birdscan » Page 10 of 20

Dates... From Manchester 20th May to the 23rd May

Thursday ... Day 1:
If you are flying from Manchester on the 20th May, your SAS morning flight leaves at 10:05 and arrives at 13:25.

After an hour or so drive we will arrive at our hotel and check in. After our evening meal we will head out to look for Great Grey Owl.

Friday... Day 2:
Morning birding around Lake Osjon. After lunch we will follow the work of ornithologists ringing Ural Owls.The wetlands and river system that can make up the Black River Valley offer habitats and feeding sites for a whole range of wetland species. Black-throated Diver may have arrived while Great-crested Grebes will be starting their courtship display. Whooper Swans should still be in the area while Geese should be passing through. Both races of Bean Geese can be seen side by side while there could be larger flocks of Pink-footed Geese with smaller numbers of Greater White-fronted Goose amongst the flocks. Duck numbers will also be good with flocks of Common Teal and Wigeon feeding in the shallow wetlands while Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye, Smew and Goosander feeding in deeper water. Maybe the years first Common Scoters have also arrived. Northern Lapwing will be displaying and Common Snipe will be “drumming” high over the wetlands while the calls of Eurasian Curlew float over the farmlands . Around the lakes Common Redshank and Green Sandpiper will have made their spring appearance. The wetlands also provide hunting grounds for some interesting birds of prey like Eurasian Marsh Harrier and Hen Harrier and Merlin. Passerine movements should be good with such Scandinavian species such as Fieldfare and Redwing. Sky Larks will be displaying and the odd lingering Great-grey Shrike may still be around after spending the winter. Common Chaffinch seem to be everywhere with the odd Brambling amongst the flocks. It is also possible to see quite large flocks of Twite, a bird becoming scarce in the UK. After lunch we will spend some time with the ornithologists working with Ural Owl. Hopefully we will have the chance to see this bird at close range. After our evening meal we will spend our time looking for Eagle Owl.

Saturday...Day 3:
Early morning start for drumming woodpeckers. This will be followed by an excursion to check nest boxes for breeding Tengmalm’s Owls. Other than the wetlands the Black River Valley has some magnificent woodland areas. Members of the woodpecker family are always of interest and with such species as Black, Grey-headed and Three-toed, then it is difficult to chose a target species, but why not all three? In areas of coniferous forests we will be looking for such specialities as the Scandinavian race of Willow Tit. Crested Tit will also be on our list as will be Crossbill. Both Common and Parrot have been recorded in the area. After lunch we will turn our attention once more to owls. This time it will be Tengmalm’s Owl, a species that can usually be found if rodent numbers are good.

Sunday...Day 4:
Early morning start for Hazel Hen and Black Grouse before we head for the airport and our flights home.