Red-footed Falcon

First month of the autumn migration survey is now over. The most numerous migrant in July has been Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris with some 5,000 indviduals. It has also offered several nice birding suprises already and so was it also today. 2cy male Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus, seen during lunch break, saved very quiet morning migration. This was another new species (this time very excpected one) for the island. According to our databese - 234 bird species has been registreted on Kihnu island.

Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus. The 1st record for the Kihnu island. Photo by Tarvo Valker.

Swifts are in the air

On last two mornings, interesting movements has been encountered. Yesterday I did 4 hours sitewatch at the western coast and recorded 11 species of migrating waders. Majority of them were Dunlins Calidris alpina - 100 (second biggest count of the autumn season), followed by Greenshank Tringa nebularia - 24 and Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago - 16 (best of the autumn season). Best numbers of the autumn season also for Turnstone Arenaria interpres - 3, Red Knot Calidris canutus - 3, Ruff Philomachus pugnax - 6 and Shelduck Tadorna tadorna - 2. One Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides was singing briefly in the forest. The numbers of Golden Orioles Oriolus oriolus and juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos major on the island has increased significantly.

Common Snipes on stopover. Photo by Tarvo Valker

Today morning at the western point - Suarõ nina, was rather quiet. But when I returned back to the southern tip, I noticed movement of south rushing Swifts Apus apus. Between 8.00-9.00, 173 Swifts has been counted on migration and during 2 hours sitewatch I counted altogether 203 migrating Swits. Before that, only very few migrating Swifts has been encountered here.

Local star is back

Sunny summertime weather with no wind and air temperature reaching up to 24,5 degrees. Crested Lark Galerida cristata has been feeding most of the day in our garden. One bird was singing quite actively today. Just before the sunset I noticed 2 birds together feeding next to radars. Possible breeding birds? Hopefully next weeks will give answer to this question.
Migration has been rather quiet today, but one female Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola has been flying south along the coast.

Local star - Crested Lark enjoying summersun on the rock. Photo: Tarvo Valker

Migration at the western coast

Storm is over and weather is calm and warm again. Last two mornings has been very quiet again at the southern tip, but migration on the western side of island has been slightly better. Last two mornings I did 4 hours sitewatch at the western coast again. Yesterday 200 Common Scoters Melanitta nigra passed the area. Today I encountered nice migration of waders - Dunlin Calidris alpina - 160 (best for the autumn season), Greenshank Tringa nebularia - 18, Common Snipe Gallinago Gallinago - 7 and Sanderling Calidris alba - 1.
Numbers of waders on stopover are decreasing rapidly at the southern tip. Today morning only 150 waders has been encountered and by the evening most of them has moved on again. Mudflats at the western side are again attracting more waders - today I encountered there 45 Dunlins Calidris alpina, 2 Sanderlings Calidris alba and 3 Red Knots Calidris canutus.

Evening view from the lighthouse. View to the eastern side of island.

...and to the western side of the island.

Stormy day again with a wind reaching up to 14 m/s. Girls went back to mainland, so me and Andrus have to cook by ourselves again. Mariliis left with a nice lifer, Crested Lark and another year tick - Sanderling.

Almost no migration at all today, but weather should change during upcoming days and hopefully that will affect also movement of birds. I spotted today afternoon a flock of 1,500 Starlings Sturnus vulgaris in one filed in the middle of the island. Those birds are most likely waiting for the better weather to move south. 

 

Happy birders in the kitchen. Photo: Tarvo Valker

Number of Dunlins at the southern tip is increasing every day. Today morning we estimated at least 400 Dunlins Calidris alpina at the beach, but species richness was lower than yesterday. Only new birds today here were 3 adult Grey Plovers Pluvialis squatarola. Crested Lark was not seen today anymore. 

Dunlins. Photo: Tarvo Valker.

