Leaving my office Thursday afternoon, a Great Tit (Talitiainen) called out from the path. It was to be my last bird in Finland (for now, at least) …

Early Friday morning (Dec 16), I started my 26 hour journey home — across Europe and the Atlantic Ocean, and back to Newfoundland. Having missed an exciting year in my province, and many rare species, during my Finnish adventure, I was looking forward to birding back on “the rock”.

After a long and frustrating day of travel (several weather delays and the loss of my luggage), I arrived home at 4:30am Saturday — to interesting news. A Ross’s Goose had been found in a city lake just 2 km from my apartment — a first provincial record and an extreme rarity for Atlantic Canada. After squeezing in a few winks of sleep, I nervously set out a few hours later. Fortunately, I found the goose still at the lake, hanging out with the local ducks and allowing amazingly close looks. I also picked up the last remaining Laughing Gull (one of an influx that had been blown in by Hurricane Wilma a month or so ago) and three female Redheads at another pond across town. Three “lifers” within hours of making landfall — a good start to my return!!

Sunday was the first Christmas Bird Count of the season, and after another early rise, I met up with some friends, grabbed some Tim Horton’s coffee (Surprisingly, I missed that in Finland) and headed down the shore towards Cape St. Mary’s. While it was a rather mild day for mid-December, the winds were extremely strong, and the hike across the barrens and headlands to Point Lance was a struggle — gale force winds nearly picking me off my feet and pushing me towards the cliff edge. A true day of coastal Newfoundland birding — the cliffs rising high above the wild ocean, waves crashing violently against the rocks, blistering winds sweeping across the barrens, and the salt spray coating my binoculars. God, I missed it!!

It was a routine day of birding, with no major rarities. The highlights were a late Orange-crowned Warbler, a lone Rough-legged Hawk playing in the wind, a beautiful group of Harlequin Ducks hiding amongst the flock of Common Eiders, and handful of Snow Buntings and Savannah Sparrows sneaking around on the grassy beach.

And so ends my excursion to Finland. Not sure where my future adventures will take me, but I know I will find my way back there sooner than later. For now, I’m happy to be enjoying the nature of Newfoundland.

It’s not Finland — but it’s home, and it’s great to be back!!

Wow – It really is hard to believe that 7.5 months have went by so quickly, and my Finnish adventure is drawing to close. For now, at least …

While the main purpose of my trip was academic, I made the best of the opportunity to see this fantastic part of northern Europe and enjoy it spectacular nature and birdlife, as well as its interesting history and culture.

And I have to admit I’ve fallen in love with Finland — its people, its traditions, and its language. And, for the most part, I’ve really felt at home here. Wherever and whenever I’ve travelled, I have met interesting and friendly people — and am especially grateful to the many birders who have been generous with their time, energy and advice during my many adventures, from the local people here Kuopio, to those I’ve met in places like Kuusamo, Liminginlahti and Lapland.

And there will always be the little things, which I know I will miss when I leave … the nightless nights of summer, ruisleipä (dark rye bread), evenings of sauna, the salty sweet taste of salmiakki, and roasting makkara (and, of course, the beautiful Finnish girls – but that goes without saying!!). Salmiakki I can bring with me, but the rest I know I will eventually come back for.

But my heart lies in nature and that, above all else, is what I have fallen in love with and what will draw me back. The amazing solitude of the Finnish forests, the gleaming lakes under a midnight sun, the beautiful voices of night-singers, the crisp air and brilliant snow of winter …

I will miss it. But I’ll be back.

I was recently told about a family of cranes that were still hanging around a nearby town in late November– weeks after the last of their kind should have left Finland, and facing an oncoming winter that I’m sure would spell their doom. It seems that one of the parent birds was injured and unable to fly, and the other two (parent and young) refused to abandon it.

It’s not the first such story I’ve heard, but this one has been playing on my mind for several days now. I have to wonder how concern and caring for a “loved one” can overcome the powerful drive to migrate south to safety. We all too often think of self-preservation as the most basic of all instincts, and the “kill or be killed” and “survival at all costs” as credos throughout the natural world – but maybe compassion is much more basic and instinctual than we realize.

In a world where we are inundated daily with news of war, greed and hatred, I like to think that these are not really the stuff of basic human nature. There might be hope for our species yet … even if I have to look to a family of cranes to find it.

I did it. I “finally” got up from behind my desk and got out birding. Trouble is, someone forgot to inform the birds …

Despite an extremely late night on Friday, I painfully rolled out of bed Saturday morning, fixed myself some coffee, and bundled up for a day of birding. After an unusually warm autumn, winter had finally started to show its face with snow falling gently outside.

