FINLAND
26th MAY to 8th JUNE,1998.
J.F.Cooper. & S. Mawby
ITINERARY
26 MAY Flew to Helsinki - Visited Espoon Suomenoja and onto Viikki. Overnight Rastilla Camping.
27 MAY Kirkkonummi Headland, Porkkala Tower, Espoo Laajalahti. Overnight Rastilla Camping.
28 MAY Espoo Laajalahti - Drove North to Hattula and visited forests and lakes in the Hattula Area, Overnight with Hekki.
29 MAY Hattula Area then return to Helsinki and flight to Oulu. Met up with Ibis Tours birded Liminka Forest. Overnight Oulu.
30 MAY Ongintaa, Oulu Harbour, Nuottasaari Grassland, Jaali Forest, Kemi Forest, Kemi Bay. Overnight Oulu
31 MAY Ongintaa, Yli-Kiiminki Forest, Hannus Forest, Drive to Kuusamo. Evening Drive.
1 JUNE Kuusamo South Forest Tracks to Invaari, Valtavaara Ridge, Drove back to Oulu, left Ibis Tours and drove North to Sodankyla overnight at Camping site.
2 JUNE Drove North to Varangerfjorden stopping enroute at Ilmakkiaapa, Tankavaara, plus other road stops. Nesseby and Vadso at Varanger. Overnight near Vadso.
3 JUNE Drive to Hamningberg and back to Vardo. Boat trip to Hrnoya Island and then returned to Hamningberg. Overnight at campsite near Vadso.
4 JUNE Tana River Area, South of Nuogam, Drove to Inari Area and overnight at Ivalo.
5 JUNE Forests around Inari and Ivalo, overnight at Ivalo.
6 JUNE Long drive to Kuusamo stopping enroute at Kiilopaa and Ilmakkiaapa plus other short stops. Drove `Grouse Alley` South of Kuusamo at midnight.
7 JUNE Valtavara Ridge near Kuusamo, overnight Oulu Camping.
8 JUNE Liminka Bay(North of Oulu), Ongintaa, Return flight to Heathrow.
Systematic list.
Red Throated Diver (Gavia stellata) Just one pair seen at Varanger on the 3rd.
Black Throated Diver (Gavia arctica) The commonest Diver, with the majority in full breeding plumage. Recorded on five dates with 12 on the 3rd in the Varanger area and 6 on the 5th on the lakes around Inari and Ivalo.
Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer) A single winter plumage bird seen at Hamningberg Harbour on the 3rd.
White Billed Diver (Gavia adamsii) A winter plumage bird was seen off Hamningberg on the 3rd but only gave distant views.
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) Recorded around Helsinki and one seen at Liminka Bay on the 8th.
Red Necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) Four summer plumage birds were seen on the lst on lakes around Kuusamo.
Slavonian Grebe (Podiceps auritus) Twelve in summer plumage on the lake at Espoon Suomenoja on the 26th was the only sighting.
Gannet (Sula bassana) Just 3 seen off Hamningberg on the 3rd.
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) Only odd birds seen on two dates.
Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) Breeding colony present on Hrnoya Island on the 3rd.
Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) Heard boaming at two sites around Hattula on the 28th and 29th.
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) Two singles seen around Helsinki on the 26th and 27th.
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) Recorded in small numbers on eight dates with 15 seen in Liminka Bay on the 8th.
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) Six seen on the 27th at Espoo Laajalahti.
Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) Three seen on a small lake in the middle of a forest at Ivalo on the 5th had virtually all yellow bills and were of the nominate fabalis race.
Greylag Goose (Anser anser) Four seen on the 30th and 30 seen at Liminka Bay on the 8th.
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) Recorded on three dates only.
Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) Just 2 seen on the 2nd at Nesseby.
Wigeon (Anas penelope) Recorded in small numbers on six dates.
Mallard (Anas Platyrhynchos) Seen virtually daily.
