Birds Oulu area May 2009 (1 Viewer)

[wolfbirder]

Hi

I embark on a brief 2 day trip to Oulu next Friday 15th May. I am booked on a Finnature guided tour at 3am on Sunday 17th hopefully to see owls including Great Grey if i am lucky (a dream bird for me).

I have a car for the two days and detailed map. I do not have access to recent bird information and wondered if there was much around at present. I gather Pallid Harriers occasionally can be seen in fields near Oulainen at this time of year - any recent reports? Any gem or recent info would be very helpful of any good birds in the general area (such as Terek Sands, raptors, passerines etc).

Thanking anyone in advance :t:

 

[McMadd]

Hi

Nothing that would get your pulse racing reported yet today in the Oulu area

The site you need to use is all in Finnish and requires you to create a user account but it's here (http://www.tiira.fi/) if you want to have a go!

I'm sure CAU, myself or others can check what the news is later next week and post any goodies...your guides will no doubt know where everything of interest is anyway...maybe ask them too before you travel?

br
Mark

 

[wolfbirder]

Hi

Nothing that would get your pulse racing reported yet today in the Oulu area

The site you need to use is all in Finnish and requires you to create a user account but it's here (http://www.tiira.fi/) if you want to have a go!

I'm sure CAU, myself or others can check what the news is later next week and post any goodies...your guides will no doubt know where everything of interest is anyway...maybe ask them too before you travel?

br
Mark

I will email my guide before I leave, any info you wouldnt mind posting would be so very appreciated Mark, if you don't mind.

CAU helped me immensely last time I was in Finland in December to get married :eek!:

 

[McMadd]

Well if it ain't too late...

Pallid Harrier near Säärenperä today...W of Liminka so suspect the folk there could give better directions

Plenty (250+) Ruff in Liminka area also

Day before some Ortolans reported (again Liminka area) and a Hawkie (Hawk Owl) at Veneneva SE of Oulo

Wader passage ongoing...usual suspects

Good luck with the trip

Mark

 

[CAU]

I didn't note this thread until now, sorry!

Several pairs of Pallid Harriers bred in Oulainen a few years ago, but there are no reports from there this year. I'd suggest scanning the fields at Lumijoki and at the Tyrnävä area, several birds have been seen there this year, but they have not been twitchable, and the area is vast.

Two Ortolan Buntings were seen here yesterday (May 15), some Greater White-fronted Geese have been seen recently in the same area:
http://kansalaisen.karttapaikka.fi/...+Ortolans+15/5&y=7192151&x=3436795&lang=en-GB

A singing Ortolan Bunting was seen here on May 13:
http://kansalaisen.karttapaikka.fi/...g+Ortolan+13/5&y=7197187&x=2544738&lang=en-GB

On May 14 an Ortolan Bunting was seen at Virkkula:
http://kansalaisen.karttapaikka.fi/...n+Bunting+14/5&y=7192518&x=2562444&lang=en-GB

A Great Grey Owl was seen in Tyrnävä on May 10, but the exact location is not known. I believe that your guide knows some locations.

 

[wolfbirder]

Thanks lads, I really appreciate your advice. I have just left a report on 'Vacational Trip Reports' section.

We did check the fields around Lumijoki but just saw SE owls around there, and yes you are right, the areas are vast so it would be hit and miss. I did ok with the owls, with good views of Pygmy, Tengmalm's and Great Grey !! Glimpsed Ural in the nest box but she would not come out!

Thanks again CAU and Mark, I do appreciate your efforts to help.

 

[CAU]

Great that your trip was successful!

 

[wolfbirder]

Great that your trip was successful!

Thank you CAU - I would love to return to Finland for a 3rd time next spring and explore the area my self, especially in search of a male Palid Harrier. Time is always a constraint with me, and I suppose most would consider that my day trip only produced the minimum expected. But I got my targets and I am still in awe at the beauty of the Great Grey Owl I saw. The other owls, and the Black Grouse views also made my trip!

Appreciate your thoughtfulness and efforts to help, as you did with my earlier trip to Rovaniemi. :t:

 

[McMadd]

I'll briefly revive this thread to pass on some latest news on the status of Yellow-breasted Bunting in Finland courtesy of the ever wonderful Tarsiger.com today...

http://www.tarsiger.com/news/index.php?lang=eng

Yellow-breasted Bunting, Emberiza aureola
Kitee (E-Finland)
Singing male at Päätyenlahti, only 8 records between 2002-2008 for Finland, 2003(4), 2004(2), 2005(1), 2006(0), 2007(1) and 2008(0).

cheers
Mark