Hel Hath No Birdies

The past couple of weeks have generally been spent enjoying the staged arrival of "Nightsingers". Garden listing has been good too, with Waxwing, Brent Goose and Wigeon all added to the tally.  Waxwing is still a bizzare bird to me when you see them at this time of year. At least 2 birds were present, taking a quick break on their way north. The birding phenomenon of conducting an "Yöretki" , a night trip in search of those dusk or nocturnal singing species, is something lacking in Ireland and quintessentially Finnish. We really should be chancing our arm more in Ireland for this purpose, as there is arguably everything to play for in finding species such as Great Reed Warbler, Savi's, River, Marsh warbler and Nightingales if we did so. I started out on Friday evening at Laajalahti, nabbing Broad-Billed Sandpiper and Little Stint for the year. Bad weather all day had dropped a large number of birds into the bay, with a few hundred Ringed P...

Both Thursday and Saturday saw quick trips to Laajalahti made. I like to catch up with waders as they arrive, and Laajalahti is the best place to do it. Wood Warblers were obvious as we walked along the wooded trail to the tower. Wood Warblers - Gem Wood Warbler - What a brilliant song. It always takes me back to when I started out birding, and making trips up to the Wicklow mountains in search of the few Wood Warbler, Pied Flys and Redstarts there were (if any). On the tower itself, things were still somewhat on the quiet side, though good numbers of Spotted Redshank were fresh in. Spotted Redshank - Full Summer birds are hard to beat. Jack Snipe and Temmincks stint were also nice to see. Temminck's Stint - one of Laajalahti's specialties, easily one of the best sites to see this species. One of those birds, extremely rare in Ireland, which I get to enjoy regularly. A single adult Little Gull was also giving good vie...

Four Red Breasted Geese in Viiki over the past few days proved too much of a temptation for us, and seemed suitable substrate to inspire a family walk around the area. The birds were on show the second we arrived at the edge of the bay. The light was beautiful and we spent quite a bit of time taking them in. I like geese. Always have, ever since my first winter trip to Wexford's North Slob. Now, living in Finland, they've become an even bigger feature of my birding. Not restricted to one or two small areas of the country, geese in their thousands can show up in any suitable area of fields, Spring and Autumn. Species I considered mega in Ireland, Tundra and Taiga Bean Geese, I now see in numbers. Barnacle Goose, where once you had to travel to Ireland's north west for a once a Winter re-familiarization, now wander around any park or spare bit of grass like feral pigeons. Subsequently, I am occasionally inspired to move for something a little more exo...