Finland & Arctic Norway

Transcription

1 Limosa Trip Report Finland & Arctic Norway Northern Owls & the Arctic Tue 7th-Sat 18th June 2011 Photos (clockwise, from top left): Looking surprised to see us, this superb Tengmalm s Owl posed perfectly for our group at Kuusamo Excellent views of this amazing female Great Grey Owl with chicks, on its nest in Siikajoki Close encounter with Arctic Redpoll in low willows on the way to Hamningberg, in Arctic Norway Puffins are numerous on Hornoya island... But Brünnich s Guillemot is the star seabird bird to look for there! all photos kind permission of tour participant John Fraser. For a more extensive range of photographs taken on our tours to Finland & Arctic Norway, see our website: report compiled by tour leaders: Toni Eskelin and Ari Latja 1 Limosa Holidays, West End Farmhouse, Chapelfield, Stalham Norfolk NR12 9EJ tel: +44 (0) fax: +44 (0) info@limosaholidays.co.uk website:

2 Trip Diary Tour Leaders: Toni Eskelin & Ari Latja with John Fraser, Tony Jones, Mike Keighley, Malcolm & Joan McDonald, Ian Moig and Rod Smith During the first part of the trip in Oulu and Kuusamo, the weather was really hot with temperatures going up to 30C, but once we got to northern Finland and Norway temperatures dropped, on some days to just above zero. Voles were abundant in Oulu area this year and so we were treated with good views of the special Finnish owls: male Pygmy Owl, a pair of Hawk Owls by their nest, some Ural Owl chicks and a female Great Grey Owl on the nest with chicks. Other good species here were a pair of Pallid Harriers, Goshawk, Corncrake (only heard), the much sought-after Terek Sandpiper, Black and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Wryneck and passerines including Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed and Great Grey Shrikes, and Common Rosefinch. From Oulu we moved to Kuusamo, where the terrain is more hilly with pristine pine forests and many lakes. Kuusamo also had a collection of great birds for us: Velvet Scoter, Smew, Hazel and Willow Grouse, Blackthroated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, many White-tailed Eagles near the Russian border, Golden Eagle, Black Kite, Heuglin s Gulls at the rubbish tip, dainty Little Gulls dancing on the lakes, a female Tengmalm s Owl peeking out of a nestbox and, of course, the enigmatic eastern passerines: Red-flanked Bluetail, Siberian Tit, Siberian Jay, Two-barred Crossbill (along with Common Crossbills), and Rustic and Little Buntings. Driving further north across the Arctic Circle to Ivalo, we enjoyed views of boglands and lakes with Smew, Common Crane, our first Ruff, and raptors such as Peregrine and Osprey. On the way north from Ivalo to Arctic Norway we stopped by a roadside cafe where more Siberian Tits and Siberian Jays were coming to a feeder along with Common Redpolls and Pine Grosbeaks. Then we crossed into Norway, and on to Varangerfjord that had different birds to offer: Taiga Bean Geese, a juvenile White-billed Diver, Rough-legged Buzzards, Longtailed Skuas and waders like Golden Plover, Bar-tailed Godwitt, Temminck s Stint and Red.necked Phalarope. In Vardo, we took a boat out to the auk colony of Hornoya, with its Brünnich s, Common and Black Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins alongside thousands of Kittiwakes. Later that afternoon, we drove to Hamningberg through moon-like scenery, adding to our list the likes of King Eider and Long-tailed Duck, Gannet, both Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, and Pomarine Skua plus Red-throated Pipit, Bluethroat and Arctic Redpoll. Leaving Vardo and Varangerfjord, we then drove up into the hills of the interior of the Varanger peninsula. The beautiful landscape was still partly covered in snow and ice, as were the lakes. Here we visited a site for Gyrfalcon and, after a little searching, found three juvenile birds sitting on a cliff with an adult watching from a little further away. The few open lakes held Scaup, Long-tailed Ducks, Red-throated Divers and tens of Rednecked Phalaropes. Temminck s Stints were displaying, as were the Dotterels - one of which landed just in front of us and almost literally ran between our legs! Despite the windy weather, we found also the special passerines: Red-throated Pipits, Shore Larks and Lapland Buntings. By chance, we also found a nest of a Lapland Bunting, hidden in the low grass. After a long and satisfying day we returned to our hotel in Tana. Driving back from Norway to Ivalo didn t yield any new species, but we stopped at the café again to admire the Pine Grosbeaks and other birds coming to the feeder. Finally, back at Ivalo, an evening excursion produced a confiding Willow Grouse and two displaying Jack Snipe. Thanks to all for a most successful and memorable tour! Toni Eskelin and Ari Latja 2 Limosa Holidays

