Estonia – The Baltic in Early Spring
10 – 14 March 2010
- Price per person: £580
- Deposit per person: £200
- Suggested Flights: The low cost airline Easyjet runs a regular service to Tallinn from London Stansted
Estonia is truly one of the last ‘undiscovered’ gems of European birding and contains an amazing variety of unspoilt habitats and a landscape dominated by woodland and traditional farming. These include vast wetlands, bogs, fragrant pine forests and a spectacularly beautiful rugged coastline with more than 1000 islands.
Time really seems to have stood still in the country which retains a wonderful rustic charm all of its own.
Many of the traditional ‘scandinavian’ specialities can be found more easily in Estonia than in the vast forests further north and our short tour is aimed at seeing the special species that make this small country their winter home. It is timed at the end of winter/start of spring to maximise our chances of not only seeing wintering birds but also the resident owls and woodpeckers that become active and vocal at this time of year. Ancient local sayings claim that by St Matthews Day on the 24 February the backbone of winter is broken and we’ll certainly be hoping that is the case!
Our tour starts in the ancient capital Tallinn on the north coast and takes us southwest to the large islands off the west coast where our principal target will be the most easily accessible wintering population of the dapper Steller’s Eider in the region. The other draws here should include White-tailed Eagle, Long-tailed Duck, Smew, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Scaup, Whooper Swans, Bewick’s Swans and Tundra Bean Geese.
From there we head back onto the mainland for a change of scenery and some of the best woodland birding anywhere in Europe. The forests here contain an amazing variety of greatly sought after species and with the help of a dedicated local guide we’ll search for Capercallie, Black Grouse, Hazel Hen, Eagle Owl, Tengmalm’s Owl, Pygmy Owl, Ural Owl, Three-toed Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Parrot Crossbill and Nutcracker.
Other birds we can expect on what will be a memorable trip should include Great Grey Shrike, Crested Tit, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Bittern, Goldeneye, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, ‘Eastern’ Nuthatch and ‘Northern’ Bullfinch.
Day 1
Our tour commences at Tallinn airport at approximately midday when flights should arrive. From here we’ll hit the road straight away and move southwest through traditional farmland and past wooden houses towards the coast. The west coast of Estonia comprises many bays and headlands and our first taste of birding will be to explore the area close to the old town of Haapsalu. The coast here is rich in birdlife and we’ll hope for several species of winter wildfowl in impressive numbers. These may include Velvet and Common Scoter, Goosander, Smew, Long-tailed Duck, Whooper and Bewick’s Swans and Tundra Bean Goose. The magnificent White-tailed Eagle patrols the coast preying on some of the other species we’ll be looking at!
Night in Haapsalu.
Day 2
For those with insomnia there will be the opportunity of a pre-breakfast outing to some nearby woodland in search of Capercallie, Hazel Hen and Black Grouse. These woods also offer the chance to see Nutcracker and Parrot Crossbill if we are fortunate. The bulk of the day will be dedicated to the large old island of Saaremaa. From the morning ferry we should witness some more impressive duck numbers but our main aim will be to drive to the northwest of the island. Here we’ll explore the numerous bays known locally as ‘lahts’ for one of the main targets for the trip – Steller’s Eider. These lovely birds congregate in large flocks in this area and should prove to be an unforgetable sight. Many other seaduck will keep us amused too and should again include Velvet and Common Scoter, Goosander, Smew, Long-tailed Duck and with some diligent searching maybe some Scaup or a scarce grebe or two.
In the late afternoon and evening we’ll spend some time at a local wooded nature reserve close to our accommodation to seek out some of the owl and woodpeckers which make the Estonian forests so exciting. Eagle Owl, Tengmalm’s Owl, Pygmy Owl, Ural Owl, Three-toed Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker and Black Woodpecker are all distinctly possible and we’ll be hoping that the temperatures are warm enough for them to have been encouraged into action!
Night in Saaremaa.
Day 3
After breakfast we shall make our way off the island and back onto the mainland. Stopping en-route for anything that looks interesting we’ll make our way to the famous wetland reserve of Matsalu Bay. Here we’ll enjoy the spectacle of thousands of waterfowl before we drive south via the town of Pärnu to Häärdemeeste close to the Latvian border. This region will be our base for the rest of the tour. We will have a day and a half to visit the timeless forests and unique bogs of the area. These protected areas hold all of the owls and woodpeckers of the country and the longer we spend in the field the better chance we’ll have of connecting with them. Add to that species such as Rough-legged Buzzard, Goshawk, Hazel Hen, Capercallie, Black Grouse, Crested Tit, Great Grey Shrike, Hawfinch, Parrot Crossbill and mammals including Moose and Beaver and you’ll soon see why the time spent here will be so memorable.
Night in Häärdemeeste
Day 4
Today will be spent in the Häärdemeeste area for further exploration of the forests and bogs of Soometsa and Nigula before we head back north towards Tallinn.
Nights in Tallinn
Day 5
Transport will be provided back to the airport for mid morning flights home.
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