A GUEST FROM SIBERIA

This fall in Kuusamo has yet again been unique when it comes to birds. Waxwings ate all the berries already in September and migrated south. When I was in Germany in early November I heard that the waxwings had already reached England. It has been over a decade since the waxwings have migrated so far south.

One special guest this winter comes from Siberia, the Nuthatch. In Siberia, it lives in the forests. This year they have again migrated to Finland. The Nuthatch is a pretty, blue-grey, small and fearless bird. If it settles down near your bird table it will keep the tits in check.

The favourite food of this easily recognizable bird is crushed nuts. It also likes sunflower seeds and tallow. If nothing better is offered, it will also accept oat and barley seeds, which it will aptly peel in the cracks in the bark of a nearby tree.

For a photographer, this bird is a pleasant subject. You don't need a hide; the bird will approach you with confidence after a short acquaintance.

Kuusamo, Joukamojärvi Lake, November 2009
Canon EOS V, 17-30mm, flashlight, monopod, film Fuji Provia 400