Common Cranes in the Liminka Bay, at sunset
On a fine afternoon in April 2021, an exotic looking bird appeared on my window sill. Little did I know then that this vibrant fluff ball, a welcome distraction from the dull, covid-inspired work-from-home schedule, is a commoner in Finland. This bird was none other than the Great Tit - the one that had me embark on the beautiful journey of bird watching!
1. THE GREAT TIT
Some internet search revealed that many species of resident birds find Finland to be inhabitable, and nest here throughout the year, in spite of the extreme winters. In addition, there are also migrants that fly 1000s of miles to spend their summers here. God knows it was better to be a bird in the dire times of COVID, 'cuz crossing borders became an alien thing for humans. Engaging with the Ruffs from South Africa, Common Cranes from India, and many more such foreign dwellers who made it to Finland for their vacation, made me feel connected to the world once again, in those times of isolation! With the onset of spring, the perfunctory alarm was no longer necessary. Living in the vicinity of a wetland meant, some blissful chirrup to wake me up at dawn, leaving enough time to visit the culprits during my morning walk. And every day I found a new addition waiting to introduce itself. In an effort to remember each one of my bird pals, here are some pictures and some anecdotes from the moments of our encounter.
2. MR. n MRS. GREENFINCH, who are usually miffed at anyone interrupting their date.
PASSERINE BIRDS
Although most of them are exasperatingly elusive, they are a bundle of cuteness when observed closely. The Finnish forests, where they are usually busy flitting from tree to tree, is always atwitter. Even as a child, I was aware that a curated cage can never offer the kind of freedom of their natural environments. So I swore never to have any birds for pets. I was content watching them hop by, even if it was only for the few seconds, before they flew away. An alternative was to scatter some rice kernels on the terrace of our house in Delhi and gaze at the band of pigeons that would vociferously swoop in on the spread. Sadly, back where I grew up, not many different birds would visit us in the urban jungle around us. But here in the happiest country in the world, even a major metropolitan city like Espoo was teeming with plenty of species. In addition to the forests, they are also active throughout the day near the outdoor birdfeeders and fill the neighbourhood with their sweet chirrup.
3. MR. n MRS. BULLFINCH
4. MR. n MRS. CHAFFINCH
5. HOUSE AND TREE SPARROWS. The biggest learning from this experience has been that, they are not all just sparrows.
6. THE NORTHERN WHEATEAR
7. THE GOLDCREST. If not for its vibrant crest, I would have missed taking notice of the tiniest bird in Europe.
8. "Hi! I am cute and I know it."-THE EUROPEAN ROBIN
9. The very industrious, TREECLIMBER
10. THE BARN SWALLOWS, with incredibly pretty tail displays.
11. The highly sociable, HOUSE MARTIN
12. The very melodious, Song Thrush
13. THE PIED and SPOTTED FLY CATCHERS - a birder's best friends, because they eat all the blood thirsty mosquitoes in the forest.
14. THE YELLOW HAMMER
15. THE MAGPIES, THE JACKDAW, AND THE HOODED CROW
16. THE FIELDFARE, who always gives you the death stare when you try photographing her. Perhaps if she knew how photogenic she is, she wouldn't mind it so much!
17. MR. n MRS. GOLDFINCH. The most wondrous birds ever!
18. THE YELLOW AND WHITE WAGTAILS
19. THE BLUE TIT
20. FERAL AND WOOD PIGEONS
22. THE ARCTIC TERN, in flight, while catching its prey, and while at rest.
23. THE COMMON BLACKBIRD, hopping around the forest floor covered in white spring flowers
24. The very elegant, EURASIAN JAY
One of my most memorable encounters with the passerines is the one with the Redwing bird. The first time I saw her nestled in her neat home, precariously built on a shrub amid the carnage unleashed by winter, I thought I had spotted a new born chic (Tell me, you thought so too!).
In my excitement to peer at her, when I moved closer, I must have given her a fright, because she flew away. It's when I saw the shiny eggs that she was incubating in her nest. Fortunately, she flew right back in, as soon as I retreated. The eggs that take 12-15 days to hatch are nurtured by both the male and female birds, and I learnt from a fellow birder, that it may cause distress to them, if approached. So from then on, although I started visiting the site regularly to observe the pregnancy journey of the soon-to-be-Redwing parents, I kept my distance. Checking on the nest from afar became my new mission for the next 17 days, and finding it intact each morning meant, success. Now and then, the harsh winds and rainfall would make me anxious about the durability of the nest, but in all, I was joyfully anticipating the babies, just like mommy Redwing, who got her Mother's Day present, a day late on 10.05.2021! Watch the baby Redwing brothers and sisters, yawning and jostling for space, in the video.
25. THE REDWINGS
WARBLER BIRDS
The warbler category among the passerienes, are mainly found incessantly calling out to mates in the reed beds by the bay areas! That I have been to spot about 75+ bird species close to a city is not serendipity, but a sheer consequece of the conscious balance between farming, cattle rearing, development of green surroundings in the urban areas, and the preservation of biotopes like estuaries, wooded pastures, reed beds, open sea zones, and more such natural habitats that allow both nature and humans to be prolific here. It is so relaxing to reconnect with nature at its rawest and witness life sustain itself through the synergy between animals, birds, rodents, humans, and their surroundings.
