The arrival of spring in Finland is always a significant event, especially after a long and cold winter. My wife and I decided to explore what migratory birds we could find at a lake near the center of Tampere, which historically has been Finland’s most significant bird lake. This lake still offers excellent opportunities for diverse birdwatching.
Equipment and Weather Conditions
For this excursion, I equipped myself with my trusty Sony A7 IV camera, which has never failed me and is known for its excellent image quality. I used a Sony 200-600mm lens, relatively light and capable of capturing sharp images. I also brought along a GoPro for dynamic video recording.
The weather has been warming up lately, and although the winter was longer and colder than usual, it felt like the spring sun had finally decided to return to us.
Initial Observations
Upon arriving at the lake, we noticed a group of coots swimming near the shore. Coots are always fun and feisty birds, whose antics are a joy to watch. Their energetic presence brings life to the still partially frozen lake. Particularly in spring, coots display their temperamental nature, not tolerating others of their kind nearby and aggressively chasing each other away.
Rare Guests and Endangered Species
Our journey continued, and my wife spotted something special at the edge of the ice – a pair of smews resting during their migration towards the northern regions of Lapland. Smews are rare sights, and their elegant appearance always makes them particularly interesting subjects for observation. I managed to get a few good shots even though they were quite distant. In a few days, they will continue their journey towards the wilderness lakes of Lapland.
There were also lesser black-backed gulls on the ice, which are endangered in Finland. Spotting the lesser black-backed gull was a pleasant surprise, as their populations have been declining.
Melodies of Songbirds
We also heard the song of the European goldfinch from the treetops. European goldfinches are intriguing birds because their clear and loud song is easy to hear, but the birds themselves are often hard to spot. Based on their song, you might think a whole flock is nearby, although it might be just one small bird singing.
Signs of Spring and an Unexpected Encounter
Walking in nature after a long winter felt refreshing. Although nature isn’t yet flaunting full greenery, birdsong fills the air, hinting that summer is approaching. Near the end of our trip, I noticed a bird hopping near a pile of branches, which turned out to be a robin. I hadn’t seen a robin all winter, so this sighting also brought joy to our day.
Summary
This spring outing was full of interesting observations and surprises. It reminded us again why birdwatching in Finland can be so rewarding – nature always offers something new and wonderful. It’s great to see how life returns to the land after a long winter, and how birds find their way back to familiar territories. Spring is finally here!
