MSA
I may be relaxed but I'm not drunk....
An enjoyable long weekend Fri 21/5 to Mon 24/5 yielded the following highlights -
FRI
Tengmalm's and Pygmy Owls, Crested Tit, Black Woodpecker, Temminck's Stint.
SAT
Thrush Nightingale (heard and seen), Ural Owl, Three-toed Woodpecker, Wryneck, Ortolan, White-tailed Eagle, Hawk Owl, Great Grey Owl.
SUN
Booted Warbler, Taiga Bean Goose, Rustic Bunting, Wryneck, Honey Buzzard, Waxwing, Siberian and Baltic Gulls, Black Grouse, Siberian Tit, Red-necked Grebe.
MON
Waxwing, Black Grouse, Capercaillie, Siberian Jay, Willow Grouse, Rustic Bunting, Hazelhen.
Other interesting species seen on several occasions throughout included Whooper Swan, BT Diver (s plumage), Rosefinch, Arctic Tern, Smew, Marsh Harrier, Velvet Scoter, Goosander, Grey-headed Wagtail, Woodcock, LR Plover, Crane, Brambling (s plum), Garganey, Willow Tit, Wood & Green Sandpiper. Crossbills were few and far between, with a lack of pinecones perhaps being the reason? The weather was generally kind to us, with mostly warm and sunny conditions on Fri and Sat, a little rain Sun am, heavy rain Sun late pm and Mon early am (which put paid to Red-flanked Bluetail), then just odd showers.
The trip was booked with Birdfinders, using Finnature as ground agents and sharing the leadership. Tony (Finnature) was an excellent leader, working hard and really "putting in the hours" for us, as did Martyn Kenefick, co-leader, from Birdfinders. Accommodation in Kempele (near Oulu - 2 nights) and Kuusamo (1 night) was good, and the food was excellent, being varied, filling and provided to us at times to suit the birding. There was quite a bit of travelling involved (about 1,300km) and long hours in the field, and it wasn't a cheap trip, but I felt that I'd had good value for money and thoroughly enjoyed my first "organised" birding trip abroad.
A few pics will follow once processed.
FRI
Tengmalm's and Pygmy Owls, Crested Tit, Black Woodpecker, Temminck's Stint.
SAT
Thrush Nightingale (heard and seen), Ural Owl, Three-toed Woodpecker, Wryneck, Ortolan, White-tailed Eagle, Hawk Owl, Great Grey Owl.
SUN
Booted Warbler, Taiga Bean Goose, Rustic Bunting, Wryneck, Honey Buzzard, Waxwing, Siberian and Baltic Gulls, Black Grouse, Siberian Tit, Red-necked Grebe.
MON
Waxwing, Black Grouse, Capercaillie, Siberian Jay, Willow Grouse, Rustic Bunting, Hazelhen.
Other interesting species seen on several occasions throughout included Whooper Swan, BT Diver (s plumage), Rosefinch, Arctic Tern, Smew, Marsh Harrier, Velvet Scoter, Goosander, Grey-headed Wagtail, Woodcock, LR Plover, Crane, Brambling (s plum), Garganey, Willow Tit, Wood & Green Sandpiper. Crossbills were few and far between, with a lack of pinecones perhaps being the reason? The weather was generally kind to us, with mostly warm and sunny conditions on Fri and Sat, a little rain Sun am, heavy rain Sun late pm and Mon early am (which put paid to Red-flanked Bluetail), then just odd showers.
The trip was booked with Birdfinders, using Finnature as ground agents and sharing the leadership. Tony (Finnature) was an excellent leader, working hard and really "putting in the hours" for us, as did Martyn Kenefick, co-leader, from Birdfinders. Accommodation in Kempele (near Oulu - 2 nights) and Kuusamo (1 night) was good, and the food was excellent, being varied, filling and provided to us at times to suit the birding. There was quite a bit of travelling involved (about 1,300km) and long hours in the field, and it wasn't a cheap trip, but I felt that I'd had good value for money and thoroughly enjoyed my first "organised" birding trip abroad.
A few pics will follow once processed.