KARELIA 2007

 

“The birds have to be pretty special birds to make us ignore the mosquitoes of the Finnish forests and bogs.  Thanks to Ari’s local knowledge we were rewarded with fantastic encounters with Pygmy Owl, Three-toed and Black Woodpeckers (the former feeding chicks at a nest hole), both Red-necked and Slavonian Grebes, Black-throated Divers, Whooper Swans, drake Smew, a brief Hazelhen and a couple of fleeting Willow Grouse, Woodcock, Common Cranes, Nightjar, Siberian Jays, Nutcrackers, Wood Warbler, Crested Tit, ‘trumpeting’ Bullfinches and both Rustic and Ortolan Buntings and perhaps best of all a singing male Red-flanked Bluetail.  

 

At various marshes we enjoyed prolonged Bittern fly-pasts, family parties of Marsh Harriers, beautiful Little Gulls and our views of Corncrake will probably never be bettered!  All this and we hadn’t even reached Russia yet!  Once over the border, (at the second attempt), we experienced a delightful tour of St Petersburg with local guide Natalia - what better way to see the sights of this famous city than by boat? 

 

The following morning we were on the road again, and our first roadside stops produced a multi coloured arrangement of Ruff with both Green and Wood Sandpiper alongside, White Stork and displaying Honey Buzzards overhead (that amazing wing-clapping display is always special to see).  Less than a couple of miles away we were treated to Barred Warbler, Wryneck, Red-backed Shrikes and Golden Oriole.

 

Once around the shores of Lake Ilmen our birding was no less exciting and over the next four days we visited various parts of the lake and amassed a stunning list of birds which included both Lesser Spotted and White-tailed Eagles, Montagu’s and Hen Harriers, Short-eared Owls (with Long-eareds heard after dark), a great mix of eastern warblers from Marsh and Blyth’s Reed Warblers to Icterine, River and Grasshopper Warblers (several of these species we had also recorded in Finland).  

 

The small fish ponds held Great Reed Warblers, several male Little Bitterns, at least one Little Crake, the most adorable juvenile Penduline Tit being fed by an adult and our first Thrush Nightingales.  The water levels were very low in the lake this year and the increased area of marshland seemed to the liking of many White-winged Black Terns (in addition to the usual Black Terns and Little Gulls).  Redshank and Wood Sandpiper were also abundant but sadly both Great Snipe and Terek Sandpiper weren’t as obvious with just two of the group seeing the former and the latter worryingly absent.  We had no time to dwell on this though as there were still birds to see and highlights ranged from the two male Bluethroats on territory just meters away from each other (in itself not too unusual but the fact that one was white-spotted and the other red-spotted was certainly interesting!)  Nearby we saw more Common Rosefinches, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Garganey, Greater White-fronted Geese, both adult and juvenile Marsh Sandpipers, an adult Caspian Tern and some super showy Booted Warblers, completing an incredible selection of north-eastern European birds in a region no visited by birders since our tour last year!”  James Lidster.

 

Bird List:

 

This is a list of all the species seen during the last three tours to Karelia.

 

Column A = Number of tours on which this species has been recorded.

Column B = Number of days this species was seen on the last tour.

Column C = Maximum daily count for this species on the last tour.

H               = heard only

(H)             = mostly heard but some seen

 

A                                                                    B          C

 

3

Black-throated Diver   

1

2

 

Gavia arctica

3

Great Crested Grebe  

5

12

 

Podiceps cristatus

3

Red-necked Grebe  

2

5

 

Podiceps grisegena

3

Slavonian Grebe  

1

3

 

Podiceps auritus

1

Great Cormorant

3

1

 

Phalacrocorax carbo

3

Bittern

3

1

 

Botaurus stellaris

3

Little Bittern

1

2

 

Ixobrychus minutus

3

Grey Heron  

4

37

 

Ardea cinerea

3

White Stork

4

10

 

