So, on early morning of 14th I was driving to Kotka where I was meeting some other twitchers and together we tried to find the White-winged Lark again.
The boat started at 8.30am and it took little bit over an hour to get in Hamnskär which was the place.
During the ride we had three Arctic Skuas, a flock of Greater Scaups, lots of Divers (both species) and some Razorbills.
From the boat we had to use smaller rubber boat but everything went well and we all landed in to that beautiful island.
We walked to the place where the lark was seen yesterday, a memorial for submarine accident with costed many lives back in 1917.
No bird and soon we decided to walk around the island and try to find it that way.
Island was full of birds and lots of arctic migration passed very near.
We walked about 45minutes but nothing.. Common Rose finch was singing, Dunlin was sleeping near by, lots of Velvet Scooters and Black Guillemots around.
Suddenly I noticed a small bird sitting on a bush of small tree. I saw that Pasi and Esa were watching it. They were in backlit side, so they saw only dark bird, but no details. I was in better side and noticed little bit yellow in its bill, all grey color etc. I yelled that this must be a Corn Bunting!!
What a feeling. Not the birds we were looking at but very rare bird and it was self found.
Soon the bird flew and it was found from another tree. and I was ready to look the lark again. Later we gathered near the memorial but again no Lark... and soon our ride told us that we have to leave, so he can do some other businesses.
When we left we made a deal with the driver that he would stop near the Appskär, where is possibly only Common Guillemot colony in this part of Baltic sea.
After 10 minutes we slowly passed the islet where the colony stands and what a sight it was. Most of the birds were Razorbills, but we found at least 10 Common Guillemots.
Rest of the ride people just sat there quietly and looked happy, even without the White-winged Lark.
I must thank all the members of the trip, Matti Mäkelä, Esa Mäkelä, Sinikka Lonka, Timo Sahi, Pasi Alanko, Arvo Ohtonen, Hannu Ruotsalainen, Tarmo Lehtilä, Teo Ylätalo, Kari Pitkänen and Leo Wallinmaa. What a day we had. Self found Corn Bunting, what a bird.
Loads of year tick for me and my number is around 150 now.
-Tom
The boat started at 8.30am and it took little bit over an hour to get in Hamnskär which was the place.
During the ride we had three Arctic Skuas, a flock of Greater Scaups, lots of Divers (both species) and some Razorbills.
From the boat we had to use smaller rubber boat but everything went well and we all landed in to that beautiful island.
 |
| Our ride. |
We walked to the place where the lark was seen yesterday, a memorial for submarine accident with costed many lives back in 1917.
No bird and soon we decided to walk around the island and try to find it that way.
Island was full of birds and lots of arctic migration passed very near.
 |
| Flock of Black-throated Divers. |
 |
| Telescope and sea. |
We walked about 45minutes but nothing.. Common Rose finch was singing, Dunlin was sleeping near by, lots of Velvet Scooters and Black Guillemots around.
 |
| Always nice to see these Guillemots. Not so easy in Helsinki area. |
Suddenly I noticed a small bird sitting on a bush of small tree. I saw that Pasi and Esa were watching it. They were in backlit side, so they saw only dark bird, but no details. I was in better side and noticed little bit yellow in its bill, all grey color etc. I yelled that this must be a Corn Bunting!!
What a feeling. Not the birds we were looking at but very rare bird and it was self found.
 |
| Phonescope photo of the Corn Bunting. |
 |
| And again. |
 |
| This photo shows the bill and head pattern. |
Soon the bird flew and it was found from another tree. and I was ready to look the lark again. Later we gathered near the memorial but again no Lark... and soon our ride told us that we have to leave, so he can do some other businesses.
 |
| Memorial. |
When we left we made a deal with the driver that he would stop near the Appskär, where is possibly only Common Guillemot colony in this part of Baltic sea.
After 10 minutes we slowly passed the islet where the colony stands and what a sight it was. Most of the birds were Razorbills, but we found at least 10 Common Guillemots.
 |
| Common Guillemot. |
 |
| Islet full of birds. |
 |
| Islet full of birds. |
 |
| Common Guillemots and Razorbills. |
 |
| Auk frenzy. |
 |
| Razorbill. |
Rest of the ride people just sat there quietly and looked happy, even without the White-winged Lark.
I must thank all the members of the trip, Matti Mäkelä, Esa Mäkelä, Sinikka Lonka, Timo Sahi, Pasi Alanko, Arvo Ohtonen, Hannu Ruotsalainen, Tarmo Lehtilä, Teo Ylätalo, Kari Pitkänen and Leo Wallinmaa. What a day we had. Self found Corn Bunting, what a bird.
Loads of year tick for me and my number is around 150 now.
-Tom
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