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BOURNEMOUTH NATURAL SCIENCE SOCIETY | ||
| 39 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 3NS, UK. Registered Charity No. 219585 |
Given by: Nick Hull, a lifelong birder and Editor of Dorset Bird Club's newsletter.
This fascinating talk was illustrated mostly with Nick's own digital photographs interspersed with video clips and sound recordings.
The material was based on a Bird Seekers holiday which took Nick and his wife, Jackie, from Helsinki to Hammingberg at the 'End of Europe', by way of Oulu, Kuusamo, Ivalo and Vardo.
The Scandinavians are keen to maximise tourism. To this end, Finnature has set up country-wide feeding stations, viewing platforms and owl boxes to enable visitors to see their special birds. The group was accompanied by a Finnature guide whose experience ensured that they were in the right places at the right times.
The trail led to many habitats - marshland, looking for Terek Sandpiper - lakesides (Finland has 188,000 lakes!) - massive wide open bogs, ideal for breeding waders such as the wood sandpiper incongruously singing from the top of a tree. Roads that looked like forest tracks and led to the beautiful Red-flanked Bluetail. A huge pile of compressed sawdust in a logging area has become home to the largest Sand Martin colony in Finland. Vardo Museum has a kittiwake colony occupying a narrow ledge on the building.
We were shown a feast of birds in many locations. But Finland is renowned for its many species of owl. These are particularly widespread in 'good lemming' years. Nick showed male and female Hawk Owls; a Great Grey Owl turned its head right round to stare fiercely at the photographer; an aggressive Ural Owl with a fledgling was viewed at a respectful distance; and we marvelled at the tiny Pygmy Owl.
Some birds are familiar to us in winter plumage. Now we could see the breeding plumage of Golden Plover, Purple Sandpiper and other waders. An adder, Reindeer, an Elk, Red Squirrel, dragon flies, and plants all featured too.
The bird of the trip was an adult male Pine Grosbeak, located and photographed due to the Finnature Guide's local knowledge, and the helpfulness of an hotelier who allowed the group access to his laundry room which overlooked the bird's feeding place.
This brief account leaves so much unsaid. The only way to truly appreciate this interesting talk is to be there if it is repeated! Many thanks Nick, for sharing this trip with us so memorably.