Last week of November

 I´ve had a week long vacation this week. I have done some birding and lots of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu during the week. Also one quick twitch earlier this month. 

On 18th I visited Haltiala to see Pallid Harrier, which was seen there earlier that day. Bird was very distant and I was there pretty late at the evening. Anyway nice 1 cy bird with at least two same age Hen Harriers. Here is the poorest picture I have seen of Pallid Harrier. 

Pallid Harrier.

On 26th I had some plans to visit Vuosaari hill and also went there but weather was bad, almost zero migration and occasional rain bothered me a bit. Highlight was lone migrating Two-bared Crossbill and Hawfinch. 

Linnets on the rocks. 

Great Grey Shrike. 

Collared Dove.

First flock of Waxwings already at the hill. 

On 27th I started from Tähtitorninmäki, in the city center where Yellow-browed Warbler was seen day before. No luck with the bird, so I continued my trip to Laajalahti and I decided to visit Maari bird tower. Not much to tell, but Little Stint was nice new bird to my year list and possibly my last flock of Barn Swallows this year migrated over the tower. Two adult White-tailed Eagles gave us a nice show. Couple of Golden Plovers and Ruffs in the area. Good company by Jösse and Ari Veijalainen. 

White-tailed Eagle harassed by Northern Lapwing.

From Maari tower I went to Seurasaari with high hopes of rarities and stuff.  Not really a surprise that I came back only with couple of photos of Nuthatch, one of my favorite species of all birds. 

Flock of about 60 Siskins, four Great-spotted Woodpeckers and other common birds in the island. 

Small flock of Gadwalls near the island. 

Nuthatch was pretty easy to find. 

Bird always came back and checked if I had some food for it. 

Great looking bird. 

Passport picture for female Great Tit. 

When I left the island my day was not over yet. I got info of Peregrine Falcon and Nightjahr from Laajalahti, so I headed there. 

Peregrine was easy to see from Pornaistenniemi tower, great adult bird! The Nightjahr was little bit more tricky to find. Luckily I met Anttoni Halonen there and together went to look the place. We had real troubles to see the bird until some photographer just showed it to us! Photo here. 

Sleeping European Nightjahr. 

Today (30th) I had my fourth Jiu-Jitsu training for this week and those I noticed that Palla´s Leaf Warbler was found again from Kaisaniemi botanical garden. I really wanted to see the bird and rain was also ended, so I headed there. Soon after I arrived I found some familiar faces waiting the bird which was seen about 15 minutes before I came. We waited and nothing happened. People were restless and started to walk around and in five minutes Samuli Laaksonen found the bird near by the place were we stood earlier. 

It was just moving high up in the trees and I got poor record shots of the bird. Good bird in Helsinki area! 

Palla´s Leaf Warbler.

Same bird different branch. 

This weekend we are celebrating my daughters birthday, so not much birding in few days. Also back to work next week. Hopefully some good rarities will pop up somewhere near by! October is always good month to see something very rare! 

-Tom