Helsinki Birder
@helsinkibirder.bsky.social
Irish Birder Transplanted to Finland. Rare Bird Finder/Identifier. Interested in Raptors, Seabirds & visible migration.
https://helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/?m=1
https://helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/?m=1
Pinned
Withdrawal symptoms at the mo, so here's a compendium of Caspian Gulls from November. Easterly winds helped bump numbers up at Cley but breeding success across western Europe is also key to the high turnover & overall increase in numbers. Winter numbers never been so high.
#NorfolkBirding
#cleybirds
#NorfolkBirding
#cleybirds
November 29, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Earlier in the autumn a stunning Red-breasted Goose appeared along the north coast. It was a bit early to be considered a genuine vagrant, but it was a stunning looking bird. It was my first time to see the species anywhere, and I was glad to spend a bit of time sketching it.
November 28, 2025 at 10:47 AM
White Stork near Tacumshin, and Hoopoe on Great Saltee Island today, both in in Co. Wexford, Ireland
November 28, 2025 at 3:38 AM
November 28, 2025 at 3:37 AM
It’s been fairly quiet here, so was happy to find this Arctic Warbler on Inishbofin Co. Galway today 👍
November 28, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Killdeer on South Slob Co. Wexford this morning. Another fantastic find by Stephen King 👍
November 28, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Reposted by Helsinki Birder
We are now further away from the theatrical release of Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 12, 1981) than it was from the year it takes place in (1936). We have reached the Indiana Jones event horizon.
November 27, 2025 at 12:49 AM
We are now further away from the theatrical release of Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 12, 1981) than it was from the year it takes place in (1936). We have reached the Indiana Jones event horizon.
This Ross's Gull was painted from a long staying bird in Galway a few winters' back. I was fortunate to see it 3 times, and it was my third at that very location. This, and many more original artworks are available on my website www.robertvaughanillustrations.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:36 PM
American Herring Gull - Blast From The Past Finds. On this date I found AHG at Baltimore, Cork. I've found a fair few since, but here's some of my favorites.
#birds #gulls #birding #birdID #birdwatching #irishrarebirds
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/2025/11/amer...
#birds #gulls #birding #birdID #birdwatching #irishrarebirds
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/2025/11/amer...
American Herring Gull - Blast From The Past Finds
American Herring Gull is another true birder's bird. I wasn't always into large gulls. I hadn't, for example, run and twitched any species ...
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:38 AM
American Herring Gull - Blast From The Past Finds. On this date I found AHG at Baltimore, Cork. I've found a fair few since, but here's some of my favorites.
#birds #gulls #birding #birdID #birdwatching #irishrarebirds
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/2025/11/amer...
#birds #gulls #birding #birdID #birdwatching #irishrarebirds
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/2025/11/amer...
Reposted by Helsinki Birder
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
I have been trying for a while to get back again and see the Harlequin Duck. Although he has become a little more erratic in his appearances, it is really worth the effort. The moult is advancing rapidly and he is looking stunning, I am really hoping he sticks about for the winter.
November 26, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Autumn round up - Rarities, Gulls and Latvia. #gulls #birds #birdID #birding #finland #latvia #birdwatching
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/2025/11/autu...
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/2025/11/autu...
Autumn 2025 - Latvia and Early Winter
It wouldn't be Autumn without a yank, and a Pectoral Sandpiper appearing on Laajalahti, one of my regular sites, fit the bill nicely. Pector...
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Autumn round up - Rarities, Gulls and Latvia. #gulls #birds #birdID #birding #finland #latvia #birdwatching
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/2025/11/autu...
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/2025/11/autu...
DOGE shut down for inefficiency. 😂😂😂
November 25, 2025 at 8:01 AM
DOGE shut down for inefficiency. 😂😂😂
Oriental Turtle Dove (meena). Been a long time since I've seen OTD. So took the chance to get in on the incredible OTD influx in #finland this year. 😍😎 #birds #birding #birdwatching brings back happy memories of Cape Clear!