Ciconia ciconia

3

Black Stork

2

3

 

Ciconia nigra

3

Whooper Swan  

3

9

 

Cygnus cygnus

1

Canada Goose

 

 

 

Branta canadensis

2

White-fronted Goose

1

10

 

Anser albifrons

1

Shelduck

 

 

 

Tadorna tadorna

3

Wigeon 

3

20

 

Anas penelope

2

Gadwall  

3

30

 

Anas strepera

3

Teal  

5

7

 

Anas crecca

3

Mallard  

7

20

 

Anas platyrhynchos

1

Pintail 

 

 

 

Anas acuta

2

Garganey  

3

3

 

Anas querquedula

3

Shoveler  

3

26

 

Anas clypeata

3

Pochard  

4

10

 

Aythya ferina

3

Tufted Duck

5

52

 

Aythya fuligula

3

Goldeneye  

4

40

 

Bucephala clangula

2

Smew  

1

1

 

Mergus albellus

2

Red-breasted Merganser 

1

1

 

Mergus serrator

3

Honey Buzzard 

6

6

 

Pernis apivorus

3

White-tailed Eagle 

3

3

 

Haliaeetus albicilla

3

Lesser spotted Eagle

3

3

 

Aquila pomarina

1

Greater spotted Eagle

 

 

 

Aquila clanga

1

Golden Eagle

 

 

 

Aquila chrysaetos

3

Black Kite

3

2

 

Milvus migrans

1

Pallid Harrier

 

 

 

Circus macrourus

3

Montagu's Harrier

2

2

 

Circus pygargus

3

Marsh Harrier  

7

10

 

Circus aeruginosus

3

Hen Harrier 

4

2

 

Circus cyaneus

3

Goshawk  

2

1

 

Accipiter gentilis

2

Sparrowhawk  

2

1

 

Accipiter nisus

3

Common Buzzard  

5

4

 

Buteo buteo

1

Steppe Common Buzzard

 

 

 

Buteo buteo vulpinus

3

Osprey  

3

4

 

Pandion haliaetus

3

Kestrel  

5

4

 

Falco tinnunculus

1

Red-footed Falcon

 

 

 

Falco vespertinus

3

Hobby  

4

4

 

Falco subbuteo

1

Hazel Grouse  

1

1

 

Bonasa bonasia

3

Willow Grouse  

1

2

 

Lagopus lagopus

1

Black Grouse  

 

 

 

Tetrao tetrix

1

Grey Partridge

 

 

 

Perdix perdix

3

Corncrake  

5

1

(H)

Crex crex

3

Quail

4

2

H

Coturnix coturnix

3

Spotted Crake

1

6

H

Porzana porzana

2

Little Crake

1

1

 

Porzana parva

3

Moorhen  

3

2

 

Gallinula chloropus

3

Coot  

7

100

 

Fulica atra

3

Common Crane  

4

3

 

Grus grus

1

Oystercatcher  

 

 

 

Haematopus ostralegus

2

Little Ringed Plover  

2

1

 

Charadrius dubius

3

Lapwing  

7

50

 

Vanellus vanellus

3

Ruff  

5

17

 

Philomachus pugnax

3

Common Snipe  

5

20

 

Gallinago gallinago

2

Great Snipe

 

 

 

Gallinago media

3

Woodcock  

2

1

 

Scolopax rusticola

3

Black-tailed Godwit  

4

50

 

Limosa limosa

3

Whimbrel  

2

2

 

Numenius phaeopus

3

Curlew  

3

10

 

Numenius arquata

1

Spotted Redshank  

 

 

 

Tringa erythropus

3

Redshank  

4

20

 

Tringa totanus

3

Greenshank  

5

10

 

Tringa nebularia

3

Marsh Sandpiper

2

7

 

Tringa stagnatilis

3

Green Sandpiper  

4

2

 

Tringa ochropus

3

Wood Sandpiper  

5

20

 

