What is your favorite bird species?
In summer, it’s the elegant White Wagtail.
In winter, it’s the colourful and enthusiastic trumpeter Eurasian Bullfinch. Both are regulars on my trips… in their own season 😉
What is your name, and where do you live?
I‘m Samuel Bloch, I live in Helsinki, the capital city of Finland. Originally, I’m from the French Alps, but I’ve found my happy place in the north.
What are the main regions or locations you cover as a bird guide?
Helsinki and its immediate vicinity
How long have you been a bird guide?
3 years
Whooper Swan
How did you get into bird guiding?
I’ve been watching birds since I was a kid. Later, I started bird photography, and since then, I’ve tried to find a way to escape my office job and spend more time in nature. I briefly guided for a tour agency abroad, but I’m now flying on my own wings, leading excursions near home in a way that suits my work ethics.
What are the aspects of being a bird guide that you like best? Which aspects do you dislike most?
I absolutely love being in nature with like-minded people and sharing my enthusiasm for birds and their environment. Telling their stories and bringing joy to people is well worth getting up early! The worst part, then, is to wait for the next tour.
Horned Grebe
What are the top 5-10 birds in your region that you think are the most interesting for visiting birders?
It really depends on the season. We have a few White-tailed Eagles around here; they are true crowd-pleasers and can be seen pretty much all year. In winter, Eurasian Bullfinch and Great Grey Shrike are always highlights, and in summer, brilliant songsters like Common Rosefinch and Marsh Warbler make my heart beat faster. In between, migration regularly brings gems like Smew, Broad-billed Sandpiper, or Pallid Harrier.
Great Egret
Can you outline at least one typical birdwatching trip in your area? Please briefly describe the locations, the key birds, and the approximate duration of such a trip
My standard tour is a 3-hour walk in a nature reserve near Helsinki. Our meeting point is easily accessible by public transportation (I often come by bike) and right on the edge of the reserve, so we can start birding right away. Depending on the season, I introduce variations, but in essence, we have a gently-paced walk through various habitats (wetland, fields, woods…) that each have their own bird collection. We have regular stops, either on the side of the path or at a bird tower, and we can spend as little or as much time as we decide on a given bird. I want my clients to have a good time, I don’t rush them for the sake of a longer checklist.
Spotted Redshank
What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in your area?
For me, May is the most exciting season, with plenty of residents and migratory species around, many singing loudly throughout the day. That said, all seasons have something to offer, April to September being the busiest months and October to March the quietest. Definitely bring some water and snacks if you want, and bug repellent in the warmer months! In winter, dress well.
If any reader of 10,000 Birds is interested in birding with you, how can they best contact you?
My website has all the info. Fill in the contact form, and I’ll be in touch: https://birdwatching-helsinki.com/
Tufted Duck
Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of 10,000 Birds?
I also offer bird photography tours to Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage fortress island where birds abound. Barnacle Geese, with their fluffy chicks, are my favourite birds there, they are so beautiful! Many of our targets are used to people there, and thus quite tame, so it really is an ideal spot! These tours can be found on my photography page, https://www.samuelbloch.fr/suomenlinna-workshop.html
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