November 24, 2025 at 10:08 AM
November 24, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Great Grey Shrike. Good numbers of these around this winter. Excellent #birds! 😍😎 #birding #birdwatching #finland
November 23, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Great Grey Shrike. Good numbers of these around this winter. Excellent #birds! 😍😎 #birding #birdwatching #finland
First gulling session for me in a while. 8 Caspian (4x1st w, 3 x 2nd w and a 4th w) gulls at st Margaret's late morning. #wpgulls #kentbirding
November 23, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Hawk Owl. My first of the winter this evening. Performed superbly. Always make time for the #BestBirdInTheUniverse! 😍😎 #birds #owls #SuperbOwl #birding #finland #birdwatching
November 23, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Hawk Owl. My first of the winter this evening. Performed superbly. Always make time for the #BestBirdInTheUniverse! 😍😎 #birds #owls #SuperbOwl #birding #finland #birdwatching
Oriental Turtle Dove (meena). Been a long time since I've seen OTD. So took the chance to get in on the incredible OTD influx in #finland this year. 😍😎 #birds #birding #birdwatching brings back happy memories of Cape Clear!
November 23, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Oriental Turtle Dove (meena). Been a long time since I've seen OTD. So took the chance to get in on the incredible OTD influx in #finland this year. 😍😎 #birds #birding #birdwatching brings back happy memories of Cape Clear!
November 23, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Compare these images with those of L l melanuroides from Japan www.instagram.com/reel/DOuYs0A... - images taken N Lincs August 21sta nd 29th 2010 and suggested at the time as L l m by RM at B World but mag folded before it was moved forward - forgot it until seeing images linked above -
November 22, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Pygmy Owl. Dawn and singing in my garden again. 😍😎 These #birds are never gonna get old for me. They're just magic. #SuperbOwl #owls #birding #birdwatching #finland
November 22, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Pygmy Owl. Dawn and singing in my garden again. 😍😎 These #birds are never gonna get old for me. They're just magic. #SuperbOwl #owls #birding #birdwatching #finland
Lesser Scaup - Blast From The Past Finds. Find the first Lesser Scaup for Dublin was a great memory. A species that has now become quite regular, it nonetheless remains a top target for a finds list. #irishrarebirds #birds #birding #birdwatching
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/2025/11/less...
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/2025/11/less...
Lesser Scaup - Blast From The Past Finds
Lesser Scaup is a species that has gone from significant rarity to...dare I say, mundane? Better optics, greater awareness and digital phot...
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Lesser Scaup - Blast From The Past Finds. Find the first Lesser Scaup for Dublin was a great memory. A species that has now become quite regular, it nonetheless remains a top target for a finds list. #irishrarebirds #birds #birding #birdwatching
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/2025/11/less...
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/2025/11/less...
Reposted by Helsinki Birder
So, without much ado, we've kind of lost the first major city to climate change. (Tehran, metropolitan area 15 million people.)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian: “When we proposed relocating the capital, we lacked the budget…
“People said it was impossible, but now it’s no longer optional.
“We can’t keep adding population and construction here. Expansion is possible, but the water problem cannot be solved.”
“People said it was impossible, but now it’s no longer optional.
“We can’t keep adding population and construction here. Expansion is possible, but the water problem cannot be solved.”
November 21, 2025 at 9:40 AM
So, without much ado, we've kind of lost the first major city to climate change. (Tehran, metropolitan area 15 million people.)
It's almost as if staying away from other people when an infectious disease is on the loose is a good idea.
Shame on everyone who risked other people during lockdown and everyone who denied their necessity.
Shame on everyone who risked other people during lockdown and everyone who denied their necessity.
Remembering the hit of fear as Italians I respect immensely told me in early March that "you must lock down ASAP". While the British government said these were "populist – non-science based – measures that aren't any use" and "they're who not to follow".
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response
Report on handling of pandemic contains stinging criticism of ‘toxic and chaotic’ culture inside Boris Johnson’s No 10
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:05 PM
It's almost as if staying away from other people when an infectious disease is on the loose is a good idea.
Shame on everyone who risked other people during lockdown and everyone who denied their necessity.
Shame on everyone who risked other people during lockdown and everyone who denied their necessity.