The trip was a preliminary “scouting” expedition to find some birds in advance of next weekend’s “rally” (A “big day” competition, for most of us North American birders).

Our first stop in Haminalahti produced the only highlight of the day — a nice Northern Hawk Owl (Hiiripöllö) perched atop a tree, turning its head ’round in a dozen directions and scanning the surrounding fields patiently for breakfast. With the exception of Great Tits (Talitiainen) and Greenfinches (Viherpeippo) attending a nearby feeder, the action was starting out pretty slowly.

And it stayed that way. The rest of our stops during the morning and early afternoon produced little of anything … hardly any of the regular species, and certainly nothing of note. Even though it has been a warm fall and the lakes remain unfrozen, the only duck on the day was a Mallard (Sinisorsa) and no other water birds. Except for the wind rustling the trees, the forests were equally as quiet.

At least the fresh air and snow was refreshing …

Excuses, excuses. Seems I’m having to come up with a lot of them lately.

And here’s the most recent — I haven’t been birding lately because I’ve either been poked away in my office or jet-setting around the world. Not bad, eh??

Truth be told, I just got back from a trip to Washington DC for a conference. Despite my having made a mess of my travel plans, it was a very worthwhile venture. The conference itself was great, and I walked away having learned lots and picked up some new ideas. Even better, I had the chance to see and spend some time with my friends and colleagues from back home in Newfoundland.

In the bit of spare time I had, I did manage to take in some Washington sights — including a number of beautiful memorials, the Smithsonian Museums, and the National Art Gallery. And while I didn’t get birding (unless Starlings, Pigeons, House Sparrows and one Mockingbird count?!?!), I did get to see something just as spectacular …

Fortunately, my visit to the National Art Gallery coincided with an exhibition of some of Audubon’s original “Birds of North America” prints … a selection from one of only two full collections known to exist!! It was nothing short of awe-inspiring to see these oversized paintings — the detail and time that Audubon put into his work, the methods he used to combine art with field identification, and how his skill and quality improved over time. An absolute treat for me …

I’m going to get out birding soon. Honestly. I mean it this time …

I know, I know. I haven’t posted in more than two weeks. That’s because I have nothing to post. I haven’t been out birding … not even once.

I recently spent a week in England, visiting a friend and her family. It was a great time – one full day in London, and the rest in Nottingham. Did lots of fun and interesting things … visited castles and beautiful churches, walked in Sherwood Forest and learned lots about the legends of Robin Hood, took in a great ghost walk in historic Nottingham, hung out in pubs and drank whiskey in fine company, and even hiked the seaside cliffs of Flamborough. But no birding.

Things have been busy at the university since I got back — my project is winding down and there’s lots to do. Throw in the fact that I have to prepare for a conference in Washington DC next week, and my days are full.

So … I’ve been birding vicariously on the internet, and feeling the pain of many excellent species being seen back home in Newfoundland – especially after the “fallout” in Atlantic Canada which followed the tail-end of Hurricane Wilma last week.

Enough already …

I shuddered Saturday morning after forcing myself out of bed and looking out my kitchen window. The winds had turned NW overnight, and dark rain clouds rolled in from the horizon. Cold and dreary …

But rain or shine, I was joining in on the “fun”. With the winds turning northerly for the first time in weeks, a good blast of arctic migration should have been on the way. So, a quick cup of coffee later, I bundled up, grabbed my gear and headed south of the city to Puutossalmi. Many birds follow the large Lake Kallavesi south, passing by the little point of land where the lake narrows … making it a prime spot for viewing fall migration of waterfowl, divers and raptors.

By the time I arrived at 9:00am, about a dozen birders were already there. I’m not sure if it was the rainy weather, but things just didn’t materialize that morning. After 4.5 hours of scanning the sky and water, most people were giving up hope of seeing too much … In fact, the only goose was a single Brant (Sepelhanhi) that flew overhead, and other than a decent showing of Black-throated Divers (Kuikka) and a single Snow Bunting (Pulmunen), the morning was a bust.

Pinning my hopes on the promises from local birders that “tommorrow will be better”, I joined some friends and headed out early Sunday morning. The winds were now coming straight from the north — better for migration, but notably colder. At least it wasn’t raining!! About 15 birders gathered at the point, staring face-first into the blistering wind … (Except for the lack of salt-water spray and a few jagged rocks to hide behind, it was a lot like a winter sea-watch back in Newfoundland!! Nice to feel at home!!)

Things started a bit slowly — a few Long-tailed Ducks (Alli) and Black-throated Divers (Kuikka) shot by. But soon the geese starting coming – and when they did, they just kept popping up. A flock here, another flock there — some way out on the horizon, almost invisible to the naked eye, others flying directly over our heads. In fact, the keeners with pen and paper estimate we saw close to 7000 geese throughout the morning and early afternoon. Not bad by any standards … While many of the geese were too far away for definite ID’s, most of them were Bean Geese (Metsähanhi) and Barnacle Geese (Valkoposkihanhi).

