norfolkbirding with chris mills
DAILY ACCOUNT OF BIRDING
DAY ONE: 26th May 2006 - Helsinki airport, Ouulu & Liminka Bay
We arrived at Helsinki airport mid morning and decided on a quick walk whilst waiting for our connecting flight, this produced several Wheatear, a Fieldfare carrying food, plus White Wagtail & stunning male Red-backed Shrike.
We were met by a Finnature representative at Ouulu airport who took us to our accommodation at LiminganLahti Visitor centre In Liminka, he also gave us some useful up to the minute gen. The short car journey produced Short-eared owl, Little Gull, 2 Whooper Swan & Whinchat
The LiminganLahti Visitor centre was a fantastic place, a boardwalk from the centre leaves you through wet grassland and scrub, to a raised viewing platfrom that overlooks the massive bay.
We birded here until 11PM (not until dark cos it doesn't get dark!). Most enjoyable was the fantastic views, the sunset, the songs of waders, trumpeting of Swans & the bursts of Rosefinch song!
Birds of note were:- 3 drake Garganey, Greenshank, many drumming Snipe, many singing Curlew, 10+ Red-breastred Merganser, 150 Goosander, 10+ Marsh Harrier, 40+ Cranes, 100+ Whooper Swan, 1 r/t Hen Harrier, 1 White-tailed Sea eagle, 5 displaying male Ruff, & singing male Common Rosefinch, along with a host of commoner wetland reedbed species.
OVERNIGHT AT LIMINGANLAHTI VISITOR CENTRE
DAY TWO: 27th May 2006 - Liminka Bay, Lintutorni, Kempele Marsh & Oritikari Dump
We were up and out birding at 0545, we wandered back to the raised platform area figuring that we may have missed a few songsters the previous evening. This produced a similar array of species, the nearby car parking area produced several Redstart and a female Golden Oriole. The nearby fields also resulted in a singing male Ortolan Bunting .
We had breakfast back at the visitor centre, a copious amount of food had been left in the fridge and kitchen area for us! The main distraction was a Short-eared Owl coming very close to the visitor centre and the very "pale necked" Jackdaws.
We took the car to the east side of the Liminka Bay, and walked along boardwalk to the Temmesjoki Tower at Lintutorni. We had similar species, but much improved views of White-tailed Sea Eagle, excellent views in flight and on the ground of 150 Common Crane.
We had several Common Rosefinch, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, and a single Raven. We also had excellent views of some sought after insects Camberwell Beauty & Wood White, plus a Darter dragonfly eventually identified as Leucorrhinia rubicunda.
We then drove to kempele Marsh, where you will need wellingtons and up to date gen, this area is a large series of wet pools in clearings amongst heavily wooded areas. We soon scored with singing & displaying Green Sandpiper, Greenshank & Wood Sandpiper.
Perhaps more amazing was a superb fly over migrant Long-tailed Skua, in the most unlikely of places. Our patience was also eventually rewarded with brief and regular views of a male Citrine Wagtail, amongst many White Wagtails. Also more Cranes & a drake Pintail
When we arrived at our next site it seemed the most unlikeliest of places. But the rubbish dump at Oritkari had 2 prs of breeding Temminck's Stint and we watched individuals working the putrid pools! There were also 2 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers, birds famed for their choice of odd breeding localities.
We must have been running in a lucky vein, as a quick scan of the rocky bay opposite the dump produced the possible, but rare target wader species - Terek Sandpiper.
It had been a very enjoyable day, we headed for the Hotel Vilhiluoto - to retire for food and drink? Absolutely not! A meal yes, then 2-3 hours sleep before meeting up with our Finnature guide for an night of Owling!!
DAY THREE: 28th May 2006 - Oulu area overnight with Finnature for Owls, then North to Toranki Lake
This actually includes a little bit of the 27th, 11PM to midnight! It certainly was a memorable hour, we were collected by our Finnature guide Olli, in a very plush van, after 20 minutes drive we made a roadside stop along a minor road. Out of the van and within minutes a superb adult HAWK OWL was perched on the roadside wires. We had fantastic views in the half light, after flight views the Owl disappeared, although we could hear the young calling from a copse, where a box held young. A few minutes later it returned complete with prey - a vole, a very special and new bird for all of us.
We also had a Bittern booming whilst watching the Owl, plus another Short-eared Owl.
Olli then drove to our next site, we walked up through some big houses and gardens into a woodland edge, we all stood tense and quiet as he imitated the Pygmy Owl call - after several minutes a distant call came back, this continued with "the Owl", getting progressively closer. Then bang, suddenly only 20'0 away and above our heads a tiny male PYGMY OWL (sparrow size!!) sat staring down at us. Bewildered by the intruding sound of another male in his territory he sat for 10 minutes staring - affording us fantastic views.
