Winds Of Change

A long over due shift in wind direction, combined with the start of May, finally saw a new range of migrants arrive.

A couple of Lesser White-Fronted Geese were in striking distance for several days now, and having only seen one previously I made my mind up to try for them

I set the GPS for the site one had been seen the previous day, but as I came to the off-ramp from the main road I saw a large flock of geese flying east towards the site 

Google maps took me along a number of smaller roads and as I came down a hill, several kilometers from the target location, there was a flock of geese on the left. 

I stopped to check them out, finding two Pink-Footed Geese in the flock, a nice surprise.



Pink-Footed Goose

Not seeing any Lesser, I made my way to the site from yesterday. Nothing. A few previous sites. Nothing. 

I decided to go back to the flock I had found. I knew from the terrain I hadn't seen all the geese, so maybe they had shifted around a bit.

From the original spot, I again picked up the two Pink-Footed Geese and about four Taiga Bean Geese to boot.

No lesser, so I took another turn off, bringing me to another viewpoint at the back of the flock. Looking down into the valley, I picked up a little pink billed gem. An adult type bird.











As it always seems to be in Finland, the weather is either brutally cold, or horrifically hazy. But I really enjoyed digging out this bird. Finding Lesser White-Fronted among a throng of geese is difficult at the best of times, but today was a real challenge. 

Migrants noted around the area included many hirundines and my first Hobby of the year.

From Tuusula I made my way south to Viiki, stopping in to see an Isabelline Wheatear which had been found there yesterday.

This bird was a little easier to find, with a number of twitchers spaced out around the edge of the field, but extreme haze was an issue.



Isabelline Wheatear - a particularly buffy individual. 



That upright stance 



Isabelline Wheatear

I didn't give Viiki much time otherwise, knowing that poor weather was on it's way. I made my way around Keha I to Laajalahti, where a Marsh Sandpiper had been present. This I missed, unfortunately, but I was well compensated with a host of year ticks, including Wood Warbler, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Great White Egret, Greenshank and Spotted Redshank.

Sunday we made a quick trip to Saltfjarden but migration was a bit on the slow side. That said, I did find a migrating Great White Egret which was nice.

Over the past week, the garden has seen a jump in new species, hitting 101 for our Covid-List at time of writing, with Pied Flycatcher back in residence.



This Black Woodpecker also paid a visit midweek, giving amazing views as it foraged on the ground.





Those feet and bill.


That incredible crimson crown.





A true dinosaur.


An excellent week of birding under the belt. More to come as May goes on.

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