Gadwall (Anas strepera) Only 2 seen on the 26th at Espoon Suomenoja.
Pintail (Anas acuta) Odd birds seen on three dates.
Shoveler (Anas clypeata) Small numbers recorded on three dates.
Teal (Anas crecca) Recorded on 9 dates in small numbers.
Pochard (Aythya ferina) Odd birds recorded on three dates.
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) Common
Steller`s Eider (Polysticta stelleri) Forty five seen on the 2nd with a flock of 40 present at Nesseby which included 12 drakes many displaying and 19 seen on the 3rd at Varanger which included 3 drakes. A superb species.
Eider (Somateria mollissima) 40 seen at Kirkkonummi Headland on the 27th and large numbers seen at Varanger on the 2nd,3rd and 4th.
Long Tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) Small numbers seen on the three dates at Varanger with a daily maximun of 10 on the 3rd. Majority were in full summer plumage.
Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) Small numbers seen on four dates.
Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) Two seen on the 27th at Kirkkonummi Headland and 20 seen at Varanger on the 2nd.
Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) By far the commonest duck and seen on most lakes.
Smew (Mergus albellus) A drake seen on the 30th at Kemi Bay, Three on the 5th near Ivalo, 2 on the 6th and a drake on the 8th at Liminka Bay.
Red Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) Recorded on seven dates with a maximun of 50 on the 3rd.
Goosander (Mergus merganser) Recorded on six dates with 180 on the 3rd in Oulu Bay, 300 on the 3rd at Varanger and 200 on the 8th at Liminka Bay.
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) Singles seen on 4 dates which included 2 males.
Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter nisus) Just seen on two dates only.
Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) A female seen on its nest at Hattula on the 28th gave good flight views later,
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) Just singles seen on two dates.
Rough Legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) Recorded on four dates North of the Arctic Circle with 6 on the 2nd, 6 on the 3rd, and singles on the 4th & 5th.
White Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) Four seen on the drive to Hamningberg on the 3rd with one on the 4th on the way to the Tana River. Excellent views both in flight and sat on the ground and all but one bird were full adults. Superb.
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) Just two singles seen, the first on the 28th at Hattula and the second on the 30th.
Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) Just two singles seen around Oulu.
Merlin (Falco columbarius) Two singles seen near Nugoam on the 3rd & 4th.
Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) An adult was located on the cliffs on the drive up to the Tana River on the 4th. After watching the bird for some 20 minutes, it took flight and landed on a ledge where there was a nest containing four fairly well grown young and it then started to feed the young. Excellent views obtained.
Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) An adult in Spring plumage was located sitting on the ground (probably on a nest) on the 6th at Kiilopaa. In the circumstances, the bird was not flushed.
Ptarmigan at Kiilopaa
Willow Grouse (Lagopus lagopus) Five seen on the lst along “Grouse Alley” South of Kuusamo, Two on the 2nd on the drive North, Two on the 4th again on the drive and Three on the 6th on the climb upto to Kiiloppa.
Willow Grouse
Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) Stunning views of 8 including one male along “Grouse Alley” South of Kuusamo on the 1st with two seen there on the 6th, one of which was a male.
Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) even seen along “Grouse Alley” South of Kuusamo on the lst which included several males “lekking”.
Hazel Grouse (Bonasa bonasia) After several untickable views, a male showed well and close along “Grouse Alley” South of Kuusamo and another male seen briefly near Kuusamo on the 1st. One seen well in flight on the 6th and finally a female seen very well stood by the side of the road at Ongintaa on the 8th.
Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) Only a few seen around Helsinki
Coot (Fulica atra) Only recorded around Helsinki
Crane (Grus grus) Chiefly singles seen on 8 dates with 3 on the 30th.
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) Recorded in small numbers on seven dates.
Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) Recorded on five dates.
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) Two seen on the 26th with three on the 27th and two on the 30th.
Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus) Four seen at Kiiloppa and another four seen on the drive South all on the 6th.
Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) Small numbers recorded on six dates chiefly above the Arctic Circle.
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) Several parties seen flying in Oulu Bay on the 29th.
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) Odd bjirds seen on four dates chiefly in the South.
Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) Odd birds seen on three dates.
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) Just recorded on three dates with 400 seen on the 2nd near Vadso all in summer plumage.
Broad Billed Sandpiper (Limicola falcinellus) A superb party of 7 were seen at Kemi Bay on the 30th.
Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima) Upto 120 were seen around Varanger in the vicinity of Vardo on the 3rd.
Little Stint (Calidris minuta) Three were seen on the 28th at Espoo Laajalahti.
Temminck`s Stint (Calidris temminckii) One seen on the 28th at Espoo Laajalahti, 20 on the 30th at Oulu & Kemi Bay, four seen on the 2nd and 10 on the 3rd at Varanger.
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) Small numbers recorded on 7 dates including a number of breeding plumage males lekking
.
Ruff in breeding plumage
Curlew(Numenius arquata) Small numbers recorded on 8 dates.
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) Small numbers were seen on just four dates.
Black Tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) One seen at Kemi Bay on the 30th and six seen at Liminka Bay on the 8th.
Bar Tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) Small numbers seen on just three dates.
Redshank (Tringa totanus) Recorded in small numbers on six dates.
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) Six seen at Ilmakkiaapa on the 2nd and two seen there on the 6th. Two seen on the 4th at Varanger and two seen at Liminka Bay on the 8th. All birds were in full summer plumage.
Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) Just odd birds seen on four dates.
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) Seen from Oulu Northwards with a maximun of 15 on a day. Many were seen displaying.
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) Only odd birds seen on five dates.
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) Two birds seen and heard displaying near Helsinki on the 27th & 28th.
Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) Seen on four dates.
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) Recorded on five dates.
Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) A pair watched displaying at Liminka Forest on the 29th.
Red Necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) Eight seen on the 30th at Oulu, with 90 on the 2nd chiefly at Ilmakkiaapa but only 3 there on the 6th. Otherwise small numers seen around Varanger.
Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) Small numbers recorded on the three dates around Varanger with a daily maximun of 20.
Long Tailed Skua (Stercorarius longicaudus) Two seen over the road near Nuogam on the 2nd, one near Vadso on the 3rd and only three at the breeding colony near Nuogam on the 4th.
Little Gull (Larus minutus) Odd birds recorded on three dates.
Black Headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) A common specie in the South but not seen around Varanger.
Common Gull (Larus canus) Very common and seen daily.
Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) Only seen at Varanger where it was breeding in the thousands.
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) Fairly common and recorded on six dates.
Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) Two 2nd year birds seen at Hamningberg on the 3rd.
Great Black Back Gull (Larus marinus) Recorded on five dates.
Lesser Black Back Gull (Larus fuscus) Recorded on four dates.
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) Small numbers identified only on three dates and all South of the Arctic Circle.
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) Large numbers seen virtually daily, in the North it seemed to be on every lake.
Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) Thirteen seen in Oulu Bay on the 30th.
Guillemot (Uria aalge)Large numbers present at the breeding cliffs on Hrnoya Island on the 3rd.
Brunnich`s Guillemot (Uria lornvia) Six seen at Hamningberg on the 3rd and forty plus seen on the cliffs at Hrnoya Island also on the 3rd. Good views obtained.
Razorbill (Alca torda) Large numbers present at the breeding cliffs on Hrnoya Island on the 3rd.
Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) Small numbers recorded on the drive around Varanger and at Hrnoya Island on the 3rd.
Puffin (Fratercula arctica) Very large numbers seen at the breeding cliffs on Hrnoya Island on the 3rd.
Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) Small numbers recorded on seven dates but not seen in the Arctic Circle.
Stock Dove (Columba oenas) Just odd birds seen around Helsinki.
Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) Surprislingly, small nubers seen or heard almost daily apart for around Varanger.
