February 2013. Mid-Winter Chills.
1-5 February. Hackett takes a Dip, Lithuania Woodpecker Tour.
Veteran of trips to the Baltics, it was time for UK digiscoper Paul Hackett to pay another visit, the quest to see and photograph seven species of woodpecker over a single weekend, the most desired being Three-toed Woodpecker.
Mid-winter Lithuania is often an unforgiving climate, temperatures plunging to minus 20 and below., snows sometimes drifting to depths that hinder woodland strolls. Indeed a week prior to our intrepid visitor's visit, the temperatures were just that and a far blanket of snow carpeted all. By arrival however, conditions were almost pleasant, temperatures a mere degree or two below freezing.
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Day One.
Friday, late afternoon touchdown at Vilnius airport, insufficient time to hit the forests, but enough time to take a quick trip to my garden – Tree Sparrows galore, a couple of Crested Tits, Marsh Tits too, plus a Willow Tit, the birds to welcome Paul in.
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Day Two.
Seven species of woodpeckers would normally be no mean feat, few localities inthe country offering even five, let alone seven. Through careful management, restriction of general access and the provision of a feeding station, I am fortunate indeed to have a right bonanza of species on my land at Labanoras, including this winter the rarest of the lot, Three-toed Woodpecker.
And so it was, under a sky promising more of the white stuff, dawn saw us arriving on my land, a kilometre or so of snow separating us from from the potential rewards awaiting. Turfed Paul out of the car to get extra clearance, then after a few failed runs at the snow, got the car moving and ploughed all the way to the forest, a few uncomfortable moments as I bumped through drifts collecting in furrows created by Wild Boars. Parked up and wauted the arrival of Paul, his trudging figure marching through the snow. And then to my cabin to stoke up the heating, top up the feeders outside and settle down for the treats to follow.
Ravens gronking, an abundance of assorted tits, Great Spotted and White-backed Woodpeckers already in the trees around the feeders, all was looking good. We vanished into the cabin and down they came, Great Spotted Woodpeckers onto some feeders, smart White-backed Woodpeckers onto others, occasional Middle Spotted Woodpecker edging down to a peanut feeder just adjacent. With a screen dropped over the veranda of the cabin, a photo hide was immediately created, the birds frequently too close for Paul. Over the next hour, it was a near constant squabble of White-backed Woodpeckers and Jays, Great Spots pushing them off, birds flitting from feeder to feeder. Engaging Bank Voles scrambled up onto snow-decked logs to share the sunflower seeds, a Treecreeper scurried up trunks for dropped titbits, a Nuthatch called off yonder. Grey-headed Woodpecker joined the fray, a male swooping in to land above a feeder, a careful perusal of the landscape thereafter followed by a cautious approach to a middle-distance feeder.
After a while, I suggested a stroll to seek out additional species of woodpecker – a simple case of walking across frozen flood forest to favoured areas for the relevant species. Beneath our feet, 30 cm of snow, hopefully 20 cm of ice, then about one to two metres of water. Following the tap tap tap that echoed from various quarters, the tones and patterns identifying the species, we were soon looking at additional White-backed Woodpeckers and then a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Ahead, the sound of a hammer drill, the culprit one of my wintering Black Woodpeckers. We spotted the individual, low down on a trunk, smashing into a rotting alder. A few photographs and then I wandered on, leaving Paul to savour the bird. Further on, I could hear a quiet steady tap tap tap, often the identifier of my Three-toed Woodpecker. A glance back and I could see Paul edging towards a Beaver lodge, the Black Woodpecker just beyond. I walked onward, a White-backed Woodpecker on an alder, a Middle Spotted Woodpecker on oaks nearby, the tap tap tap continued ahead, almost certainly the Three-toed Woodpecker I thought, the bird somewhere between an area of reeds.
Then I heard a low wail, 'Jos, Jos!' floating through the trees. Oo, it was Paul calling, I guessed he had found a bird of interest, maybe even a Pygmy Owl. I backtracked and found him standing under trees looking most forlorn, dripping from the chest down, sadly trying to shake water from assorted optics and cameras! Jeepers, he had gone through the ice! A metre from the Beaver lodge, a suspicious hole gaped in the ice, a gash of blackish water bobbing with ice. 'Ah', I said, clearly a little too late, 'it is better to avoid that exact spot, the ice is often thinner there'. One second, Paul had been feasting his eyes on a Black Woodpecker, the next second he, tripod and optics were plunging downwards to a cold wet resting place, water lapping to his chest, a no doubt surprised exression on the face that peeked out from the icy hole. Initially unable to clamber out onto the slippery ice, he had finally looped his tripod around a nearby tree and hauled himself free.
Back to the cabin we hurried and slammed the heater onto full. Water steamed off Paul, the dripping clothes creating pools on my floor. Soggy banknotes strategically laid out in front of the fire, then an assessment of equipment – his phone was a write-off, a least one camera looking much the same, various optics had misted up and all was looking a little sad.
