Tangled Up In Blue

Spring has arrived.

After weeks of successive storms, where any birding I managed was carried out between deluge or falling trees, today came with a beautiful clear blue dawn.

And so what better way to enjoy a blue sky day than a quick trip to enjoy a couple of Azure Tits.

Yes. A Couple. Two. Together. 

And so it was off to Porvoo in the early hours. 

On my way down there was clear Spring migration going on, as Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove and Lapwing all passed over head. 

I arrived at the location just after 8 a.m and the birds were immediately present in the reeds by the road. However the views were brief, as they made their way in and out of the reeds, before lifting off towards the other side of the channel.



Azure Tit - distant views on the far side



Porvoo



After distant but prolonged views on the far side of the reedbed, the two birds then disappeared.

A two hour wait ensued, but this was very enjoyable, with Bearded Reedlings, Whooper swans, migrating Skylarks and, bizarrely, a reedbed-dwelling Crested Tit.





Whooper Swan - getting frisky with the arrival of sunshine.

Just as I had decided to leave and check the far side, the birds made a reappearance and made their way towards us, giving good views. 





Azure Tit - a song of Ice and...well, just ice really.




After the Azure success, I made for Tolkkinen feeding station. As I walked up to the area I was immediately greeted by a familiar "Klep" call, and a male White-Backed Woodpecker came straight in to one of the suet logs.









White-Backed Woodpecker - the king of woodpeckers. What a stunner.



This bird then headed off south where he could be heard giving that unique, amazing drum that species does.

A good number of Great Spotted Woodpecker were around also, as per usual, and a single Grey Headed Woodpecker gave a "Kyuck" call, but didn't show.

We were then treated to a couple of calling Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, which gave themselves up as they fed on another suet log.




Lesser Spotted Woodpecker


A flock of 20 Tundra Bean Geese then made their way overhead, my first of the year and another Spring migrant.

Back in Kirkkonummi, yet more geese were present, with both Canada and Greylags on Mattby fields, along with a dozen or so Lapwing.

A pair of Goshawk were displaying near Kantvik, with decent numbers of White-Tailed Eagle dotted around.

I ended the day watching a 2CY White-Tailed Eagle from the garden, whilst a Black Woodpecker gave it's machine gun drum from the bay.

A superb start to Spring.

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