Lemon Larks and Monster Munchers

Saturday was a day for Shore Larks.

Where late last year there was one, which I failed to see, now there were three, and I decided a few kilometers out of the way was no trouble.

The golf course on the border between Espoo and Vantaa was undergoing some works, the disturbed ground and weeds providing perfect habitat.

 

I don't see many Shore Larks in a given year, usually only one, but usually these are in the most exposed, windswept locations imaginable, high open hill-tops, coastal, icy shipyards. Not places conducive to prolonged, comfortable viewing.

Shore Larks - great fun watching these snow boarding gems skid around on the snow. Their tracks through the snow were distinctive as a result. Listen or that cracking little call halfway through this video. Definitely one to learn for beaches in Ireland.

These were a joy to watch, in a nice sheltered valley, as they skid about in the snow. Stunning birds. 

Other goodies around the valley were vocal Grey Headed and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Goshawk and White Tailed Eagle.

Sunday was reserved for more house moving action, and any birding would have to fit in around that.

Things started out well, walking Kuura early morning, when I found a nice sized flock of Waxwings. It's been a relatively poor year for them, so nice to know some are in the area.

 

Blackcap - Good Winter Scarcity/Rarity

Whilst watching these an even better bird popped up in the bushes, a male Blackcap. Temporal rarities are on a different level here compared to Ireland, so things like Dunnocks, Robins, Wrens, Chiffchaff and Blackcap, here in Winter, are very good finds.

I can't take full credit for this though. The wife had what was undoubtedly the same bird up the road a week or so ago, so it's clearly quite mobile around the neighborhood.

On the way out to the house, a flock of some 70 Hawfinch were being reported and too good to pass up. There's been a handful of these around our place, but typically mobile. 70 together was something special to behold.

 

 

Hawfinch. What a bill and what a bird! 

Hawfinches - Some nice calls going on in this video. Learn that sound. I pick most of mine up going over with that distinctive call.

 

Tree Sparrows are doing far better here in Finland than they are back in Ireland, consequently being a very common garden bird. As garden birds go, that makes them pretty special to me.

Once the drop was made at the house I made a quick stop at a nearby Dipper spot. On a tiny little weir, where water was able to flow fast enough to stay open, the bird performed well.

Black Bellied Dipper - A classic looking bird. They can be surprisingly variable, and I often wonder how reliable being "Black Bellied" as a feature is. I have seen some shots where there seems to be a warmer coloration below the bibs of birds here. In some cases I can tell it's due to the white blending in to the dark, but in others it can at times seem genuine. The fringing on those wing feathers is gorgeous.

 An enjoyable, though busy weekend, with some great and colorful birds.