18th March
We soon found that temperatures were on the rise further south. The thaw had already left all the main roads clear with banks of black, slushy, watery snow lining the crash barriers when we left our hotel with Sami, a Finnish ringer that we met in Georgia a few years back. We were on a mission to see some of the locally found birds that had as yet eluded us, not just on this visit but on any other trip when we’d ever tried for them. Yes, today there was the possibility that we might just achieve one or perhaps more life ticks to add to Siberian Jay, Siberian Tit, Pine Grosbeak and Steller's Eider.
We soon found that temperatures were on the rise further south. The thaw had already left all the main roads clear with banks of black, slushy, watery snow lining the crash barriers when we left our hotel with Sami, a Finnish ringer that we met in Georgia a few years back. We were on a mission to see some of the locally found birds that had as yet eluded us, not just on this visit but on any other trip when we’d ever tried for them. Yes, today there was the possibility that we might just achieve one or perhaps more life ticks to add to Siberian Jay, Siberian Tit, Pine Grosbeak and Steller's Eider.
First of all we headed off to the ferry over to Halluoto. Had we been here just one day before, we could have driven the ice road, but the thaw had rendered the route unsafe, although there were still plenty of Finns out on the ice with ski-doos, some ice fishing. At least the Finnish ferries to inhabited islands are free of cost so no great expense incurred from the ice road (6.9km and the longest ice road in Finland) being closed. Sami had a location for Hawk Owl and we just drove the still snow encrusted road, parked (pulling onto the verge is not recommended when the snowy banks are over half a metre deep) and began to scan. The first bird atop a distant conifer was a Magpie, with the next two being Great Grey Shrikes. Due to the time of year it is difficult to tell whether the shrikes were winter residents or early spring migrants. Next bird spotted was extremely distant and most definitely a Hawk Owl. By now it was raining persistently and visibility was affected. There was no way to get closer to the owl through the deep snow, but a walk further along the road brought us to another, closer owl being harassed by a Great Spotted Woodpecker. We were able to get nearer to this bird, a male, that we also heard singing.
Hawk Owl (male)
The area was a combination of open fields, birch and spruce woodland.
Slightly artistic snowy scenes - a sure sign
that the birds were few and far between.
Having returned to the mainland by ferry, we then decided to try a town park in Hietasaari for Pigmy Owl as a bird has been seen regularly, close to feeders. We didn’t get to see the Pigmy Owl although it had been photographed by several photographers the previous day in a hole in a tree close to the feeding station. Goldcrest, Willow Tit, Great and Blue Tit, Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer were all present at the feeders.
After some time, still looking for the owl we were very fortunate and saw Grey-headed Woodpecker, another life tick.
Male Yellowhammer
After some time, still looking for the owl we were very fortunate and saw Grey-headed Woodpecker, another life tick.
Grey-headed Woodpecker
19th March
We were out the following day, trying a location for Three-toed Woodpecker and Hazel Hen. The road was still snow and ice covered and we walked several sections of Birch forest, having no luck.
Our only sightings were a few tits, Treecreeper, a fly over calling Parrot Crossbill and an immature White-tailed Eagle that also flew over.
Northern Treecreeper
Didn't quite understand this. One of two decoys seen on street names - strange as the Finns appear to be very practical, competent and sensible people. Also honest, leave this out in the UK and before long it would get nicked!
The second area, Hietasaari where we had been the previous day, drew another blank for Three-toed Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker and Pygmy Owl . We met a birder with photos of both on his phone, from a couple of observations a few weeks ago but to put it into perspective, he visits often and has seen them on very few occasions.
So our second day didn't bring any of our target birds. Trying different locations turned up some more interesting sights including a wooden windmill.
With so few birds around, we began paying attention to the tracks in the snow. We had to spend quite a lot of time looking down anyway, to keep on the packed down sections of path and avoid breaking the surface and ending up knee deep in the thawing snow. Some of the tracks looked quite good for wolf. The country has an estimated 230 or so wolves with the majority of these concentrated to the west and near the coast.
View across the frozen bay
There were plenty of prints that could have been dog or wolf - the tracks below could not have been
animal/s on leads. It's a regular route used several times over, or by multiple animals.
Snowshoe Hare tracks
After a lot of time spend walking and listening for woodpeckers and the owl, we retired for a rest before meeting Sami and Yana for some good food and conversation. Sami also brought his photos from a trip to China.
We were due to fly back on the 20th in the early afternoon and limited ourselves to a walk around the hotel. Here there are walks down to the shore with streams running to the sea. Again, we had to tread carefully - and noticed more tracks.
Wolf or Arctic Malamute? Hard to say,
there was a Malamute living a few doors down from the hotel.
Tracks along a frozen stream, some hare and possibly fox
Footbridge
The nature trail is short and starts close to the Airport hotel where we stayed for three nights.
View to the frozen bay from our hotel room.