26. REED BUNTING
27. REED WARBLER
28. WILLOW WARBLER
29. SEDGE WARBLER
30. WOOD WARBLER
WATERFOWL BIRDS
Spring also brings with it the delight of watching couple birds going about their lives during the breeding season. Though parenting duties rest heavily on the mother in some water fowl species, in most, the parents share the efforts needed to bring up their young. One fond memory, is witnessing a Canada Goose couple preparing for this new chapter of their lives, at the bird wetland nearby. Soon-to-be-dadda goose would always be swimming close by, guarding his wife and their eggs. He won't leave her side, and mumma goose won't budge from the nest, foregoing food and bath for 28 days, to give the eggs all the warmth and protection they needed to hatch into 5 beautiful, bald, yellow goslings. At most she would adjust her incubation position. It's surprising, how fast the little ones grow, after hatching.
31. THE CANADA GEESE
Mumma Canada Goose with the eggs
In the first few days after they are born, the chicks ride on the adults' backs.
Gradually they are themselves able to swim and follow Mumma and Papa goose everywhere.
At two months old, they start to look more and more like their parents, and start taking lessons from mumma goose to use their tiny wings that are just sprouting. Papa goose and the observers can't be more proud of their progress!
The interactions between all waterfowl species and their young is heartwarming. Here are a few more that I happened to come by!
32. THE EURASIAN COOT
Nesting Coot bird and the new parents feeding their chicks.
33. THE MALLARDS in a tiff.
Perhaps Mrs. Mallard was not very happy about Mr. Mallard not taking any responsibility.
Here's how I found the protective Mallard mumma; disproportionately plumped up. By the time I could comprehend why, out popped a curious little head, then two, a few tiny beaks, and many pairs of fragile webbed feet. Chics struggle to keep themselves warm in the first few days after they are born. This mommy Mallard was brooding her 10 newborn ducklings under her warm feathers. But once the sun was out, they were all too eager to march into the reeds for a dip in the swamp!
34. THE GOLDEN EYE
Then there's the Golden Eye Duck mumma teaching her little ones, how to dive! Watch the fun video of the ducklings following her!
35. THE BLACK HEADED GULL
A momma Black-headed Gull bringing food back to the nest, where some babies are very eager for breakfast, and others too drowsy to care!
36. THE BARNACLE GEESE
Barnacle Geese taking the young out to graze.
Other waterfowls that are not busy breeding can be found enjoying the warming weather with their beloved. Here are some such waterfowl couples! The male birds are especially colourful, a sign of their strength, and a potential factor that the females asses to choose a mate.
37. THE WIGEONS
38. MR. GARGANAY feeling desolate like me, after Mrs. Garganay flew away. I don't know about Mr. Garganay, but she certainly came back to pose for me, the next morning!
39. MR. GADWALL in his penance to seek a good wife.
40. THE NORTHERN SHOVELLERS with an unusually large bill.
41. THE CRESTED GREBES, smugly holidaying in Finland in the midst of a pandemic, also ensuring that their young are Finnish citizens.
42. THE HORNED GREBES, in a screaming match about who will hoist baby Grebe.
Finally it was decided that Mr. Horned Grebe will take baby horned Grebe piggy backing after he was born and mumma horned Grebe will fetch food to satiate the hunger of their new born, that would keep poking it's head out from papa's back, every now and then. How papa grebe, quite a tiny bird himself, is able to hoist his baby and swim around, is a wonder. Oftentimes, one adult Grebe parent carries up to 3 babies, snugly packing them onto their back or around the neck region, while the other parent brings them food. I was quite fortunate to be present at the site to watch this interaction between Horned Grebes and their young, as it only lasts until they are are ready to swim (which is a few hours from the time they are born). I also had the delight of watching baby Grebe swim by himself!
43. DIFFERENT TYPES OF SEA GULLS
44. THE TEALS
45. THE SHELLDUCK AND THE RINGED PLOVER
46. THE TUFTED DUCK, looking like a million bucks in that pigtail.
47. THE GOOSANDERS. Mr. with a most pointed, maroon beak, and the Mrs. with a spectacular hairdo.
48. MR. POCHARD, who is not very keen on getting a good photograph of himself.
49. THE WHOOPER SWAN. Also the National Bird of Finland *whoop, whoop*
50. THE MUTE SWAN
WADER BIRDS AND BIRDS OF PREY
These can be quite far out in the sea or high up in the sky, and are best spotted from bird watching towers, that offer a sweeping view of the surroundings and are free for public use, throughout Finland. Binoculars and telescopes are very useful in following a bird's flight, to detect a camouflage, and the disappearance of birds into the reeds. Much of the worlds beauty that is obscure to the naked eyes is exposed when peering through these instruments, leaving one brimming with the kind of awe that is hard to describe! A lens with a range of 150-800mm is recommended for bird photography, in general. But in my opinion, owning a pair of powerful binoculars brings out the essence of bird watching in a way nothing can. Sometimes focussing on getting a shot can distract one from the moment itself, which is better when observed with binoculars. Although watching these birds through a pair has etched some vivid memories in my mind, here are a few shots that I managed with my 200mm lens!