Tringa glareola

2

Terek Sandpiper  

 

 

 

Xenus cinereus

3

Common Sandpiper  

2

5

 

Actitis hypoleucos

1

Red-necked Phalarope  

 

 

 

Phalaropus lobatus

3

Little Gull  

6

100

 

Larus minutus

3

Black-headed Gull  

9

500

 

Larus ridibundus

3

Common Gull  

9

10

 

Larus canus

3

Lesser black-backed Gull

3

3

 

Larus fuscus

3

Herring Gull  

6

6

 

Larus argentatus

1

Great Black-backed Gull  

 

 

 

Larus marinus

1

Caspian Tern

1

1

 

Sterna caspia

3

Common Tern  

8

300

 

Sterna hirundo

2

Little Tern  

 

 

 

Sterna albifrons

3

Black Tern

4

30

 

Childonias niger

3

White-winged Black Tern

4

30

 

Childonias leucopterus

3

Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon  

9

20

 

Columba livia

2

Stock Dove  

2

2

 

Columba oenas

3

Woodpigeon  

6

10

 

Columba palumbus

3

Cuckoo  

5

2

 

Cuculus canorus

1

Hawk Owl  

 

 

 

Surnia ulula

3

Pygmy Owl  

1

1

 

Glaucidium passerinum

2

Ural Owl  

 

 

 

Strix uralensis

2

Great Grey Owl  

 

 

 

Strix nebulosa

3

Long-eared Owl

1

1

H

Asio otus

3

Short-eared Owl  

1

5

 

Asio flammeus

2

Tengmalm's Owl  

 

 

 

Aegolius funereus

3

Nightjar

1

1

 

Caprimulgus europaeus

3

Common Swift  

8

200

 

Apus apus

2

Black Woodpecker

1

1

 

Dryocopus martius

3

Great Spotted Woodpecker  

6

4

 

Dendrocopos major

2

White-backed Woodpecker

 

 

 

Dendrocops leucotos

2

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker  

1

1

 

Dendrocopus minor

2

Three-toed Woodpecker  

1

1

 

Picoides tridactylus

3

Wryneck

1

2

 

Jynx torquilla

3

Skylark  

7

10

 

Alauda arvensis

1

Woodlark

 

 

 

Lullula arborea

3

Sand Martin  

5

300

 

Riparia riparia

3

Swallow  

9

50

 

Hirundo rustica

3

House Martin  

10

50

 

Delichon urbica

3

Tree Pipit  

7

2

 

Anthus trivialis

2

Meadow Pipit  

2

2

 

Anthus pratensis

3

"Grey-headed" Yellow Wagtail  

5

20

 

Motacilla flava thunbergi

3

White Wagtail  

10

50

 

Motacilla alba alba

1

Waxwing  

 

 

 

Bombycilla garrulus

3

Wren  

4

1

 

Troglodytes troglodytes

1

Dunnock  

 

 

 

Prunella modularis

3

Robin  

5

2

H

Erithacus rubecula

3

Thrush Nightingale  

4

6

 

Luscinia luscinia

3

Bluethroat  

1

3

 

Luscinia svecica

2

Red-flanked Bluetail  

1

1

 

Tarsiger cyanurus

2

Redstart  

2

2

 

Phoenicurus phoenicurus

3

Whinchat  

7

30

 

Saxicola rubetra

3

Northern Wheatear  

3

6

 

Oenanthe oenanthe

3

Blackbird  

2

1

H

Turdus merula

3

Fieldfare  

9

50

 

Turdus pilaris

3

Song Thrush  

4

2

 

Turdus philomelos

3

Redwing  

5

10

 

Turdus iliacus

3

Mistle Thrush  

4

4

 

Turdus viscivorus

3

River Warbler  

4

1

 

Locustella fluviatilis

2

Grasshopper Warbler

2

1

 

Locustella naevia

1

Lanceolated Warbler

 

