Maari bird tower 9.6.2021

 On 9th of June I visited Maari bird tower in Espoo for the first time this year. Didn´t expect too much, but had nice two and a half hours. 

Best sighting was lone Great White Egret and distant, but always nice Citrine Wagtail male. Other birds worth to mention were Green Sandpiper, two male Ruffs, calling Water Rail and four Red-breasted Mergansers. 

Here is few photos from the visit.

Canada Goose family.

This baby Common Gull is from my yard, but it is pretty cute.

Green Sand.

Maari meadow. 

Best.

Tom

Baird´s Sandpiper. 7.6.2021

At the evening of 7th of June I had great opportunity to twitch a lifer for me. Earlier that day Pekka Alho found Baird´s Sandpiper from Mynämäki, SW Finland. I checked the route and stuff during the day and I lured my uncle Jände with me. We finally started at 7pm from Helsinki and took us just over two hours to arrive to the site. There was a guy at the parking lot and he told us that bird moved and was disappeared just 10 minutes before we arrived.. Great! 600m walk in the forest with thousands mosquito was a real treat.. I have around 35 red dots around my legs.

When we arrived to the bird tower where people watched the bird we got good new that it was seen only minute before we came. Distance was hundreds of meters, but finally the bird came to open with Broad-billed Sandpiper. From the distance it was first hard to separate these two, but with the time I was able to see some features of the bird. Shape, shortish bill, breast markings etc. Shame that it was so far a way. 

We watched the bird about 20 minute and we were happy. Back to the car through the forest and mosquito armies was easier when you have lifer in the bag! We had another over two hours in the car, so our plan was back to Helsinki as soon as possible. Back home around midnight.

Twitchers. Distance of the bird, some hundred meters.

Today no info about the bird, so it has continued it´s journey way out of the familiar breeding grounds (Siberia and Western Greenland). This was only 8th record from Finland and four of these birds was seen after year 2000. 

Thanks for the company Jände, it was a pleasure like always! 

-Tom 

Recent birding and vacation week. 3.6.2021

 Last week, 24th of May to 30th I had one week vacation. Lots of activities with the kids, but also some birding at least. 

Sparrow from near by park. Nice auto focus in my camera.

Male Great-spotted Woodpecker.

On 24th we tried to twitch Collared Flycatcher from Kirkkonummi, but no luck. I even got the stroller with me! Consolation prize was European Serin from Töölö, singing male bird. 

26th Julius turned three, so we had small party and later weekend little bit larger with relatives. 27th I was unlucky again when we went to Haltiala to twitch Common Quail, but nothing... 

Vilma in the stroller. Haltiala Quail twitch.

28th I had Greenish Warbler in Paloheinä and same day we visited Korkeasaari Zoo. From there I had Common Shelduck, which is not really common here in Helsinki. Bird went towards east and disappeared soon. 

Asian Lion and Julius was exited! 

Peacock male. 

29th I was finally lucky when I went to Vanhankaupunginlahti with Julius and we twitched a Black Tern from Pornaistenniemi. Awesome bird and pretty rare here in Helsinki! 

Julius heading to Pornaistenniemi to twitch Black Tern.

Black Tern.

Black Tern.

Sedge Warbler.

Yesterday (2nd of June) I took Sanni and kids to Asikkala to see my mother in law. Finally because of Covid-19 Kids saw their grandmother after a year. I had to come back home cause of my work. 

This evening after work I decided to visit vanhankaupunginlahti and I went to Pornaistenniemi tower. Son I noticed two Great White Egrets with tens of Grey Herons. Always nice to see these. My target bird was Red-necked Phalarope which showed it self in flight finally after hour and a half. Bird was seen from other tower much closer but I´m really glad hat my hard work paid off! Distance was hundreds of meters. 

Here is few pics from my trip.

View.

One of two Great white Egrets.

Maybe more birds this weekend. Already very much summer here, but who knows what kind of monsters are there only waiting to be found. 

-Tom