Fortunately, we had spare clothes in the car, boots too, so a half hour later or so, we were ready for birding again. Limping one of the cameras back into action, the day therefafter concluded with another hour at the feeders – a male and female Grey-headed Woodpecker present throughout, an assortment of others adding entertainment.
It began to snow, the light flurries slowly evolving into a much heavier deal. We departed and drove a few kilometres to a country hotel. End of day one, six species of woodpecker on the list, Three-toed Woodpecker thwarted by unplanned dips in water. Outside, the snow was becoming ever heavier, a near blizzard now transforming the landscape.
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Day Three.
A bucketload of snow had fallen overnight, an immediate upswing in action at the feeders as a consequence. First job however was to review footage from my trip cam that I'd left since the night before – a few oos and arrs at a cracking Pine Martin attracted to the bait, a pretty impressive Raven joining the action at dawn.
After a little session with White-backed Woodpeckers and pals on the feeders, I suggested another wander across the ice … a Three-toed Woodpecker was still lurking out yonder. So off we plodded, listening to gentle creaks in the ice (air temperatures were a mere pathetic degree or two below freezing). Black Woodpecker duly appeared. A cautious Paul got some snaps.
'Hmm, hey look at that hole by the beaver lodge, some idiot must have fallen in!'
We sneaked in to photograph the fateful spot, then struck on to search for our quarry. Didn't find it in any of its favoured areas, so we ziggzagged a little further to an area I rarely visit – lair of the dodgy ice, a spring emerging in that area. Another Black Woodpecker encountered, this one smashing the smithereeens out of a stump low in reeds, then a White-backed Woodpecker. Almost at the point of turning back, a quietish tap tap tap coming from a nearby birch … and there he was, my Three-toed Woodpecker tapping away to his heart's content. Paul was still struggling with optics suffering form their plunge, but a few photographs he got. And then a White-backed Woodpecker zipped over, a red flag to the Three-toed Woodpecker, up he went and set off in persuit, the two zooming off in an arc, eventually vanishing to areas off yonder.
Well that was nice. 'Let's go back this way', I suggested, 'I want to check out one tree'. As we cut through an area of reeds, Immentioned that the ice is also somewhat questionable in this area too. Paul requested a backtrack. 'Na' said I, 'the water is shallow here anyhow'. Got to a tricky patch of clambering through broken branches and buckled reeds. Crash, bugger, my feet were wet! I looked back at Paul. Crash, eek, his feet were wet too!
Oops. At the tree I wished to check, nothing to compensate the second dip in two days, but hey at least I got a photo of Paul suffering this time!
The rest of the day passed most uneventfully, sedate photography at the cabin, a bevy of woodpeckers to keep the spirits up. End of day three, seven species of woodpecker under the belt, two unplanned splashes into water by Paul, one phone dead, one camera comatose, various optics misting something chronic.
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Day Four
Paul's final day in the country. For a change in scene, I suggested a visit to Kaunas, Lithuania's second biggest city. As winter sets in and watercourses freeze across the land, waterbirds have basically two choices – migrate to warmer climates or, as more and more birds are doing, flock to the Nemunas River in this city. With a hydro-electric station guaranteeing ice-free conditions, it is not uncommon to find many thousands of birds congregating in this urban setting, the flocks also attracting delights such as White-tailed Eagles.
We arrived to the sight of one of these superb raptors in action, the White-tailed Eagle harrying the flocks of ducks, Goldeneyes and Malllards scattering as the the bird swooped in, circled round and tried again. After a few minutes, it retired to a tree on the far bank, joining a second bird on a high branch, two mature adults in all their glory. The river was a picture, several thousand Goldeneye as far as the eye could see, an impressive (but quite usual) gathering. Also one flock of Whooper Swans, numerous Mute Swans, a female Smew and other odds and ends, Cormorants and Tufted Ducks included. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker also put in an appearance, working through reeds, plus Bullfinches.
Didn't have much luck elsewhere, so then returned to Vilnius for an afternoon in my garden – Crested Tits and Coal Tits at the feeder, loads of Tree Sparrows, a female Sparrowhawk flushing everything.
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8-16 February. More Mammals.
Distinctively quiet, a late winter lull with little change at my feeders or indeed anywhere else. Saw a Hawfinch in Vilnius, possibly a wintering bird or maybe even an early migrant returning, but otherwise highlights were once again at my feeding station.
Mammal action remaining good, with at least three Pine Martens and two Stone Martens regularly attending bait left for them, along with Red Fox and Roe Deer. My latest offering on the video front, captured over a few nights dominated by snow, can be seen here:
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**** Snow Storm Nights ****
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Also several Bank Voles appearing at my feeding station, up to three together on occasion, zipping in and out to scoff sunflower seeds.