3 ANNOTATED LIST OF BIRDS RECORDED (Total number of 182 species recorded by the group) Hazel Grouse Tetrastes bonasia A male in Kuusamo on 12 th Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix A single female along the road in Siikajoki on 9 th Willow Grouse Lagopus lagopus A male in Kuusamo 12 th and an other one in Ivalo on 17 th Bean Goose Anser fabalis Groups of 6, 14 and 2 seen between 14 th and 16 th in Varangerfjord. Greylag Goose Anser anser Small groups in the Oulu-area Mute Swan Cygnus olor One seen in Oulu on 7 th Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Seen almost every day in Finland, some pairs in Norway also near Vardo. Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Some in Nesseby on 14 th and 16 th and at Tana estuary on 17 th Gadwall Anas strepera Three in Oulu on 7 th Wigeon Anas penelope Seen on five days at widespread locales Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Frequent usually in small numbers in wetland areas throughout the trip Shoveler Anas clypeata Small numbers on three days in Oulu-area Pintail Anas acuta Seen on 8 th and 9 th in Oulu area Garganey Anas querquedula Four in Siikajoki on 8 th and two in Liminka Bay on 9 th Common Teal Anas crecca Noted on seven days in small numbers from Oulu to Ivalo Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Frequent in small numbers as far north as Varanger Fjord Scaup Aythya marila Two in Kuusamo on 12 th King Eider Somateria spectabilis Two males and four females by Varangerfjord on 16 th Common Eider Somateria mollissima Common in Varanger Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca All together a dozen seen in Kuusamo between 10 th and 12 th Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis Flocks of several hundreds still on the sea around Vardö waiting for inland lakes to thaw. Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Seen on nine days in Finland Smew Mergellus albellus Four in Siikajoki 0n 8 th and flocks up to 40 birds on the lakes in Kuusamo between 9 th and 11th Goosander Mergus merganser Many hundreds along the coast of Varanger Fjord, mostly moulting males Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Some seen in Oulu and Kuusamo almost every day, plenty on the sea in Varanger Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata Common in Varanger area, 3 Limosa Holidays

4 Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica Seen on four dates, from the lakes of Finland to the shores of Varangerfjord White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii One immature in the inner parts of Varangerfjord on 14 th Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena In Kuusamo six on 10 th and three on 11 th Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Seen on three days in Oulu area Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus One on the way to Kuusamo on 10 th Gannet Morus bassanus A total of about ten around Hamningberg on 15 th Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Plenty in Varangerfjord Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis Numerous in the Vardo area, including many in the colony on Hornoya Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Seen on two days in Oulu area Hobby Falco subbuteo One in Oulu 7 th Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus An adult sitting on a cliff watching three juveniles in Varanger peninsula on 16 th Peregrine Falco peregrinus One on the way from Kuusamo to Ivalo on 13 th, one sitting on top of a cliff by the road to Hamningberg on 15 th Osprey Pandion haliaetus One on the way from Kuusamo to Ivalo on 13 th White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla Up to 15 seen in Kuusamo by the Russian border on 12th with many more along Varangerfjord Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus One seen on 7 th and 8 th in Oulu area Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus Three birds in in Kuusamo on 12 th Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus A stunning pair on a field near Oulu on 9 th Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Seen on three occasions from Oulu to Ivalo Goshawk Accipiter gentilis A female seen in Siikajoki on 9 th Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Only one seen on the way to Kuusamo on 10 th Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus Single birds seen on three days in small numbers, both in Lapland and in Varanger Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos One in Kuusamo on 10 th Corncrake Crex crex One heard in Oulu on 8 th Coot Fulica atra Ten in Liminka Bay on 10 th Common Crane Grus grus Flocks of up to 50 birds in Oulu area between 7 th and 10 th, single pairs in Kuusamo and Ivalo on three days Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Numerous along the Varangerfjord Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Small numbers were noted daily in roadside fields in Oulu area Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria Breeding commonly in Varanger area 4 Limosa Holidays

