NATURE CALENDAR

AUTUMN AND WINTER IN FINLAND

Autumn migration already begins around the middle of June when female waders start their journey south and continues until the end of October. The largest bird concentrations, e.g. thousands of Common Cranes, can be seen mainly on the western and southern coast.

In September birdwatchers can admire Richard's Pipits, Yellow-browed Warblers and Pallas's Warblers. Great Snipes can well be seen around the same time. Crossbills, Woodpeckers and Owls set out for their autumn migration. In addition, thousands of Nutcrackers, Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks may enter Finland from Siberia in search of food.

During long and cold winter people like to feed birds. The feeding sites in Southern Finland may well feature White-backed or Grey-headed Woodpeckers while the regular guests in the sites in Northern Finland include Siberian Tit and Siberian Jay. Pygmy Owl often visits the sites in search of small birds.

An almost regular winter guest is Snowy Owl on the west coast. Great Grey Owls can often be seen hunting on fields and Hawk Owls are easy to find in some winters.

SPRING AND SUMMER IN FINLAND

After the darkest and quietest period in nature the amount of daylight gradually increases in January. The period from February to April is a very rewarding time for bird enthusiasts, because at this time birds start their spring migration. Nature photographers can enjoy the very beautiful light; the sun is often shining in the bright blue sky.

Spring is the best time for observing many of the most exciting Finnish birds. Owls and Woodpeckers have their courtship season between March and April. Grouse are lekking around the same time. In their nesting season between May and June these species can be found most easily with the help of a local guide.

Broad-billed Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint, Jack Snipe, Red-necked Phalarope and Dotterel have their migration season in May. These northern waders are best visible in their nesting sites in their courtship season in early summer.
Eastern passerines, such as Little and Rustic Bunting, Arctic Warbler and Red-flanked Bluetail are most easily found when in song in Eastern Finland between May and June. Barred Warblers, Blyth's Reed Warblers and Thrush Nightingales are most common in Southern and Southeast Finland.

JANUARY

The cold, short January days may appear rather birdless in Finland but appearances can be deceiving. Although few birds are usually seen, many interesting species can still be found, even in the town centres.
Winters are different due to the phenomenona of nature. E.g. when there are many Rowan berries, tens of thousands of thrushes and Waxwings and thousands of Pine Grosbeaks wintering in Finland often flock right to the town centres. In some years all the three Crossbill species are numerous and Snowy and Hawk Owl are easy to find while in other years all the mentioned species may be absent. Nevertheless, every winter has its own speciality and there is always something interesting happening.
In northern and eastern Finland the birds are easy to find when they visit feeders. There can be many Siberian Jays, Siberian and Crested Tits and Arctic Redpolls feeding simultaneously, watched by a Pygmy Owl from a close-by treetop. The thin whistle of a Hazel Grouse is a commonly heard call in a snowy forest. Willow Grouse are sometimes seen feeding on the roadbanks; therefore are easiest to see from your car!

In the opposite corner of Finland winters are quite different. In the southwestern archipelago where the sea remains free of ice, there are flocks of wintering Steller´s Eider with thousands of other waterfowls e.g. Cormorants and Long-tailed Ducks. Several White-tailed Eagles can be seen, thanks to the carcasses, which are set especially to attract them. On the islands where usually is very little snow, if any at all, are many interesting wintering birds such as Purple Sandpipers. During January the Bothnia Bay gets more or less, a solid ice-covering.
In late January, if it is calm and mild, it is possible to hear the first Owls, like Ural, Tengmalm´s and Eagle Owls calling.

FEBRUARY

February is quite similar to January but in late February it is possible to see the first signs of spring in southern Finland. The warm southwesterly winds may bring the first Skylarks, Lapwings, Stock Doves and Rooks to the southern coast. In Åland, the southwestern archipelago, Eiders, Razorbills and Black Guillemots start to move north. North of the southern coast it is still a perfect winter; the only difference being longer days than in January.

