Latvia Day 3

Today was our last day surveying around the lake. The surveys themselves were pretty desperate, and neither myself nor Gaidis saw any birds of note. Once the surveys had finished we packed up and set off from our campground to do some birding around before heading off to our next survey location.

On our journey we stopped to filter through a large flock of geese, but there was nothing different present in the flock, just the regular White-fronted, Tundra Bean and Barnacle Geese present. Gaidis knew a field which had held a lek of Great Snipe, and although it seemed optimistic at best we decided to walk the field to see if we could flush any. After flushing maybe 30 Common Snipe we finally got a single Great Snipe. Fortunately after it flushed it landed in an area where I was able to pick it out and get some record photos. We also checked a site for collared flycatcher but with no luck.

Then the rain set in and we headed off to our next location. When the rain finally stopped at around 17.00 I headed out on my own to Mezule forest to look for Mammals and Owls. Despite it being an extremely nice evening I failed to see any Owls, although I did get a Tengmalm’s Owl calling, which was pretty awesome. Mammals were also thin on the ground, with just two Mountain Hares being the best of it. It was still fun birding, with a few new species, but more just nice to be exploring the habitat.

-Great Snipe

Burtnieks: Reed Bunting, Eurasian Teal, Whinchat, Meadow Pipit, Wood Warbler, Garganey, Tufted Duck, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, White-fronted Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Skylark, Green Sandpiper, Mallard, Yellowhammer, White Wagtail, Hooded Crow, Raven, Blackbird, Lapwing, Woodpigeon, Starling, Black-headed Gull, Northern Wheatear, Mute Swan, Yellow Wagtail, Wood Sandpiper, Osprey, Great Crested Grebe, Chaffinch, Cormorant, Fieldfare, House Sparrow, Sedge Warbler, Great Snipe, Common Buzzard, Wild Boar, Roe Deer,

Endzele: Grey-headed Woodpecker, Jay, Hooded Crow, Marsh Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Wren, Wood Warbler, Chiffchaff, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Chaffinch, Hawfinch, Greenfinch,

Mezule Forest: Whooper Swan, Mallard, Teal, Goldeneye, Woodpigeon, Cuckoo, Crane, Woodcock, Green Sandpiper, Osprey, Buzzard, Raven, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Goldcrest, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Fieldfare, White Wagtail, Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Roe Deer, Mountain Hare,