Bad Finnish Birdwatcher

Saturday, March 15, 2008 - Sunday, part three (caught a Red Kite again)

Now that next Sunday is about an hour away, I guess I better write the closing chapter of the slightly megalomaniac series on last Sunday's birding trip. I've found out that some people actually read this, and I know some of those poor bastards have been waiting for... the story of the Red Kite.

The road is called highway 51. It's got nothing to do with the lame nightclub Studio 51 (in Helsinki), which has nothing to do with the legendary Studio 54 of New York. A slight sidetrack, pardon me. We were heading East on the ol' 51, practically homebound already. Luckily we decided to make one more stop in Inkoo and go watch out to sea in Kopparnäs. So we drive the small and winding road there and climb on top of the hill and I get comfortable and sit down and get my thermos out and prepare to pour me some of that coffee... when the cursed cell-phone beeps.

There's a Red Kite heading West in Pikkala. This means that we're to the Southwest from the bird and South from it's route. So the thermos goes back in the backpack and the backpack goes back in the trunk of the car and we drive back to the 51. And sure enough, after about 30-40 minutes wait we're on the route of a Red Kite (just like last spring). It comes from the North taking its time, over the road and then it heads West low over the large field we're standing by. It seems to be in no hurry as it passes us at a distance of about 50-100 meters. It's all red and black and white, long wings drooping down it flaps slowly ahead. It's obvious it can fly - well.

By this time there's already a small crowd of people present, everyone getting good views of the cool hawk. Even an internationally famous (notorious?) birder stops there, before driving to his nearby home to get a window-tick of the bird. When the bird is far to the West, we turn our backs to it and head East and home. And to get me some of that coffee.

And later, when people ask me: "You saw a Red Kite - again?!?" I say, "Yes."

Some photos can be seen at Tarsiger.com.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Hi Timo

Your blog keeps getting better and that's why you've been invited to take part in the 6 word memoir game.See my blog for details http://richardsbirdingdiary.blogspot.com/
Regards
Rich

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Friday, March 28, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Boring... just Red Kites, we've got plenty of them. As you are a Finnish birdwatcher, wouldn't you tell us something 'bout real Finnish birds for change? Or have you lost your bins...

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Monday, March 31, 2008 - Real URL to be linked

Posted by Amila Salgado

All this time I had the following URL linked to your from my blog.

http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/bfb/5651/Depressing+days.html

Each time I visit your blog I was kind of wondering why it had not been updated !

Apologies for this. I today linked http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/bfb/

which I hope would be correct.

Cheers!
Amila
http://gallicissa.blogspot.com

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Thursday, April 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

What the f*ck? This used to be an interesting birding blog, and now the last three entries all refer to the same day. Nothing new for two weeks... and a Red Kite... blaah...

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