RC.
Everybody knows that I´m not any kid of expert with birds, but for me it looked a real deal.
Some photos and story from Owen Foley HERE.
It was also good to see some old friends there.
-Tom
On 22nd we arrived to the site around 10 a clock and just before we started to walk to the pointwhere it was seen yesterday we got info that bird was showing about 1km further in a Yellowhammer flock.
We drove there and from the car we had about 200m walk. Lots of Yellowhammers in the area and situation was messy, I´d say. Lots of people everybody watching in different direction.
At some point someone saw the bird, but no one else did... Better guidance guys, please!!!
First better bird was Lapland Longspur in Yellowhammer flock. It was a wintertime tick for me (Dec-Feb).
 |
| Can you find the Longspur? |
 |
| From here you can see some details if you have imagination good enough. |
These photos are taken trough my telescope and distance was around 100m.
Finally after 40 minutes a big flock of Yellowhammers landed on a field and they were easier to watch. Soon Owen, the same guy who found the bird in a first place, found it again!
I was feeling something between happines and sorrow (and both at the same time) when I realized that I can´t find the bird. I was looking and looking and looking, but all the birds were Yellowhammers and of course I found the Longspur... Finally I heard the exact spot where the bird was and BOOM there is was. What a relief. It was looking very good, handsome and a real deal Pine Bunting male. Shame that after few seconds the flock took of and I never saw the bird again. Jände saw the bird when it took off, so after 20 minutes we called it a day.
 |
| Pine Bunting is very rare in Finland and when the bird is close to Helsinki area, there is always lots of twitchers around. |
So, we went to have some coffee and same time we talked about the bird and about some other birds. With Jände there is no boring day or moment, thank you for that.
These days rarities committees does not accept female Pine Buntings from Finland and other Northern countries. Male bird is the only way to get this species on your list. After we left there has been some discussion about some yellowish feathers with this bird, but I think the only thing you can do now is just wait the decision from the RC.
Everybody knows that I´m not any kid of expert with birds, but for me it looked a real deal.
Some photos and story from Owen Foley HERE.
It was also good to see some old friends there.
-Tom
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