Late February and March is a rewarding time for nature photographers. The days are brighter and the snow creates a special light. Especially in the north the nature itself is unique. Trees are packed with impressive masses of snow. The specialities also include shots of even the most common species with the snowy back ground.

In late winter the deep snowcover in the forests forces one of nature's most impressive birds, the Great Grey Owl, to move to more open areas to hunt allowing viewers the possibility to admire their vole hunting shows.

MARCH

In southern Finland it is now spring, while in the north it is still winter. In late March the snow starts to melt in the south; however in the north the snow cover gets deeper and deeper. If it is sunny and clear, the days can be relatively warm but nights are still freezing.

When the first Geese and Whooper Swans arrive, they may fly as far north as the Oulu region. In the south on the snowless fields are thousands of Lapwings and Skylarks with other early migrants on their way to the north.

March and early April is the best time to listen for the calling Owls. If there are a lot of voles in the area, it is possible to hear several Owls during the night. It is fun to drive along the dark roads and stop every now and then to listen. The ordinary passerby may wonder why people are standing beside their cars on a dark road in the middle of nowhere!

APRIL

In April and even in early May Lapland has the best skiing season. Days are long and sometimes rather warm but there is still plenty of snow. During some nights the temperature can still fall well under -10 °C.

Late April is the busiest season for migration, e.g. Bean Geese, Whooper Swans, Cranes, Rough-legged Buzzards and Lapland Buntings. The mentioned species spend a couple of weeks on the fields just south of Oulu. The fields are the last place to feed before the birds move on to snowy Lapland in late April or early May. There can be hundreds of Geese, Swans and Cranes on the same field, with Rough-legged Buzzards, Hen Harriers and Short-eared Owls hunting above them. In the early mornings it is possible to see Black Grouse gather to lek in an open area, such as a field, a bog or an ice-covered lake. At the best lekking sites there are several cocks with black, metallic shined plumage and white tails. The bubbling and hissing noise carries on for kilometres. The birds jump and circle around each other. Sometimes the fights can be serious. At some sites lekking season can continue until early June! At the same time shy Capercaillie are lekking in April, but are often very difficult to see in the pine forest.

MAY

May is the most diversified month in birdlife. The great majority of birds which breed in Finland migrate during May. During May spring turns to summer. In early May there is plenty of snow in Lapland. In late May the nature is full of songs and calls of birds such as Bramblings, Willow Warblers, Redwings, Bluethroats and Rustic Buntings.
The mudflats on the western coast and the close-by fields can be crowded by the migrating waders and ducks. For example, in mid May on the shores of Liminka Bay there can be thousands of Spotted Redshanks wading in the mud. Hundreds of Broad-billed Sandpipers and Red-necked Phalaropes arrive a couple of weeks later. The surrounding fields are the lekking area for thousands of Ruff. A fighting and jumping (but completely mute!) flock of lekking Ruff with different coloured feathers and head tufts is quite a show. At the same time you may hear a song of Ortolan Buntings and Common Rosefinches.

Late May and early June are the most rewarding months for birdwatching in the Kuusamo area on the eastern border of Finland. Many of the very special migratory birds like Jack Snipe, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Red-flanked Bluetail and Little Bunting have just arrived to their breeding sites to perform unforgettable displays and songs. In addition, the residents are still active and it is well possible to hear Owls calling, Siberian Tits singing and Three-toed Woodpeckers drumming. After lekking season, mid May until mid June, Grouse, especially females, have a strange custom to come to the sandy roads during nights and early mornings. By driving along those small sandy roads it is possible to see several Capercaillie and Black Grouse and many Willow Grouse and Hazel Hens within one night! What´s more, the night can offer other sightings like Eagle Owl, Elk or Arctic Hare.

In late May on the southern and southeastern shoreline and on the islands off the coast you can see one of the most spectacular phenomenona of the nature – the migration of the arctic waterfowls, Geese, Divers and waders. During a couple of weeks, millions of birds pass the area on the way to their breeding grounds in Siberia and along the Arctic Ocean. The flocking of thousands of birds forming different figures to the sky is a view you will never forget!

