Pallid Season

Another month without much time for processing photos, prompting some catch-up.

After my success with finding a 3CY Caspian Gull, we made a family trip to some pristine bog land habitat. This was loaded with breeding Whimbrel, Golden Plover and we stumbled across a fantastic family party of Black Grouse.




Black Grouse - female and one of many chicks.

Back in the capital area, a visit to Laajalahti produced an abundance of waders and Caspian Terns.


Osprey






Caspian Terns - Behemoths



Caspian Tern - Juvenile - look at those chevrons.



The garden has continued to produce birds, including the 2nd Common Whitethroat of the year (of all things), not a common bird in our woodland setting.




Wood Warbler, on the other hand, is a more typical species to move through the garden in August.

The first full fat garden list tick, a pair of Common Scoter, were most welcome.




Back up at Hämeenkyrö, another visit to Tarastenjärvi produced the usual excellent views of juvenile Baltic Gulls.













Baltic Gull - juveniles



Baltic Gull - Juvenile - look at that tail!






Baltic Gull - adults



Baltic Gull - 2nd CY

And of course, as usual, a few odd ball herring.





With torrential rain in situ, it was interesting to see waders dropped into puddles in the dump, allowing for good views of Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Temminck's Stint.


Green Sandpiper


Temminck's Stint


Common Cranes are again staging for their journey south, giving good viewing opportunities.



Common Crane

Back down in Kirkkonummi, it was time to go hunting for Pallid Harriers and other migrants.

This Great White Egret gave good fly bys at Saltfjarden, with 2 juv Garganey as good back up





Great White Egret

A trip out on Saturday morning was instantly successful, with the first bird I saw at Mattby being this cracking Juv Pallid. This bird proceeded to give good scope views as it hunted the fields. Always great to get my autumn Pallid fix in.



Pallid Harrier - the bizness

Marsh Harriers were also in abundance, as were hundreds of Yellow Wagtail, Tree Pipit and Ruff in the fields, with good numbers of Whinchat and Red-Backed Shrike also.



Marsh Harrier

The final find came in the form of a fantastic make White-Backed Woodpecker added to the garden list.

My wife had just arrived home, and I sat down to do some painting with my daughter at the kitchen breakfast bar. Suddenly a Woodpecker swooped in to the top of one of the pines. I could see it was odd, even with the naked eye. I grabbed a pair of bins and my suspicions were confirmed... White-Backed Woodpecker at last!

My wife grabbed the bins off me to get the garden tick, and after a few more seconds the bird was off east and has yet to be seen again. One of those amazing, fortunate finds where you think of just how lucky you were to be in the right place at the right time.

Now into harrier season, hoping for more Pallid encounters, maybe even over the garden. 

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