We headed off for our next site, by 2am the light was starting to improve again, we pulled up at a Forest clearing had great views of 3 male lekking Black Grouse. By now there was a fantastic low mist backlit by firey sunrise, this combined, with the constant "bubbling" of Grouse and Curlew was a fantastic audible and aesthetic experience.
We moved on towards our next "Owl quarry", adding a calling Wryneck, 2 Crossbills, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Siskin and 2 Common Cranes
Out of the van at the next stop and a short walk saw us stood staring at a massive nest 15m above the ground, sat atop the nest was a huge and awe inspiring GREAT GREY OWL complete with chicks. We watched the female for an hour and eventually the male appeared and we were able to witness a food pass, although brief this was truly a spellbounding moment - I think we were all holding our breath!
Incredibly Olli now walked us 100m past the GGO and within a few minutes we were able to scope a slightly more distant and well hidden URAL OWL - unbelievable!!
Olli warned us not to approach any closer as this species was renowned for attacking anything that gets too close to their nest site.
This proved good advice as two days later we met a Spanish birder whom had not heeded this warning - he had a severe 3" gash down the side of his head, and this had come through the hood of his waterproof!!
We finished the morning off with yet another speciality - and yet again, we had great views this time of a female THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. The bird was watched well at around 10m away, the nesthole surprisingly only 1.5m from the ground.
I cannot emphasise enough how difficult the speciality species would be to find without a guide, and secondly how good the guides were.
Perhaps more amazing was a superb fly over migrant Long-tailed Skua, in the most unlikely of places. Our patience was also eventually rewarded with brief and regular views of a male Citrine Wagtail, amongst many White Wagtails. Also more Cranes & a drake Pintail
When we arrived at our next site it seemed the most unlikeliest of places. But the rubbish dump at Oritkari had 2 prs of breeding Temminck's Stint and we watched individuals working the putrid pools! There were also 2 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers, birds famed for their choice of odd breeding localities.
We must have been running in a lucky vein, as a quick scan of the rocky bay opposite the dump produced the possible, but rare target wader species - Terek Sandpiper.
It had been a very enjoyable day, we headed for the Hotel Vilhiluoto - to retire for food and drink? Absolutely not! A meal yes, then 2-3 hours sleep before meeting up with our Finnature guide for an night of Owling!!
DAY THREE: 28th May 2006 - Oulu area overnight with Finnature for Owls, then North to Toranki Lake
This actually includes a little bit of the 27th, 11PM to midnight! It certainly was a memorable hour, we were collected by our Finnature guide Olli, in a very plush van, after 20 minutes drive we made a roadside stop along a minor road. Out of the van and within minutes a superb adult HAWK OWL was perched on the roadside wires. We had fantastic views in the half light, after flight views the Owl disappeared, although we could hear the young calling from a copse, where a box held young. A few minutes later it returned complete with prey - a vole, a very special and new bird for all of us.
We also had a Bittern booming whilst watching the Owl, plus another Short-eared Owl.
Olli then drove to our next site, we walked up through some big houses and gardens into a woodland edge, we all stood tense and quiet as he imitated the Pygmy Owl call - after several minutes a distant call came back, this continued with "the Owl", getting progressively closer. Then bang, suddenly only 20'0 away and above our heads a tiny male PYGMY OWL (sparrow size!!) sat staring down at us. Bewildered by the intruding sound of another male in his territory he sat for 10 minutes staring - affording us fantastic views.
We headed off for our next site, by 2am the light was starting to improve again, we pulled up at a Forest clearing had great views of 3 male lekking Black Grouse. By now there was a fantastic low mist backlit by firey sunrise, this combined, with the constant "bubbling" of Grouse and Curlew was a fantastic audible and aesthetic experience.
We moved on towards our next "Owl quarry", adding a calling Wryneck, 2 Crossbills, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Siskin and 2 Common Cranes
Out of the van at the next stop and a short walk saw us stood staring at a massive nest 15m above the ground, sat atop the nest was a huge and awe inspiring GREAT GREY OWL complete with chicks. We watched the female for an hour and eventually the male appeared and we were able to witness a food pass, although brief this was truly a spellbounding moment - I think we were all holding our breath!
Incredibly Olli now walked us 100m past the GGO and within a few minutes we were able to scope a slightly more distant and well hidden URAL OWL - unbelievable!!
Olli warned us not to approach any closer as this species was renowned for attacking anything that gets too close to their nest site.
This proved good advice as two days later we met a Spanish birder whom had not heeded this warning - he had a severe 3" gash down the side of his head, and this had come through the hood of his waterproof!!
We finished the morning off with yet another speciality - and yet again, we had great views this time of a female THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. The bird was watched well at around 10m away, the nesthole surprisingly only 1.5m from the ground.
I cannot emphasise enough how difficult the speciality species would be to find without a guide, and secondly how good the guides were.