The most common species is Long-tailed Duck. Approximately four millions birds are wintering around the Baltic Sea rim and it is possible to see hundreds of thousands of them migrating over one place within one day. Other numerous species are Common and Velvet Scoters. Many birdwatchers enjoy the migration of Brent and Barnacle Geese which is even more spectacular to see despite fewer numbers. You will agree with them when you see the flocks of thousands of Geese, especially Barnacle Geese, rolling over you. The best daynumbers of Barnacle Geese are around 50 000. Brent Goose is more numerous. It is possible to count more than a hundred thousand of them per day.

In addition, every year some of the flocks are accompanied by nice rarities like Red-breasted Geese and White-Billed Divers.

JUNE

June is the time of the Midnight Sun. Up north the sun does not set at all allowing 24 hours of daylight from late May until late July. Actually it makes birdwatching hard because the birds are most active during the early morning hours which normally are the best sleeping hours for us!

Late May and June are the best months for birding in Finland. Most of our specialities, the migratory and resident birds, are "available" on their nesting territories and most of them are still rather vocal and easy to see. Also the very last arrivals, Arctic Warblers, arrive in early June. At the same time some of the female waders, like Spotted Redshanks, have already started their migration back to the south, just after laying their eggs. In southern Finland, despite a few hours of dusk, the early June nights are full of noise when the nightsingers such as Thrush Nightingales, Blyth´s Reed, River and Marsh Warblers are giving their concerts. Booted Warbler is an annual singer there and its first successful breeding was recorded in summer 1999.

JULY

July is a rather quiet month for Finnish birdlife. Birds have their young and are busy feeding them. They are silent and often difficult to find. Very few birds are still singing. The owlets, like many other young birds, have fletched and disappeared into the forests. If you are interested in seeing as many bird species as possible on your trip, including the specialities, July is not your best bet. In late July, Stints and Sandpipers, the adult birds of the arctic, start their migration. On the best sites along the coast of the Bothnia Bay it is possible to see hundreds of Dunlins, Little Stints, many Temminck´s Stints, Curlew Sandpipers, Red Knots and Sanderlings in the same area.

Although July is not a good time for birding, it is the best time for bear watching. There are about a thousand Brown Bears in Finland, most of them living in the eastern part of the country. Just a couple hundred meters from the eastern border lies a special site for bear watching, the Martinselkonen Wilderness Center. There are carcasses especially placed for the bears, with excellent hides for photographing and watching the feeding bears. The bears usually come to the carcasses during evening and night time making it possible to see more than ten different Brown Bears within one single night! You can admire the majestic animals through the night because twilight lasts only a short moment.

In addition to the bears, July is the best month to look for butterflies. Many northern specialities can be found, especially on the northern fells. In the meadows of the south there is a surprisingly rich fauna of butterflies.

Watch out, July is the peak month for mosquitoes. Especially in northern Finland the swarms of mosquitoes and blackflies can be terrible, making it impossible to avoid getting bit. Of course, the nets and repellents make living there easier.

AUGUST

In August summer starts to turn to autumn. The nights become longer and darker but the days can still be hot. The green in nature gradually changes to the different colours of autumn. In August young birds start to move and call more actively. Also many species start their autumn migration. Some forests, often close to the shoreline, can be full of birds such as Willow Warblers, Bramblings and Flycatchers often with some Rustic Buntings and Crossbills. Birds are most active in the early morning hours. During the afternoon they are quiet and elusive.

Two-barred Crossbill, Nutcracker and Great Spotted Woodpecker are species which in some years have great movements in search for food. Often the peak influx of these birds is in August when thousands of them may enter Finland from the east.
Meanwhile, the arctic waders are still migrating and the first juvenile birds can be seen with adults. Their migration continues until late September.

