Some land- and some waterbirds

Today, the easterly winds has continued to blow, but day had a bit different character than previous one. The raptor movement was almost over, only occasional sparrowhawk / raudkull Accipiter nisus and  the Kestrel / tuuletallaja Falco tinnunculus  was seen on feeding flights. But among landbirds, there was some songbirds migration in the morning. Margus have counted 121 Tree pipits /metskiur Anthus trivalis, which is remarkable number for this species. Also the 98 migrating Yellow Wagtails / lambahänilane  Motacilla flava, is remarkable number for the autumn season. On the rare species side, Margus have observed one Tawny Pipit / nõmmekiur Anthus campestris walking on the sandy beach, north-west from our field station.

Among staging birds, there was first Smew /väikekoskel Mergus albellus appeared. The numbers of local Goldeneyes /sõtkas Bucephala clangula are increasing day by day and reaching today to the 129 individuls, whic is still 20 times less, than in the June. among goldeneyes, also the 6 individuals flock of Common Scoters / mustvaeras Melanitta nigra appeared close to the coast.

In the coastal waters around the southern point, one Ringed seal / viigerhüljes Phoca hispida have made nice show in the afternoon. This individual have tried to climb up to his/her usual resting spot, the big flat bolder in the sea. The seal has tried 4-5 times and already half way up was still slipping back to the water, until finally gave up. Then I have realized, that easterly winds have blown the water levels so low, that seal could not reach its favored resting spot anymore!

In the evening, I have counted the Mute Swan / kühmnokk-luik Cygnus olor flocks in the coastal waters and island archipelago north from Kihnu. I have counted as many as 978 individuals in total, which is mine biggest ever count on this species. It is seems, that low seawater may attract more swans over wider territory to enjoy the perfect feeding conditions around Kihnu.

The Sparrowhawk is resting on the fishing boat /Photo M. Kose/

These guys are not a Robinsons with the laptops, but hard working engineers from the Robin Radar Systems, fine-turning our bird radars. /Photo M. Kose/