Birdwatching and other stuff

August 2012

Spent last few days of summer holiday walking on some Nature Reserve areas. Although this was quite  a silent season in them, there's always something interesting to see.

There was still a few interesting birds to watch, worth carrying binoculars. Shot some photos, all handheld.

Visited Nature Reserve areas:

• Viikki, Helsinki
• Laajalahti, Espoo
• Mustavuori, Helsinki
• Tammisto, Vantaa

Viikki, Helsinki

Partly sunny day. Viikki Nature Reserve is located around the oldest part of Helsinki. Went first via duckboards to Lammassaari island. There's a popular birdwatching tower. All birds were in too distant to take any interesting photos there.

Headed next to Pornaistenniemi peninsula. There's a small birdwatching hut near water level. Spotted a few Coot there. They didn't scare my camera too much, thanks!

Next walked to Gardenia to see a small photo exhibition plus had a lunch there. One of my fav places.

On a returning route stopped to see life of Mallards while they had their bathing time. Splish splash!

A nice walk but visually a bit too silent and dead in nature. You see, I'm an amateur.

Walking on duckboards

A Coot looking for something to eat

A shady avenue

A Mallard taking a bath

Laajalahti, Espoo

Partly sunny day again. Laajalahti Nature Reserve is located near Ring Road 1. One has to deny constant noise coming from there.

There was a new photo exhibition opened in Villa Elfvik Nature House, a Spring in Archipelago. Spent an hour there with really beautiful photos from Jungfruskär island!

Headed next to birdwatching tower near by. Multiple species of different Waders were walking and hopping on wasteland. Then saw a big white spot in distance. Took binoculars. It did look like a white Common Crane. Thanks to smartphones and network coverage, browsed and identified it to be a Great Egret. Finally saw something rare. Cool!  Unfortunately it was in such a long distance that it wasn't possible to capture by a camera, not even with a 300mm zoom lens.

Continued walking via duckboards to south side birdwatching tower. Lots of Dragonflies. South side tower was full of Birdwatchers, professional ones. Some one told me he had identified some 30 different species of birds while staying there. That's about quiet season!

Worth visiting Laajalahti. Enjoyable photo exhibition.

A Wood Pigeon landing

Waders searching lunch

Birdwatchers having other interest

Lizards having a family meeting

A Dragonfly captured lunch

An old hayfield

I just like these duckboards

Mallards competing who can stand longest time on one foot

Villa Elfvik

Mustavuori, Helsinki

No major change in weather, partly sunny day, temperature above +15C but under +20C.

Mustavuori Nature Reserve is one of the most important Nature Reserve areas in Helsinki, located in east of Helsinki.

Right after start noticed a fairly big, black bird on a tree. Didn't identify it. Hands started to shake, can I make some photos? It was on a shade, of course. Took few shots and then it flew off. Thanks for a couple of shots I later identified it to be a Spotted Nutcracker. Not seen too often. Hip Hurray!

Continued walking on an Old Gun Road. It was an old cobble stone road made by the time of Russian Emperor, about some 100 years ago.

Heard very light beeping sound coming from trees near the road. At first didn't see anything. Stood still some minutes then saw many small birds hopping from one branch to another. Took a camera. They all disappeared at once. Stood still another 5min. They appeared again. This time was lucky to take some photos of them. They were Goldcrests. Boy I was proud.

Next took a longer walk to Vuosaari hill, an artificial hill made near peninsula. A few birdwatchers were there. Several different species of birds live on the slopes of the hill. Took few shots with full zoom.


Walked down to peninsula. Dragonflies circled here and there. Took some photos of them. Then came butterflies. Beautiful indeed. It was about time to return.

Really worth visiting there.

A Spotted Nutcracker

Old Gun Road

A Goldcrest

A Red-backed Shrike

A Brown Hawker Dragonfly had captured its lunch, a Wasp

A Common Spreadwing Dragonfly

Hey, we both eat Raspberries!

