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When such a sign comes up then really "no more business here" and the Big Year must be considered finished (Meerapalu 31.12.2012)

 

Although we had the Big Year final party some days ago already, I still decided to go on a trip today. If I had taken on the birding project for the whole year, then I should get out on the last day of the year too. The weather was snivelly, dark and windy, but I made a tour of the Järveselja forests nevertheless. The last chance in Tartumaa to get one more year point would be there. I checked cutting areas in the large forest massif there in early morning, maybe a great grey owl (Strix nebulosa) had moved in? Some years ago I managed to stumble on it here, but in recent years, and today, I haven’t been so lucky. The most exciting bird of the morning turned up in Mehikoorma village – a pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) flew over us. Quite many of these birds have been seen all over Estonia in this invasion year. From the Mehikoorma bird I got a winter point, and a Tartumaa point too. 276 bird species accumulated in my 2012 list throughout the year. The previous year record was surpassed by 9 species. Which were the greatest successes of the year? What went completely to the dogs? How many species were seen in Estonia altogether during the year? How did others fare? All this will be discussed as soon as I have brought together the impressions and experiences of other birdwatchers.

The sign, in Southern Estonian dialect, says "Private property. - Dear friend - you might go on, but you have really no business here!"