Wintery Scenes

Saturday was a beautiful day, but due to Christmas party festivities the previous evening I was a little on the late side getting out to enjoy it.

No real agenda in place, I intended to mooch through north Espoo, across the north of the city and into Viiki.

Snow the previous evening meant the countryside was looking well and had good light for birding.

A convenient roadside Goshawk at the start made for a good stop. This 2nd CY+ male was sat in the middle of a small, flooded swamp being mobbed frequently by a less than happy Great Grey Shrike.









Goshawk - 2nd CY+ Male




Great Grey Shrike - Balls of steel

As perched and settled Goshawk is a statistically rare occurrence, I spent a good bit of time with this bird. Good thing too, as I then managed to pick up a fly by Hawk Owl which went through the marsh and off towards the forest on the other side, just one of many Hawkies in the city this winter.

The Gos, a fairly small male as they go, gave off an almost Christmas card ambiance.

Whilst watching him, I was amazed to see the shrike actually physically strike the Gos full force in the chest, visibly rattling the Gos. I've never seen anything other than Crows take on a Gos in this fashion. Shrike must have a death wish.

As we drove east, we came across yet more Goshawks, in typical fly over fashion, including a monstrous juv female which was easily the largest I have ever encountered, and a few White Tailed Eagles also.

Viiki held the usual mix of Smew and Goosander as well as a distant soaring Rough Legged Buzzard.

Lesser Spotted and Black Woodpecker were in the woods, as well as good numbers of Caudatus Long Tailed Tit, Crested and Willow Tits.

Sunday was un-birdable weather so I left it at that, not even attempting to improve on the previous bright winter wonderland.

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