Day four, better and better. 24.10.2013

Morning was foggy again so we decided to walk around the island. The fog disappeared quite soon and we noticed that Common Gulls had nice movement to South.
Out of nowhere Petteri started to yell something about very odd looking bird. Very pale bird came with 30 Common Gulls and my first reaction was like "What a heck is that!?!?!" I quickly took some photos and it was clearly Arctic Skua. Then the bird landed just 30m away from us!  When it was sitting it looked little bit like Iceland Gull.

Arctic Skua. Leukistic bird. 

And again.

After 15 minutes it took off and went back to the sea. Thank god this bird came very close, i don´t want even know how odd looking this bird is when you watch it with your telescope and it is about 1km away.
After this super bird we decided to go back to the house and took our telescopes and go to the shore to have some sea-watch.
In three hours o got one Finish-tick, few year tick and it was good period. It took about and hour when Markus found 1cy Black-legged Kittiwake migratingn along the Common Gulls. I had little problems to find it first but luckily i saw it well little bit later! Other good birds were 11 Purple Sandpipers, 66 Razorbills, 3 Guillemots, 1125 Common Gulls, 21 Red-throated Divers, 17 Red-necked Grebes and Long-eared Owl.

Bad photo, but you can see Guillemot migrating with Long-tailed Ducks.

Later we had some second breakfast and then we went to check some meadows in Hanhisto and Kräveli.
In hanhisto we had many species of waders and its not common to see flock like this in late October.

Ruddy Turnstone, Common Ringed Plover and Grey Plover.

Also few Jack Snipes and Common Snipes there. We tried to find some good land birds but only 10 Meadow Pipits and few Snow Buntings. Nice surprise was lone Brent Goose.

Jack Snipe.

Brent Goose.

Highland Cattle herd was also walking trough the meadows.

Friends?

Later evening we had little party because my finish-tick Kittiwake and also we had just that mood. :)

-Tomppa-

Day three, shitty weather. 23.10.2013

Like the topic says, the weather was bad.. Rain and fog, but very warm. This was good day to clean places, do some dishes and other that kind of activity. Some guys went to check some meadows but no luck.
It was almost afternoon when me and Petteri decided to check Hanhisto meadow and cape kräveli. No birds of course but lots of good talking about everything. Best birds were two Purple Sandpipers. Nice year tick for me.

Säppi panorama. 

We had good time when Petteri did all the work. 

Later Markus had one net open and we caught some Redpolls and Tits.
Later was Sauna again! :)

Juvenile Common Redpoll.

Me counting daily birds after slow day.

-Tomppa-

Day two in Säppi 22.10.2013

We had terrible night with lost of smoke and carbon monoxide... No details here but it was awful...
After i got my self out of bed i joined the others in shore to have some sea watch. NOthing special this time.. Best birds were two Shot-eared Owls and few Razorbills. Markus opened some nets but no birds..
We had some breakfast when Juha called and told about Palla´s Leaf Warbler. We wanted to see that so we ended our eating and went to Karinokka where Juha was waiting.

Petteri tries to tease Teppo with hes finstick. 

Morning light Snow Bunting. 

Great-spotted Woodpecker at Karinokka. Drinking individual. 

We walked along the shores back to the house and we took you telescopes to have another sea-watch at western part of the island.
Some Razorbills again with Red-throated Divers, Greater Scaups, 460 Common Scoters, few White-tailed Eagles etc.. Nice watch, lost of laughs and good company.
Later we went to sauna.

Evening Short-eared Owl.

Nice day, no rarities..

-Tomppa-

Säppi island. 21.10.2013

Just came back from Säppi island. I will post something from every day.

Me and Tomas Swahn stated from Espoo at 5am. Our destination was Pori and more specifically Reposaari where the long staying Sardinian Warbler spend time. We arrived at 8am and we were only people there... Okay i must say, the bird was found about a month ago, so we did not expect any traffic there.

It took about 2,5 hours to find the bird and quite many dudes saw the bird that day. This was fourth record Finland and of course lifer for me. I have seen lots of these in Israel but its real mega here. 

Morning lights in Reposaari.

Documentary photo of the Sardinian.

Later after coffee we met Petteri Mäkelä, Taru Suninen, Markus Lampinen and Teppo Lehtola and we made some grocery shopping. Lots of stuff for one week in island..At 1:30pm we met rest of the gang (3 x Rantanen and Holmes) and our boat to the island started same time. We arrived at 2pm and after we all get our stuff inside the house we start to check some places. 

Me, Taru and Markus went to put some nets on, but it was poor afternoon.. We got maybe one Blue Tit. 

Aki Rantanen saw Yellow-broved Warbler, but we were too lazy to twitch it.. Later we heard that Petteri found quite late Spotted Flycatcher. Later we came back to the house and just before the yard some dude told us about Hawk Owl sitting on weather vane. 

Hawk Owl. 

Very nice specie and quite rare there also. There is also lighthouse in the yard and we climbed there. Nice views. 

House at the right side is bird station and others are something else. 

Very nice start for our period. 

-Tomppa