A MEMORABLE TWITCH FOR FINLAND'S SPECIAL BREEDING BIRDS.

In May I was asked if I fancied joining a group that was going to Finland with the intention of seeing a total of ten target species over a long weekend. Given that 2003 is one of the best years ever for breeding Owls around Oulu in Northern Finland it seemed that we could not fail. This short account is a record of a memorable 72 hours birding, which we had over the weekend of 5th-8th June, just south of the Arctic Circle. (The target species are in capitals).

After a 0400 wake up call, a long drive to Heathrow and a couple of flights our group of eight arrived at Oulu airport at 1715. We were met by our Finnature Guide Olli Karhu, otherwise known as "the bear", and after dumping our gear at a comfortable chalet we were out into the field by 1800. By 1900 our first target had been bagged as we watched a couple of unfledged URAL OWL chicks whilst nearby an adult eyed us suspiciously from a stand of Silver Birch. After a quick bite to eat we were back out looking for our next Owls and within a couple of hours we had scored sensational views of an adult GREAT GREY OWL patiently standing guard over a couple of unfledged owlets. Nearby a pair of stunning HAWK OWLS performed admirably whilst a male Red-backed Shrike sang underneath them. Indeed by now we were starting to get the feel that we were in northern Europe with a pair of Wood Sandpipers standing on a shed roof as both Short-eared Owl and a flock of 27+ Parrot Crossbills flew over. We hadn't finished with Owls for the day and we relocated to another site close to our digs where after ticking off Moose we managed to have flight views of an adult EAGLE OWL. We tried to relocate the Eagle Owl, accompanied by singing Redwings, Fieldfares carrying food, a roding Woodcock and a Great Grey Shrike but failed and retired to bed just after midnight whilst it was still daylight outside.

The following day started with a singing Common Rosefinch in the garden but we were soon on our way in search of more target birds and by 0800 our fifth species of Owl was seen. At first it looked like the only view of PYGMY OWL we were going to get was of a female brooding some young but soon the male came in a perched above us allowing excellent views. We continued further north and changed the focus of our intention from Owls to Woodpeckers. In an area of Silver Birch we watched a pair of THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS take food into a nest and nearby a male BLACK WOODPECKER eventually brought food into to a nest containing three hungry youngsters. It was just 1015 on day two and we had already seen seven or our target species although that was part of the plan as we then had a long drive north-east to Kuusamo near the Russian Border. No birding trip is complete without the obligatory trip to the town dump and this trip was to be no different. A quick visit to the dump just outside Kuusamo produced the expected Baltic Gull (fuscus) and a few Goldeneye but not the hoped for Heuglin's (Siberian) Gull.

After a nice buffet lunch in the town we continued on our way north-east beyond Kuusamo where a roadside stop at a nest box provided us with superb views of a pair of SIBERIAN TITS. After we had taken our fill of these (especially the male which showed down to ten feet) we made our way even further north and stopped at a well-known stakeout for SIBERIAN JAY. There was already a group of birders on site and they had not seen the birds so we made our way to a nearby area where they had sometimes been seen. Whilst searching there we had three Waxwings fly over and male Bramblings were singing but we had little else of note. We had just left that site intending to carry on north when Olli received a call from the Finnature guide leading the aforementioned group and for once he broke the speed limit as we hurtled back to the lay-by where a SIBERIAN JAY was thankfully on show. This bird was very obliging and was particularly fond of the bread that had been thrown for it. Needless to say we all have stunning video footage and photos'. After we had taken our fill of the Jay we continued northwards to the vicinity of Vikkula. We parked at the side of the lake where there was a Red-necked Grebe, at least two pairs of Velvet Scoter, 16 Smew (including six drakes) and over 20 smart Little Gulls. However good as the birding was we had another target in mind and a short walk off the road saw us collect our last target bird when we found a TENGMALM'S OWL with its head sticking out of a nest box as a Common Rosefinch sang behind us. The time was just 1455 and we had scored all our targets within 24 hours of arriving at Oulu airport (which we did at 1705 the previous day).

With the pressure off we now had chance to think about our secondary targets and first on the list was a particularly aggressive male Capercaillie not too far away from the Tengmalm's Owl site. Needless to say this chap didn't take a lot of finding and he was soon chasing the photographers off his territory. Then it was back to our motel for dinner before we went on a quest for probably the second hardest bird on the trip. An hours drive took us to Valtavaara where we then had a climb up a steep slope in search of what for many people would have been a primary target but we had all seen the bird in the UK as a vagrant. We heard one singing distantly not too far along the trail but Olli insisted we went further up the hillside (was he punishing us we wondered for making him work too hard?). Another bird was heard singing and we managed brief poor views of it before it flew across the path. Eventually however we managed to pin it down and all of us secured great views of a Red-flanked Bluetail. Although not a tick for any of the team we were all pleased to have scored this species, one of the rarest breeding birds in Europe.

Day three dawned early but not for us as we had celebrated with a few beers until gone midnight and after a leisurely breakfast we set off on the long trip back to Oulu. At a lake just outside Kuusamo we had cracking views of a singing Little Bunting and his mate and another trip to the tip finally secured Heuglin's Gull. We dropped Olli off at 1500 as he was picking up another team later that day and we struck out on our own. First port of call was Oulu oilport where there is a single pair of Terek Sandpipers. Unfortunately the tide was in and we couldn't locate them but we did have Temmink's Stint, four Caspian Terns and a selection of waders. We returned to the Woodpecker site in an attempt to locate Hazel Grouse, which are always very difficult in June the best months being September / October and then in spring, but it was fruitless and all we added was a pair of singing Green Sandpipers.

After dinner in the hotel where all the tour groups stay, during which we were treated to Common Rosefinches, Mealy Redpolls and Bramblings at the garden feeders, we went to Liminganlahti (Liminka Marshes). Here following a singing Ortolan Bunting and Common Rosefinch we actually got down to some "normal" birding and very good it was too. Over 230 Whooper Swans were present along with 150+ Common Cranes and these were supported by 20 Garganey, a pair of Pintail, a flock of 27 stunning Spotted Redshanks, a lek of 30 Ruff and a quartering Short-eared Owl. We returned to the Eagle Owl site but only one of us secured a brief view and at 0030 decided to call it a day despite there still being good light.

Our final morning was spent back at the Owl sites where we saw both adult Great Grey Owls and their two chicks, both adult Hawk Owls and a chick and the adult Ural Owl with both chicks. The Red-backed Shrike was still singing at the Hawk Owl site and a Goshawk flew over taking the trip list to 125. We were at the airport for 1230 and back home for 2130 on Sunday evening and so ended a fantastic weekends birding.

Mark Beevers.

It is very likely that another trip along the same lines as this (i.e. a long weekend twitch) will run again next year if there is sufficient interest. Although most of the target birds are at nest sites, which is unfortunate, it is the only way to see them and as a result success is almost guaranteed. If anyone is interested get in touch with me either via email or phone.