Any Chance Of Spring Soon?

Early March in Finland can be a drag. We are a few weeks off any hint of migration, whilst things like Woodpeckers and Owls are going into territorial mode. It's usually not this cold, with temperatures over the last week dipping into the minus 20s (often with a wind chill giving it a "feels like" factor of -28).

I have still been hoping against hope that maybe the Pine Buntings are around, somewhere, in a fragment of the original flock, so have been working the various fields and open tracts around Saltfjarden.

I started out in Saturday, hoping to see the Hawk Owl that was just south of Kirkkonummi last week.


Hawk Owl - owning that spruce.

Unfortunately there was no sign this time around and this guy could well be the last one I see for another winter, as they will soon be moving north to breed.

A couple of Great Grey Shrikes were in their usual spots at Saltfjarden and Mattby, with a few calling Grey Headed and Black Woodpeckers in those same locations. 

A nice flock of Yellowhammer visiting a nearby garden had plenty of Brambling among them but nothing resembling a Pine Bunting. Of course, Bramblings are still stunning in and of themselves. 


Brambling - good winter colour

Today the best on offer was this Dipper just north of Kirkkonummi. 

Topical, considering a bird under discussion in Dublin right now showing very restricted chestnut on the belly.

 

"Black Bellied" Dipper

Despite the monicker, "Black Bellied" Dipper is often not black bellied, showing a wide variation in levels of chestnut below the bib. 

Conversely, it's reportedly the case that Dipper, from British and Irish populations, can show darker bellies akin to "Black Bellied", further complicating matters. (Though I would like to see a robust study on the variation involved).





Black Bellied Dipper - note the irregular patching of chestnut below the bib. (Even more obvious in the video)



Other than these birds, adding Crested Tit to the garden list was the only highlight, with our new feeding station just starting to bring birds in. I have great plans for this feeding station, most of which won't come to fruition this winter, but wait until next winter.


I'm ready for Spring now, however, and hopefully this cold snap moves off soon and allows migrants to start moving north again.

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