After a hectic few days of getting my life in order and packing up (as well as agonizing over the invasion of European vagrants that was happening around me at the most inconvenient time), I was finally ready to start my adventures ... The last bird I saw in North America, not surprisingly, was an American Crow on my way to the airport.
My first European bird, ironically but again not surprisingly, was Carrion Crow, with a pair carrying nesting material outside my terminal window in Frankfurt, Germany.
I was amazed at how quiet things were in Helsinke airport ... Lots of people, but eerily relaxed for an airport. I guess the "rumours" are true, and people in Finland really are laid back. Maybe I will fit in here afterall ...
Thinking that my first bird in Finland would be something mundane, like a starling, I was pleasantly surprised when a short walk outside Helsinke airport while waiting for my last flight produced a Lesser Whitethroat flitting around in a hedge. That was followed by a Hooded Crow, a few Greenfinches, a White Wagtail, and a Blackbird. It was sunny and ~10 degrees ... Life in Finland is good thus far.
Posted by jaredclarke at May 2, 2005 11:32 AM