JUNE 19-26 2004
Great Grey Owl
Birders: Esben Eriksen, Peter Hahn, Torbjørn Eriksen and Michael Mosebo Jensen (text and photos)
It was very obvious when planning this trip that we would be guided by our urge for target species. We allowed ourselves a week only, and the question was how to make the most of Finland in such a short time. However, we got invaluable help from Mika Asikainen and Sakari Kauppinen both when planning our itinerary and along the way. We thank them both warmly!
We took a flight from Copenhagen to Helsinki (about Dkr. 1500,-/€ 200), had arranged a car (Ford Mondeo Estate) beforehand at Budget Car (Dkr. 4800,-/€ 650) and made a roundtrip of 3494 km. As we were four drivers we paid an extra fee of € 69 (Dkr. 440). From Helsinki we went northwards to Liminka, near Oulu, then NE to Kuusamo, followed the Russian border down south and then went westwards to take the flight in Helsinki back to Denmark. Apart from getting nearly all the target species we noted 154 species in all. It was OK considering that we did not approach the coast at all.
Weather was pleasant. It seemed to rain only when we were sleeping - and that was not much! It was rather calm throughout the period, and the last couple of days temperature rose a bit inspiring a hope of Lanceolated Warbler, but that was not to be. Our worst dread - mosquitoes - proved not too offensive. They were noted of course, but the repellent called OFF (can be bought at gas stations) lived up to its name.
We brought a tent, but never used it as it was easy and cheap to find accommodation in cabins when first having changed our habit of sleeping a few hours at a time in our car along the way - as we did the first days full of vigour.
Our notes were based on a highly subjective method meaning only noting the species we thought interesting. Hopefully they are interesting for others as well. The obvious advantage is that you focus on the species you came for in the first place and your concentration is not blurred by trivialities.
Sat June 19th
We started off meeting Mika at an old style tavern
near Kerava, close to the airport. After thorough instructions on updated
Finnish bird life Mika also showed us some local sites:
Järvenpää, Lemmenlakso (15 km N the
airport), 15.30-16.20. A short walk along a wooded river bank.
Northern Goshawk 1, Wood Warbler 4, Red-breasted
Flycatcher 1, Willow Tit 2, Hawfinch 1 with young.
Viiki (Helsinki area),
17.15-19.10. A walk on plank roads to a bird hide. It is an area of groves,
reed beds, meadows and a river. Especially recommended because of a pair of
Citrine Wagtails that could be seen in the distance from the tower.
Barnacle Goose 3, Marsh Harrier 1, Ruff 6, Wood
Sandpiper 1, Caspian Tern 1, Stock Dove 12, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 2 males,
Citrine Wagtail 1 pair obviously feeding young in the reeds, Bluethroat 1,
Savi’s Reed Warbler 1, Great Reed Warbler 2, Bearded Tit 10, Common Rosefinch
4.
Kortejärvi, Urjala, 22.10 – 0.30. A
lake surrounded by reed beds, meadows and a forest. A Little Crake had been
heard some days previously. It did not reach our ears that night, however.
Bittern 3, Whooper Swan 4,
Spotted Crake 1 heard, starting at 23.25, Common Crane 6, Woodcock 1, Common
Grashopper Warbler 1.
Sun June 20th
Having driven north all night
we arrived at Liminka, some 25 km S of Oulu at 6.45, a quarter of an hour
before we were to meet Toni, a guide at Finnature to bring us to Ural Owl and
Great Grey Owl. This year they bred very scarcely in Finland due to lack of
rodents. Aiming at stumbling over them by ourselves would be rather optimistic
so we felt forced to pay € 300 the group for the guiding.
Liminka 6.45
Common
Crane 60, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Whimbrel 1, Spotted Redshank 1.
Some 25 km SW Liminka 7.45-9.00. Open
wooded area of mainly birch trees. Somewhat boggy and rather a good breeding
ground for mosquitoes, too.
Ural Owl 1 adult guarding its nest (former Goshawk)
containing a young, Willow Tit 2.
Area around Nurmesperä, some 150 km S Oulu 10.45-14.30.
A lake with a bird hide. Foresty, reed-bedded, boggy area.