5 Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Seen in Oulu area on two days, frequent by Varangerfjord Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Seen in Oulu on three days between 7 th and 9 th Dotterel Charadrius morinellus Five birds on the hills of Varanger peninsula on 16 th Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Three roding near our hotel at Oulunsalo on 8 th Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus Two seen displaying over a small bog near Ivalo in the vening of 17 th Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago Noted on seven days, both seen and heard drumming from Finland to Varanger Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Up to five birds in Oulu area between 7 th and 9 th Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Seen in Varanger on three dates between 14 th and 16th Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Seen from Kuusamo northwards on three different days Curlew Numenius arquata Seen on seven days from Oulu to Kuusamo, one in Ivalo on 17 th Redshank Tringa totanus Some around Oulu, but more common in Varanger, Greenshank Tringa nebularia Seen on five days between Oulu and Kuusamo Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus In Kuusamo two on 11 th and one on 12 th Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Seen on five days from Oulu to Ivalo Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus One seen near Oulu Port on 8 th Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Seen on three days in Oulu and Kuusamo Turnstone Arenaria interpres One seen in Oulu on 8 th, many along Varanger Fjord Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii Displaying birds common in Varangerfjord and on the hills of Varanger peninsula Dunlin Calidris alpina A scattering on beaches between Nesseby and Hamningberg Ruff Philomachus pugnax Seen in small numbers in Varanger between 14 th and 16 th including some groups of displaying males Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus First pair seen on a small lake on the way to Kuusamo on 10 th, with further sightings on three more days further north Common Gull Larus canus Widespread and frequently seen Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Very common in Varanger Herring Gull Larus argentatus Very common all the way from Oulu to Varanger Heuglin's Gull Larus heuglini Two in Kuusamo dump on 10 th Lesser Black-backed (Baltic) Gull Larus fuscus Several in Kuusamo dump on 10 th Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus One in Svartnes on 15 th Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides One in Smelror on 15 th 5 Limosa Holidays

6 Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus Seen on six days from Oulu to Kuusamo between 7 th and 12th Little Gull Larus minutus Common on lakes in Kuusamo area Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla Many along Varangerfjord from Nesseby onwards including thousands breeding on Hornoya, Common Tern Sterna hirundo Seen daily from Oulu up to Kuusamo Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Seen on most days all the way from Oulu to Varanger Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus Common as well on the sea as on the hills of Varanger area Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus One briefly seen in Utsjoki on 14 th, several on the uplands of Varanger peninsula Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus One seen in Hamningberg on 15 th and one near Vardö on 16 th Great Skua Stercorarius skua A pair on an island next to Hornoya on 15 th Brünnich's Guillemot Uria lomvia Many were seen on breeding cliffs at Hornoya on 15 th Guillemot Uria aalge Thousands breeding on Hornoya and birds scattered on sea between Vardo and Hamningberg Razorbill Alca torda Excellent close views on the breeding cliffs at Hornoya on 15 th Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle Small numbers scattered on the sea from Nesseby to Hamningberg, less than usually at Hornoya Puffin Fratercula arctica Plenty of nesting birds on Hornoya on 15 th Feral Pigeon (Rock Dove) Columba livia Only two seen in Oulu area on 10 th, the northernmost residing in Vardö. Stock Dove Columba oenas Two in fields near Oulunsalo on 7 th Woodpigeon Columbia palumbus Noted in small numbers from Oulu to Kuusamo between Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Mostly heard on seven days from Oulu to Kuusamo Ural Owl Strix uralensis Two+three chicks seen in Oulu area on 8 th and 9 th but no adult birds Great Grey Owl Strix nebulosa Excellent views of a mother with chicks on a nest in Siikajoki on 8 th Hawk Owl Surnia ulula A pair with nestlings in a hole in a stump in Siikajoki on 8 th (Eurasian) Pygmy Owl Glaucidium passerinum Adult male sitting on treetops giving excellent views in Oulu on 7 th Tengmalm's Owl Aegolius funereus A female peeking out of a nestbox on two occasions in Kuusamo on 11 th and 12 th Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Two hunting birds seen in Oulu on 8 th and one more on the hills between Utsjoki and Ivalo on 17 th (Common) Swift Apus apus Seen in Oulu area on four days between 7 th and 10 th Wryneck Jynx torquilla One seen in Oulu on 8 th Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Seen once in Oulu and twice in Kuusamo (Eurasian) Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus A female by a nest in Siikajoki on 8 th 6 Limosa Holidays