 

 

Locustella lanceolata

3

Sedge Warbler  

6

6

 

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

3

Blyth's Reed Warbler  

4

2

 

Acrocephalus dumetorum

3

Marsh Warbler  

6

3

 

Acrocephalus palustris

1

Reed Warbler  

 

 

 

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

3

Great Reed Warbler  

1

2

 

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

3

Icterine Warbler

3

2

 

Hippolais icterina

3

Booted Warbler

1

3

 

Hippolais caligata

3

Barred Warbler

2

2

 

Sylvia nisoria

2

Lesser Whitethroat  

6

4

 

Sylvia curruca

3

Whitethroat  

6

15

 

Sylvia communis

3

Garden Warbler  

8

3

 

Sylvia borin

3

Blackcap  

4

2

 

Sylvia atricapilla

2

Greenish Warbler

 

 

 

Phylloscopus trochiloides

3

Wood Warbler  

3

1

 

Phylloscopus sibilatrix

3

Chiffchaff  

6

2

 

Phylloscopus collybita

3

Willow Warbler  

9

20

 

Phylloscopus trochilus

1

Goldcrest  

3

5

 

Regulus regulus

3

Spotted Flycatcher  

8

6

 

Muscicapa striata

2

Red-breasted Flycatcher

 

 

 

Ficedula parva

3

Pied Flycatcher  

6

5

 

Ficedula hypoleuca

1

Collared Flycatcher

 

 

 

Ficedula albicollis

1

Long-tailed Tit  

 

 

 

Aegithalos caudatus

2

Willow Tit  

4

3

 

Parus montanus

2

Marsh Tit

1

3

 

Parus palustris

3

Crested Tit  

2

6

 

Parus cristatus

2

Coal Tit  

1

1

 

Parus ater

2

Blue Tit  

7

5

 

Parus caeruleus

3

Great Tit  

6

5

 

Parus major

3

Eurasian Nuthatch

3

1

 

Sitta europaea

2

Treecreeper  

1

1

 

Certhia familiaris

3

Penduline Tit

1

3

 

Remiz pendulinus

3

Red-backed Shrike

6

5

 

Lanius collurio

2

Jay  

 

 

 

Garrulus glandarius

2

Siberian Jay

1

3

 

Perisoreus infastus

3

Magpie  

10

10

 

Pica pica

3

Nutcracker  

1

2

 

Nucifraga caryoctactes

3

Jackdaw  

7

20

 

Corvus monedula

3

Rook  

3

50

 

Corvus frugilegus

3

Hooded Crow  

10

10

 

Corvus cornix

3

Raven  

8

4

 

Corvus corax

3

Starling  

8

200

 

Sturnus vulgaris

3

Golden Oriole

5

2

 

Oriolus oriolus

3

House Sparrow  

5

3

 

Passer domesticus

3

Tree Sparrow  

7

20

 

Passer montanus

3

Chaffinch  

10

10

 

Fringilla coelebs

2

Brambling  

 

 

 

Fringilla montifringilla

3

Greenfinch  

7

15

 

Carduelis chloris

3

Goldfinch

4

10

 

Carduelis carduelis

3

Siskin  

7

10

 

Carduelis spinus

3

Linnet  

4

5

 

Carduelis cannabina

1

Common Redpoll

2

4

 

Carduelis flammea

3

Crossbill  

4

3

 

Loxia curvirostra

3

Scarlet Rosefinch  

8

2

 

Carpodacus erythrinus

3

Bullfinch  

2

1

H

Pyrrhula pyrrhula

2

Hawfinch

 

 

 

Coccothraustes coccothraustes

3

Yellowhammer  

6

10

 

Emberiza citrinella

2

Ortolan Bunting  

1

1

 

Emberiza hortulana

3

Rustic Bunting

1

2

 

Emberiza rustica

3

Reed Bunting  

6

6

 

Emberiza schoeniclus