Latvia Day 2

Our morning began with a survey over an area of drained grassland. It was pretty poor overall but three displaying male Black Grouse made it all worthwhile. Obviously being unprepared and on foot I had no chance to approach them but could hear their calls from my distant position. Other birds included Grey-headed Wagtail and a few Drake Garganey. Tundra Bean Geese were once again common, as were White-fronted Geese.

With the survey wrapped up we spent some time birding around the large lake which we were camped next to. We spent most of our time scanning through large flocks of geese, or trying to locate the nest of a pair of Lesser Spotted Eagles. Whilst looking for nests I got another woodpecker lifer when we found a very responsive White-backed Woodpecker. A Grey-headed Woodpecker was also a lifer but after only seeing a brief individual in India it was nice to have a proper study of one here. We also found a singing Ortolan Bunting and a few waders; Greenshank, Ruff and Wood Sandpiper, the latter being particularly common around the lake.

In the evening I headed back out to the shore of the lake to look for Beaver. I was in luck, as no sooner did I pull up then one was swimming up the channel towards me. Against the evening light it was set in quite the atmosphere. In addition there was also a very showy Otter, which was content to sit out on the banks for extended periods as well as hunt through the channels. All the while I was once again serenaded by Spotted Crakes, but I am still yet to see one.

-Wood Sandpiper

-White-backed Woodpecker

Burtnieks: Reed Bunting, Whinchat, Black Grouse, Cuckoo, Wood Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Garganey, Tufted Duck, Great White Egret, Crane, White-fronted Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Skylark, Green Sandpiper, Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, Mallard, Yellowhammer, White Wagtail, Kestrel, Hooded Crow, Blackbird, Lapwing, Woodpigeon, Starling, Black-headed Gull, Northern Wheatear, Northern Raven, Magpie, Common Whitethroat, Greenfinch, Mute Swan, White-tailed Eagle, Smew, Grey-headed Wagtail, Greenshank, Greater Scaup, Wood Sandpiper, Great-crested Grebe, Osprey, Swallow, Wryneck, Grey Heron, Ruff, Chaffinch, Cormorant, Marsh Harrier, Feral Pigeon, Ortolan Bunting, Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Linnet, Sparrowhawk, Barnacle Goose, Jackdaw, Fieldfare, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Brambling, White Stork, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Hobby, White-backed Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Common Gull, Marsh Tit, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Herring Gull, Sedge Warbler, Roe Deer, Red Fox, Brown Hare, Otter, Eurasian Beaver,