SUMMER 2014

The summer of 2014 was a summer of extremes in Finland. After a very warm late spring, June temperatures plummeted, and the monthly average temperature was almost throughout Finland one or more degrees colder than the 30-year average. Midsummer (June 21st), one of Finland’s most important national holidays, was celebrated in many parts of the country in exceedingly cold and rainy weather. The cold June weather affected the breeding of many Finnish birds, particularly insectivores, since the amount of food available for hungry nestlings was very low. In July and early August, on the other hand, a nearly record-breaking heat wave swooped over Finland, baking the vacationing Finns in temperatures exceeding 25C for 38 consecutive days. After the heat subsided, August brought along heavy rains and thunderstorms, and by mid-August in several parts of the country the cumulative rainfall was already more than double the long-term monthly average.

The Bird Brigadiers visited Örö Island on four occasions during June, July and August. Osmo Kivivuori and Tapani Missonen did a four-day trip on June 13th-16th; Ari Linna spent one day on the island on June 26th; Osmo Kivivuori returned together with Mauno Mustakangas and myself for three days on July 15th-17th, and Mauno Mustakangas did a five-day solo trip on August 15th-19th.


June

Osmo and Tapani were the first Brigadiers to enjoy the comforts of our new logdings: the aptly named apartments Sotka (the Finnish name for Aythya ducks) and Kotka (Finnish for eagle) on the east shore of the island, between the Storviken and Gölen Bays. Pictures of the housing can be found in a previous post.

The weather was not optimal for Osmo and Tapani during their trip – low temperatures and heavy wind – but they managed to observe a total of 92 species. Or 93 in fact, if a color-banded messenger pigeon they observed on June 14th is included. Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina) numbers were remarkably high, the highest daily total being 12 on June 15th. Eiders (Somateria mollissima) were by far the most numerous species, with a total of 7600 individuals (mostly males) observed on June 15th. Other observations included e.g. a total of 45 Parrot/Red Crossbills (Loxia pytyopsittacus/curvirostra) on June 16th, and a good collection of warblers: Common Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella navia), Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), European Reed Warbler (A. scirpaceus), Marsh Warbler (A. palustris), Blyth’s Reed Warbler (A. dumetorum), Icterine Warbler, Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin), Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix), and Willow Warbler (P. trochilus), not excluding the other Sylvia and Phylloscopus species  Blackcap (S. atricapilla), Lesser Whitethroat (S. curruca), Common Whitethroat (S. communis) and Common Chiffchaff (P. collybita).

A (non-messenged) messenger pigeon (Columba livia) was observed on June 14th. As a domestic bird, it is not included in our species list.

Ari spent a few hours on the island on June 26th, accumulating a total of 42 observed species. The only observed Anas duck was a Gadwall (A. strepera) mother accompanied by 6-8 ducklings. The main passerine singing period of the summer was almost over, but two Thrush Nightingales (Luscinia luscinia), one Icterine Warbler, one Eurasian Reed Warbler and one Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) still found the energy to continue their summertime concert.

There were a couple of Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria) observations on Örö during June. One individual was ringed by Jari Laitasalo on June 18th near Balget Bay, and other observations of this species were done by Ari, Atte Lindqvist, Jaakko Kullberg and Esko Sorakunnas, all in the SE part of the island: by Balget Bay, on the southern side of Holmen Hill and near the observation tower. So, not indicative of a huge population, but as there seems to be suitable habitat for the species, hopefully observations during the following summers will shine more light on its status on the island.

July

Osmo, Mauno and I enjoyed three days of mid-July heat and sunshine on Örö on July 15th-17th; the only rain we had was a short but heavy downpour on the late morning of July 16th. The heat wave and a mid-summer lull were reflected in the island’s birdlife; our total sum of species was 78.

