Lots of butterflies in Helsinki 9.9.2016

While I was working on that day, I noticed huge numbers of Butteflies around our compound. Almost 30 Red Admirals, some Painted Ladys, Peacock Butterflies, one Silver Y, Small Tortoiseshelles and surprisingly a female Silver-washed Fritillary! Never seen that before in Finland and now one was here during my day at work!

Here is some photos

Red Admirals.

Silver Y.

SIlver-washed Fritillary.

Small Tortoishelle.

Great day at work.

-Tom

Viikki with Vilma 6.9.2016

I had day of and what is better than watch birds with my girl Vilma. We went to Viikki, and hoped many new stroller ticks.
In two hours we got Peregrine Falcon and European Golden Plover. Not bad! Many common birds around of course and this time I tried to phoneskope Whinchat and Ruffs.
Vilma was calm and happy all the time and after the trip we got some well deserved sleep!

Little flock of Ruffs.

Whinchat.

Vilma!

-Tom

Black-winged Pratincole in Helsinki 25.8.2016

At 24th of August some birders found Black-winged Prantincole from Vanhankaupunginlahti, Helsinki. This great bird was still missing from my lifer list so with my uncle Jände we went to twitch it next morning before work.
We arrived very early to Viikki and after 20 minute walk we came to the birdtower where we started to look at the bay. It was foggy morning, but we got alarm that other side of the bay had already seen the bird! Finally after 15 long minutes Jände said "There!" I had only my boniculars, but htat was enough. I found the bird flying around the bay and it showed the black under parts of the wing and there was not any white on the wing. Great bird, great morning and good company.

Vanhankaupunginlahti. Bird was flying somewhere there! 

Thanks for the company Jände and Kari Lindblom, who was in the tower with us!

-Tom

Ringing in Espoo 23.8.2016

Markus Lampinen took me with him to do some ringing in Espoo. I´m always ready for ringing session and I have always been very interested about getting birds in hand.
We spend six hours there and got over 100 birds. Can´t remember the numbers of the species etc after this long time, but here is collage of photos. During the ringing we got also Great-white Egret and some Red-breasted Pipits flying around.

Tree Pipit.

Marsh Warbler.

Sedge Warbler.

Common Rosefinch.

Reed Bunting.

Juvenile Red-backed Shrike.

Adult male Red-backed Shrike.

Spotted Flycatcher.

Lesser Whitethroat.

Thank you Markus Lampinen and Tomas Swahn for the company!

-Tom