This typical but idyllic month of April brought typical migrating passerines, several great encounters with displaying bustards and sandgrouse in the steppes, a couple of lifers at home and some others on a short trip.

Crakes are an elusive group of waterbirds that strongly caught my attention lately. This season, I enjoyed connecting with two of the local combo of three species: spotted and little crake.

Summer season brings an array of specialties to Helsinki, including broad-billed sandpiper and common rosefinch in Viikki, red-breasted flycatcher in Haltiala and stakeouts of Blyth’s reed warbler and river warbler.

My last days in Helsinki are coincident with the arrival of thousands of migrant birds and the vegetation green-up. Scenic walks with friends result in European otter, red-breasted flycatcher, corn crake, and much more.