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We thanked Olli for a fantastic nights birding and headed back to the Hotel, for some much needed sleep, we all manged 3 hours or so. We then headed north in the car for our next destination to the Kuusamo area - this is a long 4-5 hour journey, we arrived late afternoon and decided to do some steady birding around the lakes of the area.
We firstly visited Toranki lake, this produced a good mixture:-
Bittern (booming), 6 Velvet Scoter, 3prs Greater Scaup, 1000+ Little Gulls, 1 sum plum Black-throated Diver, Fieldfare, Redwing, lots Goldeneye, 60+ Arctic Tern, 2 Temminck's Stint, 5 Red-necked Phalarope, 50 Common Scoter, singing & displaying Wood Sandpiper, 1pr @nest & 6 ind Red-necked Grebe, 2 Whooper Swan, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Common Sandpiper, Redpoll sp. etc
We then visited Lake Nissin Jarvi (Road E63):-
4 male & 1RH Smew, 5+ Summer Plum Black-throated Diver, 100+ Goosander, 12 Red-necked Phalarope and rhoding Woodcock
DAY FOUR: 29th May 2006 - Valtavara ridge nr Kuusamo
We got up at 05:45 but it was raining and windy so we all caught up on a bit more needed sleep till 08:30, by 10:00 the weather had improved very slightly and we decided to try birding the Valtavara ridge.
The feeder area adjacent to the roadside car park provided a good mix of birds, although the birding on the ridge was fairly fruitless, almost certainly due to the conditions.
Birds around the feeders:- 2 Northern Bullfinch, sev Brambling, 2 "borealis" Willow Tit, Great sp. Woodpecker, lots of Siskin etc. Also great views of Red Squirrel
We also had nice views of a fly over Rough-legged Buzzard
As the day wore on by early afternoon the weather was improving and we tried several sortes from the road into areas just north of the car park - this proved successful, the best birds were:- 3 displaying Wood Sandpiper, 1 pr of displaying Green sandpiper, a Hawk Owl, Black Grouse, 20+ Waxwing, 4 Cuckoo, 20+ Mealy redpoll and a probable Goshawk & Grey headed Wagtail, 3+ Whinchat, Wheatear
Further up the road we found a group of small lakes to explore, on these we found similar water birds to before, but also:- 1 male sum plum Long-tailed Duck, 25+ Tufted Duck, 5 Baltic Gulls, 1pr Black-throated Diver, & Red-necked Phalarope
We now headed back to the accommodation for a couple of hours sleep before meeting our Finnature guide at 11PM for another nights birding!!
We firstly visited Toranki lake, this produced a good mixture:-
Bittern (booming), 6 Velvet Scoter, 3prs Greater Scaup, 1000+ Little Gulls, 1 sum plum Black-throated Diver, Fieldfare, Redwing, lots Goldeneye, 60+ Arctic Tern, 2 Temminck's Stint, 5 Red-necked Phalarope, 50 Common Scoter, singing & displaying Wood Sandpiper, 1pr @nest & 6 ind Red-necked Grebe, 2 Whooper Swan, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Common Sandpiper, Redpoll sp. etc
We then visited Lake Nissin Jarvi (Road E63):-
4 male & 1RH Smew, 5+ Summer Plum Black-throated Diver, 100+ Goosander, 12 Red-necked Phalarope and rhoding Woodcock
DAY FOUR: 29th May 2006 - Valtavara ridge nr Kuusamo
We got up at 05:45 but it was raining and windy so we all caught up on a bit more needed sleep till 08:30, by 10:00 the weather had improved very slightly and we decided to try birding the Valtavara ridge.
The feeder area adjacent to the roadside car park provided a good mix of birds, although the birding on the ridge was fairly fruitless, almost certainly due to the conditions.
Birds around the feeders:- 2 Northern Bullfinch, sev Brambling, 2 "borealis" Willow Tit, Great sp. Woodpecker, lots of Siskin etc. Also great views of Red Squirrel
We also had nice views of a fly over Rough-legged Buzzard
As the day wore on by early afternoon the weather was improving and we tried several sortes from the road into areas just north of the car park - this proved successful, the best birds were:- 3 displaying Wood Sandpiper, 1 pr of displaying Green sandpiper, a Hawk Owl, Black Grouse, 20+ Waxwing, 4 Cuckoo, 20+ Mealy redpoll and a probable Goshawk & Grey headed Wagtail, 3+ Whinchat, Wheatear
Further up the road we found a group of small lakes to explore, on these we found similar water birds to before, but also:- 1 male sum plum Long-tailed Duck, 25+ Tufted Duck, 5 Baltic Gulls, 1pr Black-throated Diver, & Red-necked Phalarope
We now headed back to the accommodation for a couple of hours sleep before meeting our Finnature guide at 11PM for another nights birding!!
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