Highlights
January
February
March
Spring in Estonia begins in March when woodpeckers start their drumming,
Capercaillies become very active under the old pine forests at dusk and
all the swamps and bogs resound with Black Grouses at sunrise. On shallow
bays, their traditional feeding sites, there are thousands of Whooper
and Bewick’s Swans and different duck species, on the fields gather
tens of thousands of geese. When it gets dark you can hear the song of
owls in the forest and observe Woodcocks flying above you. It’s
also the time to visit large reedbed areas and listen to the booming of
bitterns and the surreal voices of Water Rails, Spotted and Little Crakes.
April
Bittern, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Black Grouse, Capercaillie,
Hazel Grouse, Little Crake, Whimbrel, Ural Owl, Tengmalm’s Owl,
Pygmy Owl, White-backed Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker etc.
May
In May, Black Grouses, owls and woodpeckers will finish their songs. This
is the peak migration time for Red-throated and Black-throated Loons,
geese, Long-tailed Ducks, Common and Velvet Scoters near the seaside.
Hundreds of thousands of Arctic waterfowls start their migration to the
North just before dark approaches. At night you can hear the song of Corncrakes
and Great Snipes. In May, the majority of insectivorous birdspecies arrive,
as well as other rare bird species. Every birdwatcher should be ready
for surprises!
The Estonian west coast’s lime-rich soil is favourable for orchids
and other rare plants.
Peak spring migration of artic waterfowl, Black Stork, Lesser Spotted
Eagle, Great Snipe, Citrine Wagtail, Blyth’s Reed
June
In June wooded meadows, alvars and calcareous fens become very interesting
sites for botanists and plant-lovers. One of the greatest densities of
plant species in Europe has been recorded in Laelatu – 76 vascular
plants per square metre! The alvar meadows, with their thin topsoil covering
limestone bedrock, are unique. Apart from Estonia, alvars are found only
on the Swedish islands of Gotland and Öland.
July
August
September
September is prime time for the autumn migration of Eurasian Cranes and
geese. It is possible to witness twenty thousand birds feeding in the
fields. Watching cranes fly low overhead from a birdwatching tower at
sunset is an unforgettable experience. Close to the seaside, the migration
of hundreds of thousands of songbirds takes place, followed by numerous
raptors. On the bays are huge numbers of Teals, Eurasian Wigeons, Pintails
and Coots.
Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, tens of thousands of Eurasian Cranes,
White-fronted Geese, Bean Geese, Broad-billed Sandpiper, peak autumn migration
of songbirds etc.
October
October is one of the best times for watching the Arctic waterfowl migration
at one of the best sites in Europe--Põõsaspea Cape. Tens
of thousands of migrating Long-tailed Ducks, Common and Velvet Scoters
Red-throated and Black-throated Loons, Brent and Barnacle Geese can be
observed there. Be ready to identify Yellow-billed or Great Northern Loons,
Red-breasted Geese or the Brent Goose subspecies, hrota.
Peak migration of arctic waterfowl: Yellow-billed Loon, Whooper Swan,
Bewick’s Swan, Barnacle Goose, Brent Goose, Long-tailed Duck, Arctic
Skua, Rough-legged Buzzard etc.
BIRD WATCHING
Holiday type:
