Two Pekkas and lots of owls
Out at 6am to look for owls. We were joined late last night by the rest of the group, we all set off in a convoy of 3 vans with Pekka Pouttu and Pekka Saiko guiding to look for our first target birds. Our first two stake-outs for Three-toed Woodpecker and Tengmalm's Owl drew a blank, but at our third stop, we hit the jackpot with a family of Ural Owls, and a drumming male Three-toed Woodpecker as a Honey Buzzard soared overhead. Now we were rolling! Next stop, Tengmalm's Owl on a main road opposite a bus stop, an unlikely location but a great view. Then on to a quick stop by a lake which produce Wryneck, Red-throated Grebe and singing Common Rosefinch. A bit further along the lake, we again screeched to a halt as through the trees we caught sight of a group of six Black-throated Divers displaying. We walked through some meadows, braving a herd of curious charolais cattle and carefully negotiating an electrified fence (don't worry, we did have the farmer's permission), and through some damp woodland until we saw a male White-backed Woodpecker. This bird was elusive at first, but with persistence at last all the group enjoyed great views. On again, this time picking our way through more damp woodland and trying to ignore the extremely ferocious mosquitoes to look for Pygmy Owl. We heard it call, and the commotion of a Pied Flycatcher mobbing the bird drew our attention to this gorgeous diminutive owl watching us from a pine branch high above us. Bird species total: 2244Posted 31st May, Hauho, Finland