Slavonian Grebe 3, Whooper Swan 8, Common Teal 70,
Eurasian Wigeon 40, Pintail 6, Northern Shoveller 25, Smew 1 pair, Honey
Buzzard 1, Marsh Harrier 3, Hobby 4, Hazel Grouse 1 adult with 15 young, Common
Crane 10, Ruff 4, Common
Snipe 6, Greenshank 20, Wood Sandpiper 10, Little
Gull 58, Great Grey Owl 1 adult and a young in an former Goshawk nest, Rustic
Bunting 1 female.
We left the area and Tony’s thorough guiding and
headed northeast.
24 km S Kuusamo on road 5 (Pohjalanvaara) was
said to be a hangout for a Booted Warbler. It is merely a meadow with a stream
and two rows of hedges in the otherwise forestry region. We arrived at 21.30
and stayed there for some time listening for more than what seemed to us quite
heavy traffic. No luck.
We went further north, through Kuusamo to Ruka, where
we took the first turn left towards Mustosenvaara having been informed of a
pair of Hawk Owls with young there.
Mustosenvaara, 23.00-00.10.
A hilly wooded area with many dead trees:
Hawk Owl 1 adult with 3 young and the impressive
midnight sun:
Mon June 21st
We drove south of Kuusamo
again turning left along Kuusamojärvi (Lake Kuusamo) following signs towards Iivaara,
which was supposed to be a stronghold for an adult male Red-flanked Bluetail.
It was meant to sing from the top of a tree mostly between 2.30 and 4.30 in the
morning. From the parking lot we were to go over the plank board and uphill. At
a sharp turn to the right there would be a smaller path to the left which to
follow some 650 m down. Though very hard to spot at first the impressing bird
was there all right singing constantly.
Iivaara 2.30-6.15. Hilly
wooded area (mostly coniferous) with a small lake at the bottom:
Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1, Common
Snipe 1, Waxwing 1, Common Redstart 6, Red-flanked Bluetail 1 ad. male, Willow
Tit 10, Siberian Tit 1 (at the parking lot), Parrot Crossbill 10, Two-barred
Crossbill 3 2cy (close to the Bluetail).
On our way back to Kuusamo we
had a try at Little Bunting that was said to sing close to road 5, at a bus
stop, just opposite where the bank of Kuusamojärvi is at its closest to the
road:
Saynayaperä 8.00-9.30. Wooded,
grassy area with a pond:
Whooper Swan 18 ad. E, Osprey 1, Willow Grouse a pair
guarding their 6 young eagerly, Wood Sandpiper 2, Greenshank 1, Little Bunting
1 male singing in the farthest corner of the area to the SW.
Again we went through Kuusamo,
up to Ruka and took the first turn to the right.
Konttainen Parking Lot
11.30-13.00.
Hilly area covered in trees, seemingly old forest:
Green Sandpiper 1 with 3 young, Siberian Tit 1, Willow
Tit 4 with young, Siberian Jay 2 at feeders.
Then it seemed about time for
a nap, so we found a campsite with cabins (€ 45 for 4 persons) and a view of a
river, just N Kuusamo, W of road 5.
Willow Tit 5.
Tue June 22nd
Starting point was the parking
lot at Konttainen.
Valtavaara 2.15-4.50.
Beautiful hilly scenery. Old forestry area with view of lakes:
Black
Woodpecker 1, Waxwing 3, Common Redstart 15, Greenish Warbler 1 singing
(opposite the parking lot), Siberian Jay 9 (6 at the feeders at the parking
lot).
South of Ruka we turned west taking road 81. At
Vasaperä we turned north to go N of Naatikkavaara. We had been out there the
previous day with no luck, but as we could hear the phylloscopus warblers being
in the mood we tried once more to find another of our primary target species:
Arctic Warbler. Indeed, 2 km after the turn-off that would bring us to the
north side of the small mountain there was a brook and an area of birch trees
looking promising. It was heard immediately and throughout the time we spent
there.
Naatikkavaara 5.30-7.00. Boggy
wooded area with a small stream:
Western Capercaillie 1 male on the road, Green
Sandpiper 1, Black Woodpecker 1, Arctic Warbler 1 singing male + 1 (probably
female), Willow Tit 1.
We now felt like having another go at Booted Warbler
and went straight south to Pohjalanvaara, 24 km S Kuusamo on road 5. 8.00-9.10:
Booted Warbler 1 singing and showing well this time.