Dunlin, a bit closer. Photo: Tarvo Valker

Waders paradise

Today morning was rather quiet again for seawatching. Andrus has been encountered 4,000 Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo fishing on sea, but other activity was very low.

But waders saved our day. We recorded altogether 15 species of waders today - especially good numbers feeding on algae just next to our doorstep. Kihnu island seems to be one of the best place for Calidris species in Estonia at the moment. Today`s counts of Dunlin Calidris alpina reached up to 500 individuals with some 20 Curlew Sandpipers Calidris ferruginea and few Little Stints Calidris minuta. New species for the autumn season was one Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus. Birds seems to move a lot here - we did 4 counts and got every time a bit different numbers and also species. 

Dunlins and Ringed Plovers. Photo: Tarvo Valker

Local garden bird Crested Lark Galerida cristata has been around also today. Summerstorm is coming again to Kihnu. Wind now occasionally 11 m/s and tommorrow it should increase up to 16 m/s.

Crested Lark still in action

After some holiday days, I arrived back Kihnu island. Mariliis (known as "Rari Mari - Rarity Mary"), also joined Kihnu birding for several days with her friend Helen and daughter Marta. When I tried to go out from my car to open the gate of our base, Mariliis already spotted a passerine feeding just next to our car. When we got our bins on it, it was very obivious that it is Crested Lark Galerida cristata, found few days ago. Later, having nice barbecue, we saw two individuals in our garden.

Barbecue point - Crested Lark

Grillipunkt - tuttlõoke

Another nice suprise was good numbers of waders on stopover. Numbers at southern tip reached higher than ever before during this autumn season. Altogether 11 species of waders has been encountered, including 240 Dunlins Calidris alpina, 2 Sanderlings Calidris alba, 3 Curlew Sandpipers Calidris ferruginea, 1 Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus and 4 Turnstones Arenaria interpres. All those birds were adults, juveniles migration will take place later in August.

Cormorants, birding and barbecue

Today the wind has finally starting to slow down and last couple of hours before sunset, air and sea stayed absolutely still. It was very magical moment with flat sea with extraordinary colors and reflections from sky and clouds. We with Andrus have decided to combine the late evening birdwatching with the small barbecue and beer session. We expected some birds takeoff for the evening sea crossing but only dozen Grey Herons Ardea cinerea have flew to SW over the sea.  Flock of 18 Common Sandpipers Tringa hypoleuca have made attempt as well, but returned. 


There was several waterbirds with non-fledged offspring came out to feed on sea at the evening Mute Swans Cygnus olor, Coot Fulica atra and Mergansers. The local fishermen s have used the calm moment also for putting in their fishing gear.


The morning was in respect of migration very quiet. But the Great Cormorants Phalacocorax carbo had til the moment biggest movement - 5017 individuals where counted. In the biggest flock, there was over 2000 birds! But this is not real migration, but rather wondering around from one resting and feeding spot to another. But it is still indicating, that Cormorants has been activating and may start departing soon. Our local rarity - the Crested Lark Galerida cristata - has showing up again in the spit at this morning. 

Birding and barbecue

Back from the fishing trip

The migrating Grey Herons

The Mute Swan family

Day with the good news and the bad news

As it often happens – life have brought today both good news and some bad ones for balance. The morning started with rushing out half-sleeping at 5 AM – Andrus have started the standard monitoring in the southernmost tip next to the field base and very soon discovered unusual lark species next to him. I have managed to shoot first frames almost instantly then reaching the place – the bird was tame while walking for seed feeding on the ground.

By studying the photographs and  Svensson’s guidebook – we have confirmed the Crested Lark Galerida cristata – rare bird nowadays in Estonia. It was first recording in this year for the country and new species for Kihnu avifauna. This adult bird had very warn out plumage. The distinctive crest, upward pointing bill and uniformly brown outermost tail feathers have made the species ID.

