Estonia is the smallest of the three ‘Baltic States’.The joining to the European Community was a natural progression for a nation anxious to become part of Western countries. Estonian geography consists predominantly of low-lying marshes, forests and rivers , through which are scattered over 1,000 lakes, whilst its western border is set by a deeply indented Baltic coastline, along which lie countless islands of varying sizes. Estonian people has growth a deserve fame for its hospitality as well as to be proud of the natural values tha the country offers to the avid birdwatchers. Early April is an excellent time to visit as some species start breeding as early as March, there are also very good reasons for travelling to Estonia earlier in the spring season when groups of Steller’s Eider begin to congregate in their favourite spots. As many as several hundreds birds may be seen in one of the largest concentrations of this rare duck in European waters but most will have migrated north by the end of the month. Another interest in early April are the opportunity to watch lekking Black Grouse and Capercaillie as well as the numerous resident woodpeckers.
Day 1 - We will pick up you from Tallinn Airport and drive to Pärnu town. After check-in and a short rest, and dependant on flight timings, we will will do an owling session. With luck we will hear both Ural and Pygmy Owls and hopefully see Eagle Owl hunting small mammals at the forest edge. Overnight in Villa Wesset.
Day 2- Today we will travel out in the very early morning and visit an old coniferous and mixed forest in order to experience the spring calls of the resident Black, Grey-headed, Three-toed and White-backed Woodpeckers, as well as listen the mating calls of Hazel Grouse. After a very nice picnic-lunch, we will have a short visit to the lookout tower and wooden pathway in the Tolkuse bog. We can enjoy the misty mystery of bog lakes and colourful patterns of peat mosses, which in combination with crane and geese migration under a blue sky will summarize our special northern spring experience. In the late afternoon, before we return to the hotel, we will have another owling session. Overnight in Soometsa Forest.
Day 3- Today we will have the opportunity to 'scope Steller's Eiders. To see dense flocks of these magnificent birds we have to take the ferry from Virtsu at 8am. Depending on winter severity or spring weather, the Suur Väin Strait can be covered with ice, or host nice flocks of seaducks. Half an hour later we will arrive at Kuivastu harbour on Muhu Island and drive westward. A local guide is joining us in Kuressaare. The hot spot for Steller's Eider is located on the north-westernmost part of Saaremaa, close to Cape Undva. Due to bio-geographic reasons Saaremaa is not rich in the rarer woodpecker and owl species, but if we still miss Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Lark or any species that the local guide knows of, we can see or hear them at short stops on our way to Undva, or later. Uudepanga Bay, near Undva, hosts up to 1000 Seller's Eiders each winter. Usually the numbers remain between 300 and 600, sometimes less. Birds form dense flocks where they behave synchronously, especially when diving. We will return back to the mainland during late afternoon and drive to the west region of Estonia. Overnight in Saaremaa Island.
Day 4 - In the morning we will enjoy nearby wetlands and hope to be entertained by the bubbling display calls of lekking Black Grouse. After a late breakfast, we will continue to the most north-easterly point, the Põõsaspea. This small north-stretching spit is situating at the migratory crossroad, where masses of waterbirds coming from the Bothnian and Finnish Bay directions, meet. This place deserves to be mentioned as one of the best locations for observing the Arctic waterbird migration. Tens and hundreds of thousands of Long-tailed Ducks, Common Scoters and Geese species can be seen during the peak of migration. After a rest at the hotel, later in the afternoon, we will go for an optional excursion to listen to the night sounds of the wetlands and western taiga forests near Nõva before we have our evening meal. Overnight in Leidissoo.
Day 5 - Today we will visit the heathland forest environment in the early morning. We hope to hear the bubbling display calls of lekking Black Grouse again, whilst other attractions in this area include Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse and some interesting woodpeckers. Next we will reach the Matsalu National Park which is the oldest Ramsar area in Estonia. At times of peak passage over a million diving ducks have been estimated along the coast here, whilst counts of wild swans and geese regularly number tens of thousands. Although these migrants offer some remarkable spectacles, Matsalu is much more than just an avian motorway service station and among the 170 breeding birds recorded from the reserve are species such as Red-necked Grebe, Bittern, Osprey, White-tailed Eagle and Caspian Tern. Matsalu area is also well known as an autumn Crane concentration area, but surely we will get a very good wiews of several birds in early spring too. After a very nice lunch at a local tourism farm we will pass through a large boggy heath called Tuhu Bog with stunted pines and heather and stop at the tower. This is a good place for Golden Eagle and Black Grouse as well. Overnight in Leidissoo.
Day 6- We will return to Tallinn by late morning and have a pleasant guided tour of Tallinn Old Town. Tallinn was made a UNESCO World heritage Site in 1997 due to the medieval city centre, the finest in northern Europe, with cobble stoned streets and buildings that date back to the 15th century. We may have some free time for shopping before we will drive to the Airport for your flight back home.
Black Stork by Sven Zacek
White-backed Woodpecker by Sven Zacek
Ural Owl by Arne Ader
Barnacle Geese by Tarvo Valker
Steller`s Eiderby Jari Peltomäi
Raccoon Dogs
by Valeri Shtsherbatõh