News about a Yellow-breasted Bunting reached us. It
was a male singing vehemently at night at Valtimo, and after thorough considerations
we left Kuusamo and went south before feeling we had quite “done” Kuusamo. On
the other hand we had seen what we came for in the area.
Kalliojärventie, Valtimo 17.00-4.00
with breaks such as the EURO 2004 football match between Denmark and Sweden. Cultivated
fields along a river:
Little Gull 1, Common Grasshopper Warbler 1, Common
Rosefinch 1, Yellow-breasted Bunting 1 male singing.
Wed June 23rd
Eno – Ilomantsi 6.30. A stopover along the road.
Wood Warbler 5, Willow Tit 5.
Patrikka (60 km NNE Värtsila) 8.15:
Western Capercaillie 1 female with 4 young on the
road, Common Rosefinch 1.
We continued to Värtsilä 10.50:
Marsh Harrier 1, Hobby 1, Common Rosefinch 1.
We found a cabin at a camp site at € 20 with a view of
the river and:
Blyth’s Reed Warbler 1 (22.15).
We went down to the lake at Värtsilä, Sääperi,
both to the bird hide and along the roads to all sides except to the east. The
lake was surrounded by extensive reed beds, woods and fields with hedges. 22.30-2.45 + 4.20-5.30
Whooper Swan 1 pair with 5 young, Corncrake 6,
Woodcock 3, Greenshank 1, Little Gull 1, Long-eared Owl 3, Common Grasshopper
Warbler 5, Blyth’s Reed Warbler 2, Common Rosefinch 6, Ortolan Bunting 2.
Thu June 24th
Judenkylänlampi, right opposite the church at
Värtsilä 2.50-3.15 + 4.10-4.15.
Corncrake 1, Common Rosefinch 3. The
Booted Warbler reported earlier remained silent or gone.
Camp site. 3.45
Corncrake 1.
Our next goal was Siikalahti at
Parikkala some 100 km further S. We went to the bird hide, where the local
guide was very helpful with information. Unfortunately the Little Crake
reported earlier had gone missing, and as we feared the White-backed
Woodpeckers were very silent at this time of the year. Anyway 10.00-13.30:
Slavonian Grebe 2 (1 nesting), Smew 5,
Osprey 1, Hobby 4, Black Tern 1, Little Gull 150.
We found a farmhouse on the western bank
of Simpelejärvi at Muikkulahti (opposite to Parikkala) paying € 15/person for a
well-furnished apartment. We had a pleasant stay there for two nights. 14.00:
Honey Buzzard 3.
Fri June 25th
Muikkulahti 1.00
Corncrake 1
Simpelejärvi area. 1.00-12.40. We drove around the forest hoping for a glimpse of a bear or a wolf,
which we were told were in the area. Now the fence at the border to Russia had
been torn down the area of the No Man’s Land (a zone by the width of three km)
was said to be the stronghold of a pack of wolves. At a point the road led to
the edge of that area (the piece of land at the SE corner of Simpelejärvi, a
map scaling 1:30,000 is essential here. It was kindly handed to us at the
observation hide at Siikalahti). We had a stopover there in the midst of night
full of vivid wildlife expectations….. only to be responded by Nightjars.
Whooper Swan heard, Honey Buzzard 1, Osprey 1, Marsh
Harrier 1, Hobby 1, Hazel Grouse 2 families (both containing 1 adult with 3
young), Spotted Crake 1, Common Snipe 12, Woodcock 11 (and 1 nest with 4 eggs),
Wood Sandpiper 9, Greenshank 2, Long-eared Owl 1, Common Nightjar 5, Lesser
Spotted Woodpecker 1 male, Willow Tit 8, Golden Oriole 3, Siberian Jay 3,
Common Rosefinch 5.
Sat June 26th
Muikkulahti 0.00:
Corncrake 1, Spotted Crake 1
Simpelejärvi area at the No Man’s Land. 1.00
Woodcock 1, Common Nightjar 1. Still no wolves…. Or
bears….
Then we tried for another “exotic” animal: the Beaver.
We found its hang-out and saw lots of half-eaten trunks and two dams, but no
present activity 2.30-4.00:
Woodcock 1, Common Nightjar 1.