Really nice butterfly, a European Peacock

Tammisto, Vantaa

I may repeat but the weather was partly cloudy, although mostly sunny.

Tammisto Nature Reserve is located near Vantaa river along the border of Helsinki.

The Nature Reserve is one low hill covered by many old oak trees and some other noble trees, a thick forest. Thus birds living there were a bit different than in other (spruce and pine) forests.

Heard lots of different species of birds. However, they were very difficult to capture by camera. At least my patience wasn't enough. A Woodpecker was so busy on its task that it didn't mind me taking some shots.

Otherwise, shades of old noble trees were nice. Grand old trees, wish they could talk.

Didn't regret visiting there although spotted results were not so great.

A monster insect

A young Anglophone Robin, I presume

They never fear cameras

Mouth full of food

A Spotted Woodpecker on the fly

A Sunday Walk along Glims Nature Path

August 2012

Had a lazy Sunday walk in Espoo, Finland. Walked along the Glims river, on its Nature Path.

The Glims river was a narrow and small creek, which started from Lake Pitkäjärvi and transformed to Espoo river somewhere before the Old Church of Espoo.

The nature path started from Träskända Park and ended at Glims Bridge, being only few kilometers long.  The path was marked, see the points in the map.

The place is easy to reach by public transport.

Walked route (view in a larger map):

Started the walk from the Träskända Manor's parking lot. First walked to Träskända (aka Järvenperä in Finnish) Bridge to see where the river would start:

Pic above was taken from the bridge crossing the river:

Entered to Träskända Manor's Park. It's been defined to be a Nature Reserve area. It's a beautiful forest type park with massive and old noble trees:

There were few walking bridges where you could cross the Glims river:

Birds were flying along the river:

Started to follow the path near the river. A storm last Boxing Day did a lot of damage in this park:

However, good to see that new tree plants existed:

Dots had appeared again to leaves of maple trees:

Some trees were already in Autumn mood, reminding it's not too far:

The Glims river had many twists left and right:

Sometimes the path went off the river. Type of forest changed every now and then from spruce and pine to birch:

On northern side field appeared:

And soon the path went near the river again:

There were a reasonable amount of wild strawberries and lots of raspberries. Show stoppers for a walk.

The upper part of the river would have been too difficult for paddling:

The river didn't have big rapids, this one perhaps being the biggest one:

The next bridge crossing the river was Ingas Bridge:

Heading next to Ingas forest saw this sign, a truly respectful sign:

The path went now in a forest. Mushroom time was about to begin soon:

Some disease on trees:

Heard familiar sound from near distance. A Spotted Woodpecker did its work:

The forest had ended. It was now fields on both sides. The river crossed next Old Turku Road:

Willows guarded the river:

The nature path ended to Glims Bridge, which was an old and nice bridge:

Climbed via bicycle route to Glims Heritage Museum. Nice old houses reminding how life was some decades back:

It was about lunch time. There was one of my grand favourite place near by, Bemböle Kaffestuga. It's about 300 years old, a small wooden house. Had a laxsoppa there. Gratis!

Returned via old King's Road. Bemböle's old school was a noble one:

One could see a huge Jorvi Hospital in distance:

Unfortunately there aren't many old milestones available anymore. However, here's one:

Houses and fields were nice:

There's a pick-yourself strawberry field. Pick berries yourself and pay later. Cool!

A new Deaconess Office had mixed colours:

 The King's Road got these identification signs few years ago:

Returned to Träskända Park. Noticed small fish in the river:

There was now more people going here and there in the park:

Some people enjoyed picnic:

New acorns coming:

Before returning to the car, circled around Träskända Manor. The 300 years old, gorgeous Manor, became famous by one Lady who lived there some 100 years ago, Aurora Karamzin.  She created a deaconess order in Finland.

There was one more thing to see, an Emperor's Toilet:

Birds, nature and laxsoppa. A Sunday in August. Goodie.