After sending SMS to the rare bird network, phone started to ring pretty soon: The head of the Estbirding birder’s society and the national rare bird committee, Margus Ots have started to gather info for a rarity mission. Hi is doing the Big Year (trial to beat the mark of a annual bird species list) and was very keen to got another much needed tick to the list. Three hours later he landed at ferry from mainland and after another hour got his reward! If someone is interested on outcome of the Margus Big Birding Effort, he is keeping the blog:  http://linnuvaatleja.ee/ ; Estonian birder’s society’ have web page: www.estbirding.ee

All important clues (crest, bill, tail) in the single photo

From the migration side, the day was fairly quiet. Only the 613 Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo  and 410 Starlings Sturnus vulgaris have reminded, that for some species the leaving season is on. The new migratory species today was Sand Martin R. riparia – 37 individuals has been observed departing to the sea. Among seaducks, only 14 Velvet Scoters Melanitta fusca have migrated. The stones of the southernmost point have been occupied by appr. 60 staging Common Gulls Larus canus.

The gang of waders continuing to grow around the bays and shores of the island. In the western coast near the camping area the single Knot Calidris canutus and Turnstone Arenaria interpres appered as new species for the autumn season. Next to the ferry harbour, 3 Curlew Sandpipers Calidris ferruginea in the nice breeding plumage has been feeding.

Curelew Sandpiper

And the bad news part:

There are several pairs of House Martins Delichon urbica breeding in our field station building and nearby lighthouse. As they are using mud and algae form the seashore for nest building, some of the nests have fallen and broods where perished. One pair has established their nest into well supported cavity inside the roof, just next to our main door. Well chosen I have thought, good support and not accessible for predators. But today something unexpected has happened. In the early morning, everything was fine, but after returning from Crested Lark spotting, I have found one dead nestling from the concrete floor under the nest. Then heading out after coffee break, another fallen nestling was laying dead next to his mate. I become to worry – what is going on, why the helpless nestlings dropping dead out from the nest? Then I have turned back from my duties I have discovered even third sibling dead on the ground! Then I watched the situation on site, dispute between several martin individuals happened and entering of rivaling birds into cavity with nest got my attention. After this, mystery was revealed – the aggressive intruder (probably male) has made cruel infanticide!     

There is not much evidence on this kind of behavior of birds. Only one case has reported from Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica among swallows and martins. One attempt have observed by male Black Stork recorded by webcam in Estonian nest. Ecologists suggest that this might be a desperate act of violence of single unpaired males. It has explained that these individuals may hope to find their chance by divorcing a existing pairs by ruining their breeding attempt. Rare or not but nasty to witness, this proves once again, that struggle for survival is not a funny game.

Poor nestlings - are they victims of the infanticide by a desperate male?

The feeding day

Third morning with the strong wind but we three spread up again in the early morning in order to continue discovering of migration patterns of seabirds.

Despite our expectations, the migration was weak today. In the western coast the number of Scoters Melanitta sp., was over seven time smaller (44 vs 350), than it was yesterday. Only the Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo had some more movement – 131 individuals have passed west coast and 125 the southern point respectively. 2 individuals of both Arctic- and Red-throated Divers Gavia arctica, G. stellata have be passed the western coast. Where was also 2 Parasitic Skua’s  Stercorarius parasiticus passing the same area – first individuals returning from Arctic breeding places.

As the storm is retreating, there are many coastal areas with thick layers of algae washed ashore. These fresh layers are always good feeding spots for waders, gulls and ducks. There are great numbers of crustacean, small fishes and other stuff trapped into this wet carpet and hungry birds cannot wait to start dining. 