7 Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius A male seen in Oulu on 9 th Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Three males in Siikajoki on 8 th Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor One in Siikajoki on 9 th Siberian Jay Perisoreus infaustus All together five birds seen in Kuusamo on 11 th and two coming to the feeder by roadside the café in Inari Jay Garrulus glandarius One on the way from Oulu to Kuusamo on 10th Magpie Pica pica Seen daily all the way through from Oulu to Varanger Jackdaw Corvus monedula Plenty on the fields and in the villages in Oulu area Rook Corvus frugilegus Several by the roadside near Liminka on 8th Hooded Crow Corvus corone Seen daily all the way through from Oulu to Varanger Raven Corvus corax Seen almost daily throughout the trip from Oulu to Varanger Willow Tit Poecile montana Seen on four days in Finland from Oulu to Ivalo Siberian Tit Poecile cincta Seen in Kuusamo on 10 th and 12 th and again by the roadside café in Inari on 14 th and 17th Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus One seen in Oulu on 7th Great Tit Parus major Seen daily as far north as Utsjoki Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Seen on four days from Oulu to Kuusamo Sand Martin Riparia riparia Noted on six days from Oulu to Kuusamo Swallow Hirundo rustica Seen daily in Finland as north as Ivalo, one in Vardo on 15th House Martin Delichon urbicum Seen on four days as north as Ivalo Shore (Horned) Lark Eremophila alpestris A few birds on the uplands of Varanger peninsula on 16th Skylark Alauda arvensis Seen on three days in Oulu area Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Seen on four days in Oulu area and one heard in Kuusamo on 12 th Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum A singing bird near Oulu on 12 th Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus The melodious song of Willow Warbler could be heard in the background all through the trip from Oulu up to Varanger Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Two heard in Oulu area on 8 th and 9 th Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix One seen and heard in Oulu on 8 th Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla One heard in Oulu on 9 th Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Seen or heard on four days in Oulu area Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca Heard only once in Oulu area on 8 th 7 Limosa Holidays

8 Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis Heard only once in Oulu area on 8 th Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Heard in Kuusamo on 11 th Blackbird Turdus merula Seen on four days from Oulu to Kuusamo Fieldfare Turdus pilaris A regular companion, seen every day from Oulu all the way to Hamningberg, with pairs breeding on the low willows on otherwise treeless tundra Redwing Turdus iliacus Another bird seen every day, especially the variable song heard regularly Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Seen and mostly heard on four days between Oulu and Ivalo Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Seen on four days in Oulu and Kuusamo Robin Erithacus rubecula Seen or heard from Oulu up to Ivalo in the north Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Seen on 14 th and 15 th in Varanger and on 17 th in Utsjoki. More difficult to find than usual probably because of the cold and windy weather in the north Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus Three singing males seen on the hills of Kuusamo on 11 th Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Seen on six days in Finland up to Inari in the north Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Seen on three days in Oulu area and once in Kuusamo Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Seen on three days in Oulu area and on three days in in Varanger Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata In small numbers from Oulu to Kuusamo Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca Common throughout Finland from Oulu to Ivalo Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva A super singing first-summer male in Siikajoki on 8 th giving excellent views Dipper Cinclus cinclus One in Kuusamo on 11 th House Sparrow Passer domesticus Frequently seen, quite common also along Varangerfjord Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Seen in Oulu area on 9 th and in Kuusamo on 11 th and 12 th Dunnock Prunella modularis One seen in Oulu area on 8 th Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Seen on four days from Oulu up to Ivalo White Wagtail Motacilla alba A frequently encountered roadside species, seen daily Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis A few in Oulu area, numerous from Oulu northwards, common in Varanger Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis Seen and heard on four days in Oulu and Kuusamo Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus Relatively common in Varanger breeding in tall-grass meadows Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus Only seen on Hornoya on 15 th Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Common in Finland from Oulu up to Inari 8 Limosa Holidays

9 Brambling Fringilla montifringilla One heard in Oulu area, regularly seen and heard in the northern parts of Finland. Excellent views of stunning males at the feeder in Inari Greenfinch Carduelis chloris Scattered throughout, even as far north as Vardo Siskin Carduelis spinus Common, recorded on seven days with northernmost records from Ivalo Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea Seen daily from Kuusamo northwards as far north as Varanger Arctic Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni Seen on 15 th in low willows on the way to Hamningberg Linnet Carduelis cannabina One seen in Oulu on 7 th Scarlet (Common) Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus Seen on four days in Oulu area Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator Close views at the roadside café in Inari on 14 th and again on 17 th Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra Seen on two days in Kuusamo on 11 th and 12 th Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera One seen along with the common ones in Kuusamo on 11 th Northern Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Heard in Oulu on 8 th and seen in Kuusamo on 11 th Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Seen in small numbers on the first seven days from Oulu to Ivalo Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana Five seen in Oulu area on 8 th Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla One singing male showing well at Kuusamo on 11 th Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica A pair seen in Kuusamo on 12 th, good to see since this is a species getting more and more difficult to see in Finland Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus Seen every day in Finland from Oulu to Inari Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus Several seen on the uplands of Varanger on 16 th when even a nest with eggs was found 9 Limosa Holidays