51. THE RED SHANK
52. THE COMMON SANDPIPERS
53. THE GREEN SHANK
54. THE NORTHERN LAPWING and her baby. The distinct call of this bird and the wings that catch sunlight, and reflect a band of colours, stand out like the three strands of hair on her head. Hear the bird in the video!
55. MALE RUFFS with a neck fur display that can grab not just the attention of the female ruffs, but everyone around!
56. CURLEWS with the most curled beak ever.
57. THE OYSTER CATCHERS Jr. n Sr.
58. THE SHORT-EARED OWL
59. THE EAGLE OWL AND HER CUBS
60. THE WHITE TAILED EAGLE
61. THE NORTHERN HARRIER
62. THE NORTHERN GOSHAWK
63. The very majestic, GREY HERON
64. THE COMMON CRANES
65. The two birds which I managed to see but couldn't photograph quickly enough, are the Osprey and the Godwit.
AND NOT TO FORGET,
66. THE LESSER-SPOTTED AND GREAT WOODPECKERS, who I am finding hard to classify. Look closely to spot the differences, and watch the video of the woodpecker at work, pecking insects out and not just merely chewing wood!
MY DIY TIPS FOR BIRDERS
Finland is a great place for budding birders to peek into the world of our avian friends. Here's a list of my favourite bird watching areas in Finland. Most of them have designated bird watching towers that are free for public use. They are all near Helsinki and Espoo, in Southern Finland and can be reached by a combination of public transport from Helsinki. In the North, I loved the Liminka Bay and the parks in Oulu city Center.
1. The Laajalahti bay near Villa Elfik
2. Maarin Torni, which can be reached from Villa Elfik on a walk that goes through the forests of Espoo and some duck board pathways. There are also two more towers in the same area, if you take the longer route from Villa Elfik to Maarin Torni.
About 70% of the birds I have seen so far, were spotted here at 1 and 2!
3. Vaanhankaupunginlahti (the old bay of Helsinki)
This is a great place to spot Grey Herons and the bird with a thousand hearts - the Starling.
THE STARLING
4. The Seurasaari island
This one is a good place to look for the lesser spotted woodpecker and the Oyster Catchers with their young.
5. The Toolonlahti bay.
This one is great for catching up with mute swan families and the white mallards.
THE WHITE MALLARD
THE MUTE SWAN FAMILY
The heart as a symbol of love, is only a figment of human imagination, because it's where we believe love resides. But on some level we must be right. Some poet, or artist, or musician in history, must have found some inspiration from mute swan couples to quote such a thing!
Facing one another, and inadvertently forming a heart is part of the swan courtship ritual. Swans are said to mate for life. One evidence seems to be the love that stays in the air, even after the arrival of the cygnets! At times, the adults share childcare duties, by keeping an eye on a few cygnets each. Other times, they can be found preening themselves or swimming together as one family!
6. Suomenojan Lintualtaat
Great for all kind of waders like the tufted duck, Horned Grebes, and especially for the breeding colony of black headed gulls! I was told by a fellow Finn birder, that a Moor Hen is as rare a breed in Finland as an Indian :P, when we spotted an adult Moorhen with her young, from the bird watching tower here.
ADULT AND YOUNG MOORHEN
7. Suomenlinna
This one is best for breeding Eagle Owls! They can be found near the old dockyard.
8. The Liminka Bay and Oulu City Center
The Liminka Bay can be reached by local buses from Oulu city center. The bay is especially great for waders like the sandipers, ruffs, and the Black Tailed Godwit. The nature center at Liminka bay, one of the world's most important bird wetlands, that is visited by up to 200 species of birds every year, has a very interactive and fun museum to visit. Bird sound recordings and the monitors displaying the arrival/departure times of different bird species are especially informative.
Fat biking along the Liminka bay, making stops at the many bird towers enroute is an adventure in the true sense for any lover of the outdoors, like me, and a great way to spot the birds in the area. The bay is filled with common cranes during sunset, and is a treat for the eyes. Besides this, the green areas of Oulu City Center are also home to a variety of birds.
HOW TO IDENTIFY THEM
I highly recommend familiarising yourself with some common visitors, because you'll know what to watch out for. This database here https://laji.fi/en/observation/list?target=MX.26415, gives you the latest spottings and areas where these most wanted hearthrobs were last seen. Finland is also filled with bird watchers, and you can befriend some knowledgeable and friendly locals, during early mornings or late evenings at bird watching towers, to learn more. I also use Google Lens to identify from a captured image. A pair of powerful binoculars and a set of camera lens ranging from 200mm to telescopic, will go a long way. With that I hope, this is a helpful beginners guide to bird watching and that you'll enjoy it as much as I do! Moi Moi.
Beautiful clicks.