The strong waves have made lots of Stickleback’s and other small fish dizzy  or got them stacked into floating algae – good prey opportunities for scavenging Black-headed Gulls and other waterbirds 

The male adult Shelducks have left his offspring  resting to the stones and came to feast with fresh seafood

The father and son in the evening light

Watch out! The sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis have diving for the fish close to Shelduck family

Way back from the west coast I have discovered the juvenile Common Buzzard laying on top of the hay bale in the nice sunshine and dreaming on the fat vole brought by parents – the breeding of the territorial buzzards is now confirmed

Seawatching on larger scale

Another stormy day. Wind still reaches up 17 m/s. We have 3 birdwatchers at our base now - Andrus Kuus, Mati Kose and me, so we try to cover different corners of the island for early morning seawatching. And seems that every part of the island is very different...

Andrus stayed at our main observing point at the southern tip of the Kihnu Island. The most common migrants (or more probably moving feeding flocks) here were today Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo - 105 ind.. Other more obvious migrants were - Common Scoter Melanitta nigra - 44 and Starling Sturnus vulgaris - 30. New daily record of the autumn season for the Greenshank Tringa nebularia - 17.

I spent 2,5 hours at the northeastern corner of the island. It seems to be rather good spot for observing migrating waders. I encountered here 27 Wood Sandpipers Tringa glareola, 2 Greenshanks Tringa nebularia and 5 Common Snipes Gallinago gallinago. I observed here only very few Scoters and other seaducks. Beside waders, 13 (2 flocks) Grey Herons Ardea cinerea headed to the northeast over the sea.

Mati has been seawatching at the western corner and it turned to be most interesting for migration. The most numerous were Scoters with 350 individuals (+150 unidentified seaducks). Other more numerous birds were was feeding flocks of Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus (145) and Tern Sterna species with 125 individuals. Both are hard to count here because of the local birds breeding on nearby islets. Here even 27 Greenshanks Tringa nebularia were counted - but some of them can be local birds as well because western coast is the main spot for waders on stopover.

Beside seawatching we got positive prove of successful breeding of Common Crane Grus grus. One pair with one young has been feeding near the road. Young Crane was already perfectly able to fly. At the same time, in the west coast the Common Eider Somateria molissima mother suddenly appeared with just two late-timed ducklings. But better the couple than nothing. It was both surprising to see the evidence that the species also breed in the main island of Kihnu and how the young birds couple with the rough sea. The real survival challenge at the very beginning!

The second year Little Gull in migration. The  juvenile dark wingbars  of primaries and coverts will be soon completely replaced by  uniform silvery-grayish wing coverts

Splash proof or surfing for survival - The female Common Eider and two ducklings swimming through the stormy sea waves.

In the heart of the Summertime storm!

It was obvious in the morning, that extreme weather in the form of heavy south-westerly winds and rain spells     make this Sunday memorable. Unusual summertime storm, warm enough fortunately. By checking national weather data, our excitement was even higher -  Kihnu (and the surrounding waters of the Livonian bay) is in the middle of storm with strongest wind throughout the country! The wind has reached it's peaks at 18:00 15,2 m/s and spells up to 20 m/s! This is strong even for autumn and winter storm season. It was weird, that in the shores of the Livonian bay and other coastal sites, the wind was very modest and nowhere even close to Kihnu!


Bird's activity was low, especially in the morning with heavy rain. There was some flocks of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) flying around the island and some scavenging gulls and terns as well. Most of the Arctic-, Common- and Sandwich Terns (Sterna paradisea, S. hirundo, S. sandvicensis) (50 birds in sum) rested on islets and stones and made only short feeding flights.

The gray morning with the great waves. /Photo M.Kose/

The short flights only! (Photo M. Kose/

Lunch suprise

Male Common Scoters Melanitta nigra are starting their moulting migration. Today morning 390 individuals has been counted on migration. Around 20% of the birds were females, suprisingly high rate for July migration. Also Velvet Scoters Melanitta fusca had the best morning so far with some 190 individuals (95% males). 

