Grasslands

A five day weekend meant a trip up to Hämeenkyrö.

As usual I paid a visit to Tarastenjärvi dump, however gull numbers were surprisingly low and no nightsinging warblers were present in the scrub as yet.

Two Lesser Black Backed/Heuglini/ya wha types were present however among a scattering Baltic Gulls.

Lbb type

Baltic Gull

Still, always nice to get up close with those elegant Baltic Gulls.

With the dump unproductive, I made for the grasslands around Sarkkila.

Sarkkila

The usual cranes were present here, as were the typical Ospreys and Honey Buzzards. Big flocks of Ruff and Wood Sandpiper were obvious signs of migration, whilst Thrush Nightingale and Corncrake sang, obviously fresh in and eager.

Common Crane - always love the sound of these dinosaurs

And always a joy to see their next generation running around.

It's the little flappy run of the right-hand chick that does it for me.

Mid May is the best time to find Wryneck, actively singing (if you can call it singing) for just a couple of weeks before settling down to their fairly secretive ways for the rest of the summer. I've never encountered the kind of numbers I saw on this trip in the area though, seemingly with birds singing in any half decent bit of habitat, including around the house itself.

Wryneck was a bogey bird of mine for years in Ireland, and while I subsequently found many during my time living in Cork, I've never really relegated them from that desirable, bogey-bird status, and so I always make a special effort to see them each spring I've lived here.

Usually this is somewhat effortless, I know of several sites both around the city and near our Lohja cabin, but the density around Hämeenkyrö is amazing.

A beautiful bird.

Look at colour on the throat.

Wryneck - 4K video - wait for that tongue!

Lesser Whitethroat have been back for some weeks now, but are often difficult to get good views of. This one gave himself up for a considerable amount of time near the house, so I took advantage.

Lesser Whitethroat

As well as the fantastic grasslands in the area, jam packed with singing Curlew, Whinchat and Lapwing, the Hämeenkyrö area also has significant sandy soil pine woods, perfect for birds like Woodlark and Nightjar, and where these slope down to drainage ditches and birch plantations it's easy to come across day feeding Woodcock.

Woodcock - another one of those species that are spectacular when you get good views of them. 

"Whatever. I didn't really like the road anyway."

"Much better"

The aforementioned Whinchat are present in every field.

Willow Warblers have also been back in full strength for a few weeks now, and while their song is as familiar as ever to an Irish Birder...their appearance here is often striking.

Willow Warbler - pale beasties up here.

Common Rosefinch are often quite shy, singing from cover or flushing if you approach, so this pair gathering nest material and providing prolonged views were most welcome.

Common Rosefinch - Male - calling them Grotfinches should be a hanging offence.

A singing River Warbler, a hoor of a bird singing from cover near our house for the last two days of the trip, refused to show itself once despite hours of stake out time. Swine. 

Looking forward to the next visit.