Winter fantasy

This article is a collection of pictures from the last snowy days before the “heat wave”… since then, it’s rained a lot, but the memory of this lovely time is still alive and well.

My commute between home and the office goes through Keskuspuisto, the central park of Helsinki, and often in those days I did it walking, enjoying the scenery. That was a powerful relaxing tool, especially after a tense day at work.

One day I got lost, but ssshhh, don’t tell my colleagues…

And then the quest for the Siberian accentor went on again, and again I came back empty-handed. This said, I had a great time on the Vuosaari dumpyard, although noone is supposed to go there. I witnessed a Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) being chased by corvids, essentially Eurasian magpies (Pica pica) and Hooded crows (Corvus cornix). When a bird of prey gets too close, the corvids are usually not afraid of running after it and harassing it until it leaves. If it decides to perch and wait, like on the photo below, it will be watched closely until its departure.

Eurasian magpie (Pica pica), Hooded crow (Corvus cornix) and Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

Tough life.

Willow tit (Poecile montanus)

Thanks to this funny sign and a bit of Facebook wisdom, I learnt that there are many vipers living in Vuosaari. I didn’t see any, I think they are hibernating now!

Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

A walk to Viikki offered great views on mixed flocks of Eurasian siskins (Spinus spinus) and Common redpolls (Acanthis flammea).

Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus)

Bird inventory