Protracted Spring

It's been a strange, quiet winter up until now. 

Mild temperatures meant there wasn't much of the usual winter fare around. 

Things like owls and woodpeckers, or any traditional winter rarities were very few an far between. 

In contrast, what I refer to as temporal rarities, otherwise common birds, out of season and overwintering were notable. I managed to find things like Oystercatcher of all things.

Hawk Owl - I had to make a special effort for this individual in Inkoo. Usually they are very convenient around the city. Not so this year, but I had to get my fix.

Goshawk - as per usual there were plenty around all winter. Absolute beasts.

Lynx Tracks - finding evidence of Lynx around our new neighborhood was something special.

Nutcracker - a lone bird was a garden staple throughout the winter

Smew - relatively open sea bays in early spring meant plenty of these beauties hanging around.

White-Tailed Eagles - limited ice meant good concentrations of loafing eagles scrounging fish scraps

Tundra Bean Goose - due to the mild winter, geese began to reappear relatively early. However, with no snow to provide meltwater, the usual floods and flashes were nonexistent, making many of my usual birding sites redundant.

Baltic Gull - one of the first species to reappear in Spring. Beautiful elegant things.

As the Spring really begins to hit, the real goodies start to show up. This Red-Breasted Goose was a cracker at Pusula.

Red-Breasted Goose - the best goose there is!

Capercaillie - nailing down a site for this stunning male was a stroke of luck. Mahoosive beast! 

Temperatures hit 20°C over the weekend and migrants simply poured into the country.

Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming and singing everywhere.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - female

Little Ringed Plover - a laajalahti visit produced many of the typical early spring migs, including Ruff, Caspian and Common Tern, Redshank, Greenshank, Osprey etc.

Caspian Terns - gigantic monsters.

Smew - male - Laajalahti is always a reliable location for these clean cut beauties

Red-Necked Grebe - 3 pairs have returned to my lake. Amazing looking and sounding birds. 

Common Scoter on the lake was an excellent garden tick

A quick twitch down to Porkkala for a male Montagu's Harrier was very productive, with a Feldegg wannabe (just a few flecks of white above the eye unfortunately), and what wanted to be a Moroccan Wagtail, but clearly can't be also at the same location. 

Montagu's Harrier - slim, dainty gorgeous bird.

Manky Wagtail - this was a minor heart attack moment when looking through a big flock of white Wagtail. Not the normal variation for sure.

Here's hoping the flow of migrants and rarities continues.