Siikalahti 5.00-7.00:
Osprey 1 (nesting), Hobby 1, Golden Oriole 1.
We decided to head towards Helsinki.
Road 6 at Sepälanmäki. 9.55
Hobby 1.
It should be noted that date, time and other specifications do not occur on this list as they are supposedly easy to find in the itinerary once you know the place of observation. Observations are mentioned chronologically. In the rare case of a spot being visited more than once counts varying are mentioned by means of /.
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena
Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus
3
Nurmesperä, 2 Siikalahti.
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris
3 Kortejärvi
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
Whooper Swan Cygnus Cygnus
Most
8 Nurmesperä, 18 E Saynayaperä, 1 with 5 young Sääperi
Greylag Goose Anser anser
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis
3
Viiki
Eurasian Wigeon Anas Penelope
Most 40 Nurmesperä
Common Teal Anas crecca
Highest
number was 70 Nurmesperä
Mallard Anas
platyrhynchos
Pintail Anas acuta
6
Nurmesperä
Northern Shoveler
Anas clypeata
Most
25 Nurmesperä
Common Pochard Aythya
farina
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Smew Mergus albellus
1 pair Nurmesperä, 5 Siikalahti.
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
Goosander Mergus merganser
European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus
1 Nurmesperä, 5 in all, Simpelejärvi
area.
Western Marsh Harrier Circus
aeruginosus
Most 3 Nurmesperä.
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis
1
Järvenpää
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
1 Iivaara.
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga
1,
which we promised to keep a secret as it is breeding.
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
1
nesting Siikalahti,
otherwise unexpectedly few observations.
Common Kestrel Falco
tinnunculus
Hobby Falco subbuteo
4
Nurmesperä, 1 Värtsilä, 4/1 Siikalahti, 1 Simpelejärvi,
1 Sepälanmäki.
Hazel Grouse Bonasa bonasia
1 ad. with 15 chicks Nurmesperä, 2 families each consisting
of 1 ad. with 3 chicks Simpelejärvi area.
Willow Grouse Lagopus
lagopus
2 ad. with 6 chicks Sayanaperä
Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus
1 ad. male Naatikkavaara,
1 ad. female with 4 chicks Patrikka
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
Spotted Crake Porzana
porzana
1 Kortejärvi, 2
in all, Simpelejärvi area.
Corncrake Crex
crex
8 in all, Sääperi area, 1/1 Muikkulahti
Common Coot Fulica atra
Common Crane Grus
grus
Highest counts were 6 Kortejärvi,
60 Liminka, 10 Nurmesperä.
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus
Ruff Philomachus
pugnax
6 Viiki, 4 Nurmesperä
Common Snipe Gallinago
gallinago
Most 6 Nurmesperä, 12
Simpelejärvi area
Euroasian
Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
Highest number was 3
Sääperi, 11 (+ 1 nest) Simpelejärvi
Black-tailed
Godwit Limosa limosa
1 Liminka
Whimbrel Numenius
phaeopus
1 Liminka
Euroasian Curlew
Numenius arquata
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropus
1 Liminka
Common Redshank Tringa
totanus
Common
Greenshank Tringa nebularia
20 Nurmesperä constituted highest number
Green Sandpiper Tringa
ochropus
1 ad. with 3 young
Konttainen, otherwise only observations of single birds
Wood Sandpiper Tringa
glareola
Most 10 Nurmesperä, 9
Simpelejärvi area.
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
Little Gull Larus
minutes
58 Nurmesperä, 150 Siikalahti were
highest counts.
Black-headed
Gull Larus ridibundus
Common Gull Larus
canus
Lesser
black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Herring Gull Larus
argentatus
Great
Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
Caspian Tern Sterna
caspia
1 Viiki
Common Tern Sterna
hirundo
Black Tern Chlidonias
niger
1 Siikalahti
Rock Dove Columba
livia
Stock Dove Columba
oenas
12 Viiki
Common Wood
Pigeon Columba palumbus
Common Cuckoo Cuculus
canorus
Northern Hawk
Owl Sumia ulula
1 ad. with 3 young Mustosenvaara.
Ural Owl Strix
uralensis
1 ad. at a nest with 1 young
SW
Liminka.
