Have you met White-Throated Dipper ?

Have you met White-Throated Dipper while wondering by water streams? I met it first time when I was photographing Myllykoski water fall in Nurmijärvi 2015. It was not easy to find as Dipper is quite small, actually same size as starling. After the first meeting I have seen it every winter. This active bird is one of my favorites.

Dippers migrate to Finland from Norway, Sweden and Russia

Every winter White-Throated Dipper, Dipper (Cinlus cinlus), moves to Finland. Mainly from North Norway, but also from Sweden and Russia. It migrates to the South part of Finland during October and stays here until March-April. In Finland thousands of Dippers are staying over winter, but only around 300 pairs are nesting in North Finland.

Where to find Dipper?

Dipper is really small and not so easy to find. But when you are standing aside the river bank you may find Dipper standing on some rock and jumping into the water. It has also very bright white collar which can be detected quite easily at least I usually find by the color or the song.

Dipper is found by swiftly running water. It catches food by water streams. It dives insects, shrimp, caterpillars and small fish from the bottom of the river.

Jumping around all day long

I find it really enjoyable to watch Dipper. It jumps into the water, well up like cork into the surface, jumps into the rock and same again. It is using whole day finding food from the bottom of the river.

It also dips when standing on the rock. May be that’s the name, Dipper. They nest on rivers and streams in places where there is ample food and sheltered nests.

My favorite places (so far) for watching dipper are Myllykoski (Nurmijärvi) and Rissla rapids (Fiskars).