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Bird spotting (and some mammals, too)
mili
Posts: 3258
mili Posted Sat 23 Apr, 2011 1:27 PM Quote
Hmm, decided to change my owl and other birds related stuff here, as it might bore some people in the news thread and so it can be more easily avoided.

mili wrote:
mili wrote:
I cycled to the centre of Helsinki for the first time this spring to meet some friends. When I was parking my bike I noticed a family pointing up towards the roof of a shopping centre. I had a glance up, and saw two huge eagle owl chicks. Of course I had left my camera home, and the phone camera piccies didn't come out too well, but it was amazing to see them. They're the first eagle owl chicks born in the centre of Helsinki. There's plenty of food: city rabbits, rats, pigeons, seagulls…


Update, here's one of my "friends", who failed a bit today with his flying practice and landed straight on tram tracks…
He was captured and returned to his nest after a check-up.

http://s.omakaupunki.hs.fi/news/images/uploads/huuhjaja.540x405.jpg



http://s.omakaupunki.hs.fi/news/images/uploads/huuhkaja184.540x405.jpg

http://s.omakaupunki.hs.fi/news/images/uploads/1135265505183.540x405.jpg
 
Re: Bird spotting
mili
Posts: 3258
mili Posted Sat 23 Apr, 2011 1:38 PM Quote
This happened on Wednesday
bird rescue

The young ones are on the move, they can't fly properly yet, so they end up in strange places. The "little" one was moved back to the roof top, because it being bang in the centre of the capital, it might cause trouble should it decide to make a move, or if a parent should think it's in danger.

On Friday one of the grown up owls attacked a dog (no one was harmed), it most likely thought it was a fox or something.

I went see the owls on Friday afternoon, one chick was visible on the edge of the roof, the other two sheltering. Then I saw one of the bird spotters (plenty about at the moment) pointing his massive camera towards the roof of a nearby department store. I looked through it, and one of the huge grown-ups was there. They can be up to 1 m tall!

Other birds spotted this week end: oyster catcher, wagtail, swans, all sorts of ducks, field fare. It's spring!!
 
Re: Bird spotting
Turtleneck
Posts: 7404
Turtleneck Posted Sat 23 Apr, 2011 2:03 PM Quote
Owls are cool.
 
Re: Bird spotting
ricv64
Posts: 10115
ricv64 Posted Sat 23 Apr, 2011 2:21 PM Quote
I concurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
 
Re: Bird spotting
mili
Posts: 3258
mili Posted Sun 24 Apr, 2011 9:24 PM Quote
Another rescue operation today, soon the chicks will leave for good.

Today a guard lady picked up an owl that had landed in the middle of THE main street of Helsinki. Apparently they're nearly ready to leave.

Look at the first two galleries here (Eurasian Eagle-Owl):
http://www.tarsiger.com/gallery/
 
Re: Bird spotting
Scottish Dubliner
Posts: 8299
Scottish Dubliner Posted Mon 25 Apr, 2011 1:58 AM Quote
Can't figure out how to "hot-link" pics from FB anymore but I was working in the gardens of the hotel on Friday and had a wee robin following me around, he was so close at times I could have easily grabbed him, bold wee guy.


Dubz
 
Re: Bird spotting
Edel
Posts: 1184
Edel Posted Mon 25 Apr, 2011 8:53 AM Quote
These owls are fascinating but think my chicken shit syndrome would keep me away if I lived in Helsinki
 
Re: Bird spotting
ricv64
Posts: 10115
ricv64 Posted Mon 25 Apr, 2011 1:45 PM Quote
Didn't realize how urban owls can be
 
Re: Bird spotting
mili
Posts: 3258
mili Posted Mon 25 Apr, 2011 5:27 PM Quote
ricv64 wrote:
Didn't realize how urban owls can be


They're not usually, this is the first Eagle Owl nest in Helsinki centre

Today one of the small ones flew a little bit further, across the main street and an art museum, and decided to rest outside a newspaper building. It was given a lift back home. They must be getting used to the good service by now!

http://s.omakaupunki.hs.fi/news/images/uploads/1303713357-5f21779-1.540x405.jpg
 
Re: Bird spotting
mili
Posts: 3258
mili Posted Tue 26 Apr, 2011 11:25 AM Quote
…and again!
video of yet another rescue
http://www.hs.fi/videot/1135265657636

And a view of today's situation

http://s.omakaupunki.hs.fi/news/images/uploads/1135265658177.540x405.jpg

Apparently the two others were watching from the roof top…
 
Re: Bird spotting
weirdmom
Posts: 7598
weirdmom Posted Tue 26 Apr, 2011 12:28 PM Quote
That owl is a pimp!
 
Re: Bird spotting
ricv64
Posts: 10115
ricv64 Posted Sat 30 Apr, 2011 5:00 PM Quote
Falcon cam San Jose

http://sanjose.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=91
 
Re: Bird spotting
mili
Posts: 3258
mili Posted Tue 03 May, 2011 10:18 AM Quote


Cool!

Our local celebrity (or one of them) decided to vistit the terrace of a sushi restaurant today.
http://s.omakaupunki.hs.fi/news/images/uploads/1304411589-412d436-1.1.540x405.jpg

Last sunday I had a good view of a sandpiper, a beautifully singing robin and a greenfinch, and of course mallards…
 
Re: Squirrel spotting (Bird spotting)
mili
Posts: 3258
mili Posted Tue 03 May, 2011 4:23 PM Quote

A squirrel for a change!

http://s.omakaupunki.hs.fi/news/images/uploads/1304255079-88d5fa6-1.540x405.jpg

This specimen was spotted inside a design shop in a trendy hipster area near Helsinki centre last sunday (shop was closed). Apparently it had broken one 1000 € plate… Amazing pose!
 
Re: Bird spotting (and some mammals, too)
mili
Posts: 3258
mili Posted Wed 04 May, 2011 7:45 AM Quote
Damned crow is trying to destroy a seagull's nest on the next door building's rooftop. I just saw it dragging the seagull down by its wing. Clever but horrible. I think it got at least one egg already.
 
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