Short Eared Owl (Asio flammeus) Singles seen on four dates with 4 seen on the 3rd around Varanger.
Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) Two well grown yound found in a nest at Hattula on the 28th and an adult very poorly seen sitting on a nest on the 31st at Hannus Forest.
Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) A stunning adult came flying into the tape near Ivalo on the 5th. It gave close views and proved to be one of the highlight of the trip.
Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) A single bird seen briefly at Hattula on the 28th.
Ural Owl (Strix uralensis) Two adults and a single young out of the nest gave excellent close views at Hattula on the 28th and a pair also gave good views at Liminka Forest on the 29th. Another highlight of the trip.
Swift (Apus apus) Recorded in fair numbers on nine dates.
Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) Two seen in flight on the 29th at Hattula.
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) Singles seen on four dates.
Three Toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus An adult male, with a good yellow crown, was seen very well at Ongintaa on the 30th.
Skylark (Alauda arvensis) Just seen on five dates.
Shore Lark (Eremophila alpestris) Three seen on the 3rd near Hamningberg.
Sand Martin(Riparia riparia) Recoded on five dates with a good breeding colony at Ongintaa.
Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Recorded in small nubers virtually daily including 2 as far North as we went at Hamningberg.
House Martin (Delichon urbica) Recorded in small numbers on eight dates.
Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus) Three belonging to the race littoralis were found on Hrnoya Island on the 3rd.
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) Recorded in the South on six dates.
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) Only recorded in very small numbers on five dates chiefly in the Arctic Circle.
Red Throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) One seen at the Nuottasaari Grassland on the 30th and a pair seen on the 3rd near Hamningberg.
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) Very common seen in good numbers daily.
Grey Headed (Yellow Wagtai)l (Motacilla thunbergi. ) Recorded on seven dates with a maximun of 30 on the 30th. All belonged to the race thunbergi.
Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) A single seen on the 4th with two on the 5th around Inari and one seen on the drive on the 6th.
Dunnock (Prunella modularis) Just two singles seen.
Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Just a single bird seen.
Thrush Nightingale (Luscinia luscinia) A single bird seen well on the 26th at Espoon Suomenoja, and two seen very well on the 27th at Espoo Laajalahti. Others were heard singing at Hattula on the 28th & 29th.
Red Flanked Bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus) An adult male was seen poorly on top of a pine tree singing at Valtavara Ridge on the 1st.
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) Just odd birds seen on five dates.
Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) Odd birds recorded on five dates.
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra) Upto four on a day recorded on four dates.
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) Reasonable numbers seen on several dates. It was surprising to find it breeding in the middle of the forests.
Blackbird (Turdus merula) Just odd birds seen of only four dates.
Redwing (Turdus iliacus) Recorded almost daily in small numbers.
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) Only seen on one date but others heard singing.
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) The common thrush, recorded in reasonable numbers virtually daily.
Grasshopper Warbler (Locstella naevia) One seen on the 27th & 2 on the 28th at Espoo Laajalahti with others heard singing.
Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) Recorded in small numbers on five dates chiefly in the South.
Blyth`s Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) Excellent views obtained of a singing male bird on the 28th at Espoo Laajalahti. The song was very distinctive and not at all like a Reed or Marsh Warbler.
Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris) One seen well singing at Espoo Laajalahti on the 28th.
Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) Small numbers seen around Helsinki on three dates.
Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina) Three seen on the 27th at Espoo Laajalahti.
Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) Recorded on six dates chiefly in the South.
Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) Reasonable numbers recorded around Helsinki on three dates.
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) Only seen on one date bjut odd other birds heard singing.
Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) Three seen on the 27th at Espoo Laajalahti.
Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) The common warbler, Seen daily in good numbers and many more heard singing. In the Arctic Circle many large grey lloking birds were seen.
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) Just odd birds seen on two dates with others being heard.
Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) Quite common, recorded in small numbers on nine dates but not seen up at Varanger.
Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) Recorded in small numbers on eight dates.
Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus) Just a single bird seen on the 27th at Espoo Laajalahti.
Siberian Tit (Parus cinctus) Singles seen on the 1st at a nest site at Invaari, on the 2nd at Tankavaara and on the 5th near Inari.
Willow Tit (Parus montanus) A pair of the Northern race borealis looking larger whiter with a larger wing panel were seen at Hattula on the 29th.
Crested Tit (Parus cristatus) A single bird was seen on the 28th at Hattula.
Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) Recorded on five dates in the South.
Great Tit (Parus major) Recorded on nine dates.
Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) A single bird seen on the 27th at Kirkkonummi Headland.
Red Backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) Males seen on the 26th at Espoon Suomenoja and on the 27th at Espoo Laajalahti.
Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Only recorded in small numbers chiefly in the South.
Siberian Jay (Perisoreus infaustus) Four seen at the Valtavaara Ridge on the 1st with five seen there on the 7th. One seen on the 2nd near Tankavaara.
Siberian Jay on the Valtavaara Ridge
Jay (Garrulus glandarius) Odd birds seen around Helsinki.
Magpie (Pica pica) Very common, seen daily.
Jackdaw (Corvus mondeula) Recorded on seven dates bjut not seen North of the Arctic Circle.
Raven (Corvus corax) Recorded on seven dates chiefly in the North with a maximun of 10 on the 3rd at Varanger.
Hooded Crow (Corvus corone) Very common, recorded daily.
Rook (Corvus frugilegus) Just odd birds seen around Oulu.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Recorded on nine dates but only in small numbers and not seen at Varanger.
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) Only seen in very small numbers and not seen in the Arctic Circle.
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) Many more heard than seen. Not recorded around Helsinki but small numbers seen in the North but not around Varanger. Maximun of 25 on the 4th near Ivalo.
Siskin (Carduelis spinus) Recorded in fair numbers on seven dates with a daily maximun of 25 but not seen at Varanger.
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) Recorded on four dates around Helsinki.
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)Just two seen at Espoon Suomenoja on the 26th.
Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) All sightings relate to the Northern Scandivian race which are noticeably larger and thicker set than the U.K. race with a larger whiter rump the males being brighter coloured and the females have a very grey appearance. One male seen on the 28th at Hattula with a female seen there on the 29th. A pair showed well in the Oulu Hotel grounds on the 30th. A pair seen on the 4th near Ivalo and a pair on the 7th at the Valtavara Ridge.
Mealy Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) Many more heard than seen but seen well on five dates with a daily maximun of 15 on the 1st on the Valtavaara Ridge.
Arctic Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni) Only three identified for certain but others suspected. The three were seen well in willows at Hamningberg,in the Arctic Circle on the 3rd.They had a very frosty appearance and one had a lovely pale pink on the breast. Even so they were quite shy and I was unable to photograph them.
Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) Quite common around Helsinki and several fine males were seen. Daily maximun of 12 on the 27th. Also one on the 30th near Oulu and one on the 8th at Liminka Bay.
Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) A superb party of four including a fine adult male was seen on the Valtavaara Ridge on the 1st.
Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) Several parties flying over were all considered to be Common Crossbills. Recorded on three dates with a daily maximun of 20 on the 31st.
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) Odd birds recorded on five dates.
Rustic Bunting (Emberiza chrysophrys) A fine pair in full breeding plumage were located in a small marshy area at the Valtavaara Ridge on the lst.
Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla) A pair in full breeding plumage showed very well near Kuusamo on the 1st.
Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) Odd birds recorded on ten dates and they were also seen well up in the Arctic Circle.
Lapland Bunting (Calcarius lapponicus) A fine full breeding plumage male seen on the 2nd near Vadso and 5 , including males were seen on the 4th at their breeding site near Nuogam several of which were displaying.
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) Only recorded around Varanger on the 3rd when 4 were seen including 2 fine summer plumage males.
