In Pirkanmaa, the spring calls of larks and tufted buntings fill the air near Alasenlahti Bay in Nokia, near Tampere. A dozen or so bird enthusiasts peer into the bay and the fields.

"The fact that the warm weather started right after the cold period ended has been very exceptional," says one of them, Niklas Paulaniemi from BirdLife Pirkanmaa.

This month, birds began to arrive from the south at a rapid pace.

"In addition to the swans and larks that are typical in March, species that usually arrive much later have begun to appear," he tells Yle.

Possible Finnish records

For example, the earliest-ever meadow pipit was seen in Hämeenkyrö, Pirkanmaa.

A possible Finnish record was set at Valkeakoski when the first Western marsh harrier was spotted on 13 March.

"That was the earliest ever [recorded] in Pirkanmaa, a couple of weeks earlier than the first one usually appears here," Paulaniemi says.

With temperatures remaining above zero at night and winds from the south, large numbers of birds arrived on the coast. The first individuals have also appeared in snow-free fields in inland Finland.

In Central Finland, local arrival records were set by cranes and a peregrine falcon, seen on 15 March. A crane was also seen on Siikalatva, Northern Ostrobothnia, on 8 March, likely a regional record.

There have also been regional record-early sighting of a hen harrier and a great egret.

"Exceptionally fast transition"

"Although the transition from freezing temperatures was exceptionally fast, there has also been a warm early spring in many previous years," notes Aki Arkiomaa from Birdlife Finland.

"Now that the fields are completely bare of snow, there are plenty of feeding areas for birds," says Paulaniemi.

However, spring is just beginning. With migratory birds arriving exceptionally early, there is also a high chance that they will be caught if and when winter stages a comeback.

Paulaniemi recommends saving any remaining bird food for that likelihood.

"At the moment, the birds do not need additional food, but when winter returns, you may find rare guests in need at your feeding site."