SEPTEMBER

The autumn migration for most of the Finnish birds takes place in September. It is possible to see tens of thousands of Thrushes, Chaffinches and Bramblings within one day heading south. Tits and Goldcrests are very noisy and visible as they gather in flocks high in the trees. These flocks often lure many other birds to join them. A careful observer can find warblers like Chiffchaffs, Lesser Whitethroats and Garden Warblers. If you are lucky, "the eastern pearls" Yellow-browed and Pallas´s Warblers join the flocks.

In September Cranes gather in big flocks before they start to move south. There are two main areas in the western coast where they flock: the fields in Muhos south of Oulu and the fields just south of Vaasa. The biggest numbers counted at these fields are about four thousands Cranes. Every evening they fly off from the feeding fields along the same route to stay overnight somewhere else. They come back just after dawn. From Muhos they usually leave in late September while from Vaasa they leave during October when the wind starts to blow from the north. All over southern Finland it is possible to see thousands of Cranes in big noisy flocks flying south.

The autumn migration of arctic waterfowls and Geese usually start in late September. The same birds which flew to Siberia in late May now return with their descendants through eastern and southeastern Finland. The autumn migration is full of surprises. The peak in the migration route depends on the winds. In some years the main rush is seen in late September while in some years a month later. At times most of the birds migrate through Russia and therefore only a small part of them can be seen in Finland.

OCTOBER

Lapland usually gets a permanent snow cover during October. Further south it snows occasionally but usually the snow melts within a couple of days. The temperature can fall well below 0 °C. Usually the peak of the Arctic migration is during October. After a long warm period the wind blows to the northeast, and the masses of Barnacle, Brent and White-fronted Geese start migrating by the tens of thousands over Finland. Sometimes the wind conditions can alter the migration route causing it to happen little by little.

If there is a lot of Rowan berries in Finland beginning in late September, Pine Grosbeaks and Waxwings start wandering, sometimes in big flocks. In October it is possible to see hundreds of Pine Grosbeaks and even thousands of Waxwings migrating before settling down in the areas they stay at for winter (see also January). Some years Finland receives tens of thousands of Long-tailed Tits and Nuthatches, coming from the east. From a good migration watching point one can stay busy observing these wandering birds, with the common nesting birds migrating. These mentioned movements are not annual. However even without them, autumn, especially in October, is always an interesting time for birdwatchers.

October is also the best month for the (south)eastern rarities, such as Pallas's, Hume's, Dusky and Radde's Warblers, Pied Wheatear and Richard's, Blyth's and Olive-backed Pipits. The best places to see some rarities are the peninsulas on the western coast and on the nearby islands. The shallow coasts of the Bothnian Bay are inhabited by thousands of Whooper Swans and their numbers are biggest in October. Every time the wind blows north, a part of them, usually a few hundred birds, leave the area and fly south. The migration continues until the shores of the bay freeze in December.

NOVEMBER

In November winter arrives in northern Finland. The snow cover usually reaches down to the southern half of Finland and the lakes ice over during November.
Almost all the migrants have now left - only swans, waterfowls and gulls remain on the sea. The last migrants can be seen in southern Finland, but the birdlife is more or less quiet there as well, except on the shoreline. Sometimes rare vagrants are still found.

DECEMBER

In December it is practically winter all over of Finland. Only the sea remains partially free of ice. The birdlife is similar to January, with some exceptions.

Days are short in Lapland. The sun does not rise at all during December and early January. There "a day" is only a couple of hours of twilight time. On the other hand, the short days make birdwatching easy. There is not enough time to get tired!

On the western coasts, when a strong southwesterly wind blows, it is possible to see thousands of Common Gulls migrating to the south along the shoreline. Nobody knows where they come from or where they are going to, because when the wind stops or changes direction, the gulls disappear. Steller´s Eiders usually migrate to the Baltic Sea as late as December. They are often seen on the seacoast, rivers or some big lakes which are free of ice.