Birder's diary - 7.04
Birder Margus Ots, linnuvaatleja.ee
Photo: Arne Ader
Translation: Liis
Redpoll and alder catkins
Yesterday morning I went to pick up the heavy artillery brigade of birders but only half stepped off the ship – Ukker and Gusse. Two men – Jände and Tuukka – were rooting about too long in the Helsinki port, the ship doors were slammed shut just in their faces and so they were left off the ship. Because travellers were many in the holiday season and new tickets were not to hope for they didn’t get across the gulf, not even by helicopter. Incredible story that will be remembered for years.
Our trip target was the Sõrve bird station in Saaremaa. On the road we stopped at the Tuula fields near Keila where some 10000 geese are on the grounds now. In the great goose mill we found again the red-breasted goose that has been staying here for some time. Many birders have attempted to twitch this bird repeatedly but without success. Somehow we found the creature quite easily. As the 142nd species in my year list I got a Northern shoveler from the Tuula fields.
The weather at Sõrve säär was really unpleasant today – it was snowing all day, but that did not put us off particularly much. We moved several times along the shores and shore meadows near the bird station and checked the local feeding grounds for birds thoroughly. The bird station surroundings and really the whole of Sõrve säär teemed with birds. A couple of thousand finches sought shelter for the bad weather, mainly chaffinches and redpolls. Among the more exciting birds were at least 5 Arctic redpolls and 23 hawfinches. Among the new arrivals at Sõrve säär we found one whimbrel and a lesser black-backed gull and in the evening 2 Caspian terns flew past. At the Loode lighthouse 3 Sandwich terns were said to have been sitting on the rocks, but as I at that time was telescoping the sea I didn’t see the creatures today. So 3 new species were added to my 2012 year list, altogether they are 145 now.
While the weather at Sõrve säär was very bad today and migration non-existent, Kabli had a very busy migration day today. More detailed information is in the Kabli bird station diary.
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