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Eagle owl

 

How to proceed on Sunday morning after stepping out in the yard needed some consideration. I arrived at the decision that with such winds I would not after all go to Kabli to freeze with the first migrants. Today there were the splendid birthday celebrations in Pärnu, between the birds I would watch some of that.

 

When I arrived the celebrations had already started. In the park music from a brisk brass band could be heard, joined by loudly cawing crows. On closer investigation the reason became clear – the band accompanied the placing of wreaths at the memorial, the crows however croaked at an eagle owl (Bubo bubo), who was sitting on a spruce branch with a fistful of something that once had croaked too in its claws. Brass band in the background, screaming crows and patrolling policemen under the tree, plus the addition of a bird enthusiast – it all was sufficient for the worthy guest to cause a pricking of the feathered ears, thus showing some slight annoyance. As worthy guests as this are not often seen in Tartu. I myself have only met an eagle owl three times in the city.

 

I had seen enough of the celebrations and headed out of the town. The goal was to visit the nearest suitable dipper (Cinclus cinclus) locations  at Pärnu river. At Tammiste the ford was closed and I trampled on to the Sindi weir. No dipper there either. As compensation the little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) found by Jaak was still in place.

 

On the road back a capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) cock surprised me just at the town border. It seemed to be quite sane. Once there was also a lek in the area, in recent  decades nothing has been heard of the species, and in Pärnu only crazed birds are  seen regularly.

 

Among other new promenade species I also met the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor), yellowhammers (Emberiza citrinella) and of course migrant skylarks (Alauda arvensis). In all ways a pleasant eco-trip and a fine celebration day for Estonia.

 

See the eco-rally birders' blog:

http://okoralli2014.blogspot.com/