British Isles Birding

It took until 11.15am for the Azure Tit to show and indeed, when it did, it fully lived up to expectations and the hype that surrounds this enigmatic species. Whilst waiting, entertainment was provided by at least 120 Waxwings over and a Great Grey Shrike in nearby bushes. Just as we were about to leave the site, Ville Suorsa (a local who had been extremely helpful with information in the days leading up to the trip) arrived and went beyond the call of duty by handing me a map of the area with the best places to see my other target species – Pine Grosbeak – marked on it.

Within a matter of minutes, we’d arrived at Oulu University, Kaijonharju and after an extremely brief search a group of 8 Pine Grosbeaks were found. Quality birds…

Pine Grosbeaks, Kaijonharju, Oulu (above and below).

Ensuring that we made the most of the limited daylight hours, we headed slightly further south but still within the bounds of the Oulu city to a feeder in a garden at Hietasaari where a Siberian Tit, an asiatica Nuthatch, several borealis Willow Tits and a couple of Coal Tits were observed. After observing a couple of 1^st winter Glaucous Gulls on the lake at Pyykosjarvi, near Oulu dump, the final hour of light was spent at a feeding station at Kaukovainio, Oulu. A couple of Siberian Tits showed to within a yard of us here whilst another asiatica Nuthatch, Treecreeper, ‘Northern’ Bullfinch, Crested Tit and borealis Willow Tit were also seen.

Siberian Tit, Kaukovainio, Oulu.

With it being fully dark by 3pm, it would be almost 19 hours until we could bird again! After an evening of eating and boozing, we decided to have another look for the Azure Tit on the morning of the 17^th December. Though we stayed until late morning, there was no sign of it and the temperature had plummeted by at least 5 degrees compared to the previous day. More Waxwings piled over this site, a Great Grey Shrike decided to hover intensively over the waste ground whilst a mixed finch flock contained the odd Twite, Mealy Redpoll and at least 2 exilipes Arctic Redpolls.

With crisper light than the previous day and a little bit of time before we had to head back south towards Tampere, we revisited the University in Oulu where we’d seen Pine Grosbeak the previous day. With the cold weather, there’d obviously been an influx of birds as the rowan bushes here were alive with Waxwings and at least 30 Pine Grosbeaks – these big finches being approachable to within a few centimetres! Phenomenal. And, to provide a last bit of value to what was a memorable trip, a local birder arrived with what was pretty much a pole with a circular wire at one end. And he then proceeded to give us a demonstration of how Pine Grosbeaks are caught for ringing purposes… by ‘fishing’ them out of trees!

And then it was the long drive back to Tampere for our late evening flight. A thoroughly enjoyable long weekend.