One of the more entertaining birds, though, was a House Sparrow (Varpunen). It arrived on the small ferry which carries cars back and forth across the small span of water (~250m) which seperates the points of land in Puutossalmi, and hopped around our feet for an hour or so, picking up scraps and enjoying little handouts from the birders on coffee break. It’s belly full, it decided to go home … But despite the short flight back to the other side, it waited for the ferry to return, got back on and hitched a ride. Talk about lazy!!!

Well, it’s vacation time for me — today I start a weeklong trip to England to shake off the cobwebs and spend some time with a friend.

Kippis!!

A group of birders enjoying the arctic migration at Puutossalmi … (Click to enlarge)

The world’s laziest House Sparrow (Varpunen) enjoying lunch … (Click to enlarge)

Yup. I said it. Crap luck.

As much as I love and enjoy birding here in Finland, I have been a bit frustrated with my “luck” since autumn has set in. I don’t get out as much as I would like, and when I do I just can’t seem to run into the birds. Maybe its a lack of birds, or just hitting the wrong places at the wrong time. Whatever it is, it’s “crap”.

My forays into the local forests looking for Siberian warblers which have been passing through Finland (and even showing up in western Europe in record numbers!!) have been for naught. Trudges through fields and meadows in search of unusual pipits and such have been useless. Visits to local wetlands and migration routes to look for geese have produced empty lakes and skies.

It’s not all bad, mind you. The fresh air, fall colours and peaceful strolls have been amazing. And, despite my “down-in-the-mouth” attitude, there have been some fun birds, as well.

Taking advantage of a more flexible schedule the last few days, I’ve been chasing my tail a little more often. Friday morning I visited Musti and Raasio, two places where shorebirds gather earlier in the year, and geese sometimes frequent in fall. It was a ghost-town, with not a goose to be seen and no late waders. The only highlight was finally seeing a Merlin (Ampuhaukka) – a common raptor back home, but my first for this part of the world.

Before heading in to work on Sunday, I made my regular visit to Siilimasuo and the local dump. Except for a few Chaffinch (Peippo) and Great Tits (Talitiainen), both places were a bust. There was some fleeting excitement when I flushed up a pipit, but it turned out to be just a Meadow Pipit (Niittykirvinen).

Monday morning included my first visit to Puutossalmi — a location on Lake Kallavesi, just south of the city, that is known in the area for its arctic migration. But with southerly winds prevailing for days, not much has been happening. One Great Black-backed Gull (Merilokki) and Black-throated Diver (Kuikka) were marginally notable, and a single flock of Barnacle Geese (Valkoposkihanhi) overhead was the only sign of migration.

Tuesday morning I visited the “bird lake” of Riistavesi. Again, no geese. Six species of duck were hanging out, including 6 migrating Common Scoters (Mustalintu), and four Whooper Swans (Laulujoutsen) honked their way across the sky.

This morning, a blanket of fog motivated me to abandon my plans to watch for migration and take a walk in the farm fields of Jälä instead. It was more birdy than I had predicted, although nothing too out of the ordinary. The highlight was a lone Horned Lark (Tunturikiuru) — another common bird back home, but a Finnish first for me. One Reed Bunting (Pajusirkku), numerous Meadow Pipits (Niittykirvinen) and two Skylarks (Kiuru) flushed up from the grass, and a continual stream of Fieldfares (Räkättirastas) migrated overhead.

Fingers crossed … something better HAS to cross my path soon. Right?!?!

Many birds, especially passerines, are getting scarcer each day here in the Kuopio area. While this is an interesting time for goose migration and eastern rarities, the “familiar” faces of local breeders are disappearing, and the forests seem eerily quiet. At least in my experience …

While I haven’t had time to squeeze in much birding the last few weeks, my odd walks in the forests around the city have proved pretty futile. Hoping to catch a glimpse of one of the Siberian phylloscopus warblers which frequent Finland in early October, I have had to settle for sparse sightings of anything. With the exception of Fieldfares (Räkättirastas) and Redwings (Punakylkirastas), that is … those little monsters have flocked together and taken over!!

Still, a few notbale birds have managed to brighten my short strolls … a Black Woodpecker (Palokärki) doing its rounds, and a few small flocks of Goldcrests (Hippiäinen) twittering high up in the canopy. Always fun to see are the Treecreepers (Puukiipijä), which work away furiously amongst the trees – oblivious to anyone or anything.

Next week is a little less busy — so here’s hoping a few mornings of birding will produce something a little more exciting!!