Best autumn migration number also for Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus - a flock of 16 passed the southern tip of the island. Two juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos major has been wondering around for several days now, but they are not yet keen to cross the sea. Mati photographed the Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto during the lunch time. Seems that this bird is slightly increasing again after some years decline in Estonia. It was already 5th sighting for me in Estonia during this spring and my 2nd on Kihnu island. /T.V./

 Very approachable Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) appeared by surprise in the parking lot of the Rock City pub and motel (named according famous historical Kihnu sailing ship). Although the kitchen do not served lunch for us, the pretty rare dove species for Estonia, made our lunch brake.

Üllatuslind Rock-City parklas - kaelus turteltuvi. Eestis viimasel ajal harudlaseks jäänud liik, keda viimati sai nähtud 3-4 aastat tagasi. Täna aga lõunapausi ajal kenasti poseerimas. /M.Kose/

Sunshine and the rain

Today, after ten days of sunshine, several heavy rainfalls took place at our base. Therefore early morning seawatching was rather boring. 

The most interesting was movement of Cormorant flocks to the south-west. Over 200 individuals disappeared behind the horizon. 

First Hobby Falco subbuteo opened autumn migration season for raptors. As the Lao on mainland ( more or less straight north from Kihnu island) is well known good spot for autumn raptor migration, it is expected to be interesting raptor autumn migration also here. Also Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica were on the move, a flock of 6 individuals (probably adult females) passed the southern cape.

Evening with changing light and colours.  Photo by Tarvo Valker

Rainfall is good for counting feeding waders - so I checked sand tunes again on the late evening. West coast of Kihnu island seems to be good spot for observing waders on stopover. Todays selection: Greenshank Tringa nebularia (16), Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea (11), Dunlin Calidris alpina (10) and Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula (10). 

Mystical yacht race and radar reflections - successfully recovered images from crashed memory card

The 55. Moonsund Yahcting regatta (Muhu väina regatt) has passed the Kihnu island and the turning point south from Kihnu provided excellent view of the dramatic seascape and racing

The sailboat is cutting through the sea fog

The standart ship radar screen of our bird monitoring system has provided  the nice images from the  groups of  the racing yachts (circled with red lines). The whitish mess in the center of the radar screen is the unfiltered clutter from reflections from the Kihnu island with trees and terrain.  

12.07

Waders had some movement today morning. Best numbers of autumn season for Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola (16) and Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola (21). Starling Sturnus vulgaris migration has been very quiet during last several mornings but today again some 450 birds moved futher south. Bird of the day has been 1 Great White Egret Egretta alba - most probably the first sightning for the island.

10.07.

A strong southerly wind saw more movement of autumn migrating arctic waterfowl. The best daily count of Common Scoters Melanitta nigra (195 individuals) occured this morning, with the first migrating Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata (4) and Razorbill Alca torda (1) also recorded. July is the peak migration period for many adult waders that breed in arctic areas. Yesterday we spotted several interesting waders stopping over on the mudflats, including Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica (12), Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea (4) and Sanderling Calidris alba (1). Today 20 Dunlin Calidris alpina were recorded during the 4 hour survey period.

09.07.

The first week of autumn bird migration surveys were completed today. Although it is midsummer, many species have already started their autumn migration. The main aim of the survey is to discover the migration flyways used by birds in the Gulf of Riga, in order to reduce the impact of a potential future offshore windpark. Surveying consists of both visual and radar observations done in conjunction. Kihnu Island is believed to be a good spot for passerine migration during the autumn season, but probably fairly quiet for arctic waterfowl, though this project may show otherwise. This week saw very few movements on the sea, with Common Scoter Melanitta nigra the most frequently observed species and daily counts of fewer than 100 individuals. The commonest migrant of the week was Starling Sturnus vulgaris, with a best daily count of 1,000 individuals on the 7th of July. Grey Herons were also on the move with some 40 migrating individuals counted on July 4th. As radar detects many kinds of movement, sailboats of the Muhu regatta were also detected as they headed from Pärnu to Kuivastu harbour on Muhu island.