Ural
Owl
Great Grey Owl Strix
nebulosa
1 ad. at a nest with 1 young Nurmesperä area
Long-eared Owl Asio
otus
3 Sääperi, 1 Siikalahti.
European
Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus
5/1 SW Simpelejärvi.
Common Swift Apus
apus
Black Woodpecker
Dryocopus martius
1 Valtavaara, 1 Naatikkavaara.
Great Spotted
Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
Lesser Spotted
Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor
2 males Viiki, 1
male Siikalahti.
Eurasian
Skylark Alauda arvensis
Sand Martin Riparia
riparia
Barn Swallow Hirundo
rustica
Common House
Martin Delichon urbicum
Tree Pipit Anthus
trivialis
Meadow Pipit Anthus
pretensis
Yellow
Wagtail Motacilla flava
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla
citreola
1 pair Viiki
White Wagtail Motacilla
alba
Bohemian Waxwing
Bombycilla garrufus
1 Iivaara, 3 Valtavaara.
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
Dunnock Prunella modularis
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica
1
Viiki.
Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus
1
ad male Iivaara.
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Most
6 Iivaara, 15 Valtavaara.
Whinchat Saxicola
rubetra
Northern
Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
Common Blackbird
Turdus merula
Fieldfare Turdus
pilaris
Song Thrush Turdus
philomelos
Redwing Turdus
Iliacus
Mistle Thrush Turdus
viscivorus
Common
Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia
5 Säaperi.
Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides
1 Viiki.
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus
schoenobaenus
European Reed
Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus
palustris
Blyth’s Reed
Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum
3 Sääperi area.
Great Reed
Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus
1 Viiki.
Booted Warbler Hippolais
caligata
1 Pohjalanvaara.
Icterine Warbler
Hippolais icterina
Blackcap Sylvia
atricapilla
Garden Warbler Sylvia
borin
Lesser
Whitethroat Sylvia curruca
Common
Whitethroat Sylvia communis
Greenish Warbler
Phylloscopus trochiloides
1 Valtavaara
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus
borealis
1 male + 1 (probably
female) Naatikkavaara.
Wood Warbler Phylloscopus
sibilatrix
4 Järvenpää, 5 stopover
Eno – Ilomantsi.
Common
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus
trochilus
Goldcrest Regulus
regulus
Spotted
Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
Red-breasted
Flycatcher Ficedula parva
1 Järvenpäa.
European Pied
Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
Bearded Tit Panurus
biarmicus
10 Viiki
Willow Tit Parus
montanus
Highest counts were 10 Iivaara,
8 Simpelejärvi area.
Siberian Tit Parus
cinctus
1 Iivaara, 1 Konttainen.
Crested Tit Parus
cristatus
Coal Tit Parus
ater
Blue Tit Parus
caeruleus
Great Tit Parus
major
Eurasian Golden
Oriole Oriolus oriolus
3/1 Simpelejärvi
area.
Red-backed
Shrike Lanius collurio
Eurasian Jay Garrulus
glandarius
Siberian Jay Perisoreus
infaustus
9/2 Valtavaara, 3
Simepeljärvi area.
Common Magpie Pica
pica
Western Jackdaw Corvus
monedula
Rook Corvus
frugilegus
Hooded Crow Corvus
cornix
Common Raven Corvus
corax
Common Starling Sturnus
vulgaris
House Sparrow Passer
domesticus
Common Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
Brambling Fringilla
montifringilla
European
Greenfinch Carduelis
chloris
European
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
Eurasian Siskin Carduelis
spinus
Common Linnet Carduelis
cannabina
Mealy Redpoll Carduelis
flammea
Two-Barred
Crossbill Loxia leucoptera
3 2cy Iivaara.
Common Crossbill
Loxia curvirostra
Parrot Crossbill
Loxia pytyopsittacus
10 Iivaara.
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinus
4 Viiki, 6 Sääperi,
5 Simpelejärvi were highest numbers counted.
Hawfinch Coccothraustes
coccothraustes
1 ad. with 1 young Järvenpää.
Yellowhammer Emberiza
citrinella
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza
hortulana
2 Värtsilä.
Rustic Bunting Emberiza
rustica
1 female Nurmesperä.
Little Bunting Emberiza
pusilla
1 male Saynayaperä.
Yellow-breasted
Bunting Emberiza aureola
1 male Kalliojärventie.
Common Reed
Bunting Emberiza shoeniclus