The bays were relatively empty during our trip, the main wader species being Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia), Wood Sandpiper (T. glareola), Spotted Redshank (T. erythropus) and Common Redshank (T. tetanus). One of the Wood Sandpipers we saw on Storviken on our first day was clearly more brown-tinged than the others: a juvenile. We were left wondering where the nearest breeding marsh might be.

Birds of prey were represented on our trip by a couple of Common Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), a Eurasian Hobby (F. subbuteo) and, of course, a couple of White-tailed Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla), one of which caused some commotion on Balget Bay in the morning of July 17th when it decided to breakfast on the bay’s fish. Luckily for the swans, ducks and waders present, the eagle was satisfied with its pescetarian diet. The Eurasian Hobby was observed near Storviken – there are previous observations of the species from the same area, so it is likely that at least one couple breeds on the island.

The most numerous passerines were Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs), 60 individuals on July 16th, Great Tits (Parus major), with several yellow-cheeked juveniles flying about in the trees and bushes, Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) and House Martins (Delichon urbicum). The island’s bunkers offer nice sheltered nesting places for the swallows; by the time of our visit, most of the nests were however already empty. Osmo found only one occupied Barn Swallow nest – both its nestlings received rings on their legs.

Unsurprisingly, Chaffinch was the most numerous passerine species.

In the evening of July 16th, Mauno and I decided to try for the Long-eared Owls (Asio otus) heard by other Örö visitors near the old school building. Unfortunately, if there were any owls, they decided to stay silent and hidden. We did observe two Eurasian Woodcocks (Scolopax rusticola) and a bat, and got to enjoy a nearly full moon rising above the open fields in the center of the island. Later into the autumn this area, with its minimal light pollution, will definitely be great for stargazing!

Someone left a souvenir.

The timing of our trip was optimal to enjoy the diverse flora of the island. A previous post highlights some of the rare and beautiful flowers found in different parts of Örö; the SW tip of the island, Södernäbben, held a particularly rich flora. This eye candy was complemented by some stomach candy as well: blueberries, woodland strawberries, and even nice and plump cloudberries gave us refreshing energy boosts during our days on the island.

A Yellow-winged Darter (Sympetrum flaveolum) resting on a blade of grass.

August

Mauno’s trip in mid-August brought three new species to the Brigadiers’ species list: Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola; a flock of 10 heading south on August 18th), Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes; one individual on August 15th) and White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera; one individual heard on August 19th).

Mauno was equipped with a recording device, and captured the songs and calls of Winter Wrens (Troglodytes troglodytes), Icterine Warblers and Great Tits, and even a pre-dawn cricket concert on August 17th (tentative species identification being Great Green Bush-Cricket, Tettigonia viridissima). All recordings are included in his trip report.

The varying weather allowed for proper observations of migration only on August 18th and 19th. The main traffic was by gulls and terns: Common Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus; 19/85 individuals on August 18th/19th), Mew Gulls (L. canus; 115/35), Lesser Black-backed Gulls (L. fuscus; 6/4), Herring Gulls (L. argentatus; 27/9) and Common Terns (Sterna hirundo; 48/35). These were accompanied by e.g. Black Scoters (Melanitta nigra; 14 on August 18th), Dunlins (Calidris alpina; 27 on August 18th and 1 on August 19th) and Common Ringed Plovers (Charadrius hiaticula; 3 on August 18th and 6 on August 19th).

In addition to the birds (which amounted to a total of 72 species) Mauno added a new serpent to the Brigadiers’ species list: a Grass Snake (Natrix natrix).

Autumn is approaching.

Wrapping up the summer, heading into autumn

By the end of August the Örö Bird Brigade has observed a total of 157 bird species on the island. We hope to see this number grow during the autumn migration, keeping our fingers crossed for any wandering delicacies. We will try to gather as much observations as possible during the next months; three trips are already booked for September and October, and surely more will be arranged as we move further into September. Our observations are however only a start of what hopefully will become a steadily growing database over the following years and decades. Örö definitely has a lot to offer for all seasons!

-Liisa