Weekend and Sanni was at home again, so I had time to visit some place for birding alone. I chose Suomenlinna, because I wanted to see open sea. I took 9am ferry and after 15 minutes I was walking towards the southern end of the island. There was only -1 degrees, but frosty wind did some damage to my fingers, because I made bad decision with my cloves.. Still I spend almost hour and a half watching the sea.
Flocks of Long-tailed Ducks moved around and two White-tailed Eagles waited for a easy meal. Among the Long-tailed Ducks I foudn four Tufted Ducks, some Goldeneyes, two Black Guillemots, lone Smew, six Red-breasted Mergansers, and of course a lots of Common Goosanders.
Of course in winter you don´t have migration, but I still saw one migrating Black-throated Diver! I had to check the bird properly, because this time of the year is possible to see either Yellow-billed or Great-northern Divers too!
At some point I was watching the sea when I heard lots of noisy Crows and I raised my eyes, just to see that there is an Eagle Owl flying away from the island and chased by ten Crows!
I tried to follow the bird but it disappeared behind the rock. Maybe it landed to Vallisaari, which is quite near of Suomenlinna. Anyway, what a moment!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPRiD1Uwp2WWR8R9HAtQlvN7M3iYP31YyHgDv0srWTrD2kkf8wGEei-JzZF2VCy50gWOJz1tEgGPgWsmSexQOKqSaCyso0RPz64gT0WSzbppprL1t7ghLv3bfofkEaCAGQoaJUUfb31g/s320/suokki1.JPG) |
Empty Harbor. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfkwAEDSj8B0QkefsL7c3chO4ZuzAf1gdGxn8O_IQMVMxjdv8xyMcgl9YEXAOeyH5Qh4_EXYbtFNFhoLT457ln9Eoe0PjCO_GrgzWkF1R0Dcmpq9hZq-V0pyD67jxgeP4menSOKQPU1Y/s320/suokki2.JPG) |
My seawatch place. |
Land birds were almost missing today, so I only found a little flock of Fieldfares with one Song Thrush and two Snow Buntings. Most surprising moment was when I was leaving and I noticed weird movement near the shore. I went to look and this monster walked there!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpTRIwj02XAFoaqV5SR4ALZmFF_DrIPj1rY6r6trIedsksKFyGkRKcwyDDa6FzuO6AkblsZHUl5-ybdlEz7GFHt9daZVLb3pQzaAbLNk7Oa4mbWxXGSoiXaKuYP7zBu-qyQSIjxa4aV8/s320/minkki.JPG) |
American Mink! |
These creatures are one reason for disappearing wildfowl and shorebirds in Finland. I heard that these are quite common here, but this was my first.
After walking back to harbor I noticed that I have still 40 minutes to the next ferry, so I took large cup of coffee and a cookie in nearby cafeteria. Sensory returned in to my fingers again!
Finally the ferry came and I was back in Kauppatori harbor. I noticed a flock of large gulls and I went to photograph them.
This pale and beautiful individual got my eye among the other gulls.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkZJFeRXsWh01tEJc6gj_AnAX8jEwBzic4JTk1iqLStkfX5YnZogUvdVt_8nBBIAurGa3DFM6wivOf7VgjEH4iNe44slOdJhqgjR7leQn-BXyVCAQ-VkLB_AxquRCE9Yr_Z9cFEDMVng/s320/argari1.JPG) |
What a beauty. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpl5IXVKiCFj3_5Bblo92Yu2RpdupMDDtOtZiE4ZMKLG9zwe9QMZDZ519bfOagXJbgA5x562-t5xwKa59Whjqmoid5OSEOgU7yNeSyCVTysrMuxkb3HvCdaZWni2YEZ_S-Tctay1E_puY/s320/argari11.JPG) |
Same bird now standing. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-VORfKwC8t5_kkXld1mthq8o6Yq1j9C6j8hCvMGxZTslUkdkAOD9WOZeSYfT9tDXUo5dE8ULg40wBJQw8qWcifNd52wYKPHfy8AGR_xYUxsz0Tazg8dQ7jV8O6-mwJMVJCjfmNigT3k/s320/argari13.JPG) |
Closeup. |
Others were not even near as interesting as this one.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPoho1CkTEEfcnQEMPmb2fQ2whMABvmltMpSi_TOLUOhQ6aC2gaYm25OLGKYmhQjHVTXqLwEuf18XGVwsExOp4SSB-bD4oA0H631bSc7bAgcc9uMUyfi2L6P7CgSO8KP5OY3d1X3bOnA/s320/argari21.JPG) |
Herring Gull. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvr7XWFQBZysE9eILtjfANaBGsCLObwsYpDrxm2Wijk_iDQpjV3kktbCARzPC5YcwKyCxl91sIdpuTigXrrW5XOB71mROoaLnkAK6Sx8-1cqRkC3DcXlpooSkOA94mdtjUkDUNbkC_NKk/s320/argari31.JPG) |
Herring Gull. |
Of course the interesting one is a Herring Gull, but beautiful anyway. My inner laridist woke up again.
Great day with great birds. Next week some more stories about my adventures with Vilma.
-Tom