Crimbo Run Up 2019

I always like this time of year. It's usually more time off as I take unused holidays in the prep for Christmas and often there's some nice winter birding to be had.

This year looks like it's lining up to be a "musta joulu", a black Christmas, what the Finns call wet, miserable "Irish" Christmases as opposed to the crisp, sunny white one like last year. Nonetheless I seem to have chanced upon some of the better days of weather.

I headed to the Nutcracker feeder the other day both for the sheer enjoyment of them and more testing of the new phone camera. 

Nutcracker - taken with the OnePlus 7T Pro' 48 megapixel camera. When birds are close enough you can just use the full size sensor. Pretty good. 

I adore Nutcrackers. I have to say they're definitely up high on the list of my favourite birds here. Truly exotic to an Irish birder, striking and attractive and full of character. Some may be tempted to write them off as simply brown crows. But looking closer you see warm tones in that plumage, chocolate, at times verging on rusty.

I'm very fond of this feeder too, it must be said. It's public, stocked by any and all birders who pay it a visit. And with a flock at times up to 50 strong, it's frequently visited and replenished.

The pattern of that tail, combined with the snow-white undertail. There are few birds in the forest as striking.

Those beautiful white tear drops. 

That huge brown eye, screaming intelligence. I love to watch them interact with eachother. A distinct social order is apparent, as well as complex communication. The variety of sounds they make is amazing.

Blue hints coming through on that wing.

Stunning birds.

Like a hamster - cheeks and crop full.

Nutcracker - 4K video (watch on Youtube and select highest resolution)

It's also a great feeder for both Willow and Crested Tit. Though I find Crested spend very little time at the feeder relative to Willow, only spending enough time to steal a nut before melting back into the woods. 

Willow Tit - Nyeh Nyeh Nyeh

Great Spotted Woodpecker - always one or two at any given feeder.

This feeder had this rather fetching Grey Headed Woodpecker in attendance too, however. I consider them a perfect kind of Christmas green.

Note the huge feet and thick legs. These guys spend a fair bit more time on the ground than Great Spots .

That breast, grey, water-coloured over with green.

There was also a huge flock of Crossbills present, with several Parrot Crossbill glup-ing among them.

I also spent some time down around Porkkala and it's various spots.

This beautiful frosty Three-Toed Woodpecker was down in Porkkala car park.

Three-Toed Woodpecker - a very frosty individual.

Three Velvet Scoter were off the telegraph platform along with a few dozen Long Tailed Duck.

Great Grey Shrikes were absolutely everywhere, and Saltfjarden had an abundance of White-Tailed Eagles.

Hub White-Tailed Eagle

Beast.

I then wandered into Kaffeholmen, in search of duck and Goshawk. Plenty of Goosander around the marina.

Beautiful duck. A classic Christmas species.

This juv Goshawk was causing havoc among the duck and local pigeon flock. It was a very dainty individual, undoubtedly a male.

Waxing are still in abundance, giving themselves up in carparks around the local towns. Love those tinkling calls.

Waxwing - 4K video (Watch on Youtube with highest resolution)

Very enjoyable winter birding.