Decent start for the bird year 2026. 1st of Jan, rare Dendrocopos leucotos, White-backed woodpecker, on a walk on neighbourhood.

Found a wintering European Water rail aka rallus aquaticus today. Nice crispy winter weather. Let's hope this bird can make it through the winter. Here at Southern Finland the Winter only just keeps on coming...

Ilves (lynx lynx) @ Sysmä, Finland cottage yard this morning.