very cold spring birding with Tyron. 3.4.2022

 Yesterday I met Tyron at the Kallahti car park. I was there first and while waiting him I saw my first Common Kestrel of the year and small flock of Grey Herons flying around. 

After he arrived we walked around the cape Kallahti. Lots of Long-tailed Ducks, some Common Eiders, Cormorants, Common, Black-headed and Herring Gulls, Goosanders, one Red-breasted Merganser, Stock Doves, Bean Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese and other common stuff. Female Black Woodpecker was showing nicely and let us tae some photos of her self. 

Our main target was pair of Bewick´s Swans. These birds have been around the area almost a month soon and this time we saw them easily, but not on photographic distance.. Anyway new bird for Tyron and always a good species here in Helsinki. 

Female Black Woodpecker.

Distant Bewick´s Swan.

After Kallahti we drove to Mellunmäki where most likely the same Great Grey Owl is spending time and sunbathing all day long. It was very easy to find, cause about 40 photographers around the area. Bird was sitting on a branch and looked pretty bored. We spend 20 minutes and then we left. I dropped Tyron back to Kallahti and I was already going back home when I got message of Grey Wagtail from Viikki sewage pools. I was about 5 min drive away, so easy decision to take next exit and drive there.

"I see you" 

King of the taiga forests. 

"nah, this is boring." 

When I arrived bird was hiding somewhere, but in 20 minutes somebody found it walking at the most far end of the pool. I had troubles to find it, but finally it showed properly. Very poor record shot here.

Female Grey Wagtail. 

Great day with good company, nice birds and sunny winter weather. I really hope that spring will start soon. Birds are not moving and it has been notable minus degrees numbers almost daily.. Not cool dude.

-Tom

Looking for Barn Owl in Pori 23.3.2022

 Last December Antti J. Lind photographed a Barn Owl somewhere in Satakunta area, Western Finland. 22nd of Mach we got info that the area where the owl was found is now figured out, or Antti just told to someone, I don´t know. Anyway, this bird with these information was only second or third twitchable bird ever in Finland. 

Next day I contacted Tommi Laurinsalo and Risto Suksi and with Otso Salmi we four started to drive towards Pori later after my day at work. We arrived to Luvia first were we had nice luck with Red-breasted Goose. The moment we came out of the car the bird passed us and disappeared behind the small woods. I managed to get some poor record shots of the bird! Also six Pink-footed Goose around, many Bean Goose flocks and some Greater white-fronted Goose in the area. 

Short stop to have some food for the evening and we arrived to the site. Huge group of people was standing there waiting for the sunset and possible bird flying just after that. It was nice to see some old friends and talking about the bird and all the rare birds generally was fun. 

We waited and waited, it was a cold night, but no sign of the bird... Someone saw light colored owl flying and disappearing into the darkness, but that was all. Long drive back, but it was a fun trip. 

Here is few photos from the trip. 

Couple of Pink-footed Goose in the picture. 

Red-breasted Goose flying! 

Distant flock of Black Grouses. 11 in total in the area. 

On 27th I shortly visited Viikki fields with Julius. Lapland Longspur was the highlight of the trip. Also lots of Skylarks, Canada Geese, some Barnacle Geese and Greylags too. Stock Dove was new for the year. All went well before Julius got mad about something and stated to play with mud. It was "all over the place" kind of situation and we left... 

-Tom 

London with my friends. 10.3-13.3.2022

 We had our long waited trip to London with my best friends! My pal Otto had two shows  during the weekend and it was good reason to go to my first gig abroad with him. Simo, Aarno, Antti, Oula, Ville and few others with us. 

We arrived on 10th with Simo and Antti before other came day after. Walking around Chelsea area, having beer in the park, food at the pub, football, some birds too, cause the weather was super nice and sunny. We also visited Harrods and some other tourist places of course. 

Exiting Carrion Crow.

First winter Back-headed Gull.

Local Squirrel. 

Ringed Parakeet.

Coot with the nest.

Egyptian Goose.

On Friday our group was together and we had short visit to Spital Fields and pub of course before diner with Otto. Fron there we took Übers to the Electric Brixton where the gig was. Amazing night with 2000 people, good music and friends. Back at the hotel way too late, or too early at 6.30 am. 

Wild night.

We had our private balcony at the venue. 

I had only three hour sleep and we had quick breakfast before touring the Big Ben and those areas. Later afternoon a football game at the Millwall stadium the Den. Great atmosphere, crazy fans and pretty good game against Middlesborough FC from the Middlands. 0-0 was the final result. We also visited Wembley Park and some outlet area after the game. 

Big Ben under renovation.

Antti, Aarno and flags.

Millwall stadium.

Next show at the evening, but this time I was way too tired to stay up all night, so me and Aarno headed back to hotel around 3am. Sleeping was nice. 

Sunday was slow, nothing really exiting. On our way to Heathrow we visited Westfields shopping mall, biggest I´ve ever seen.. Some shopping for the kids and to the airport. 

Not too many "wild" birds this trip. Garganey was surprisingly common, loads of different gulls, lone Wagtail, Robins, Common Buzzard, Tufted Ducks, two Common Pochards, Showeler male, lots of Goldfinches, Ringed Parakeets, Carrion Crows and something like that. In Hyde Park I had Black Swan, Wood Duck, Red-breasted Geese, Mandarin Duck, about ten Egyptian Geese and tens of Moorhens. 

-Tom 

February.

 Most of the time this month was boring, very snowy and I worked a lot. Only few highlights and I can mention Long-eared Owl from Espoo on 20th while I was drinking beer with my friend and Great Gray Owl from Mellunmäki, Helsinki on 23rd also that morning I had Grey Heron flying over Maunula when I was heading to work. 

We had very harsh winter this year and about average 60cm snow all over the Helsinki. Here is my single highlight shots from February.

Great Gray Owl sleeping.

-Tom