Wildlife Tours to Bulgaria ESTONIA
| Tour Ref. | Days | Dates | Party Size |
Cost |
Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES1/12 | 8 | Wednesday 25th April to Wednesday 2nd May 2012 | 6 plus leader | Est. £1445 (£245)* | Lance Degnan |
*Single room supplement.
Tour Destinations :
- Happsalu
- Poospea Peninsula
- Matsalu Bay
- Tuhu Bog
- Sooma Reserve
- Tartu
- Alam Pedja
- Aardla
Tour Summary
Estonia
Estonia is a small country, about the size of Holland, yet it has a population only one tenth that of Holland. This means there is plenty of room for wildlife and in this exciting bird watching venue there are in excess of 220 breeding species to seek out. The rich mix of habitats; forests, peat bogs, and floodplain meadows form prime nesting habitat for species such as White-tailed and Lesser Spotted Eagles, Hazel and Black Grouse, Pygmy and Ural Owl, White-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Corncrake and Great Snipe, and a variety of passerines such as Common Rosefinch, Thrush Nightingale and Citrine Wagtail. Impressive though this list is, it is geography that has dictated Estonia’s true importance for birds. Lying at the crossroads of the Baltic flyway, a crossing point for arctic wildfowl migrating to and from their Russian breeding grounds, millions of waterbirds are attracted to Estonia’s unspoiled coastal wetlands.
Our trip is timed to coincide with this spectacular wildfowl migration as well as giving the opportunity to witness some of Estonia’s breeding birds in the remarkably wild yet accessible countryside. Most impressive are the numbers of divers, sea duck and geese. It is not uncommon for day counts of over 1000 Black or Red-throated Divers, whilst over one million Long-tailed Ducks are counted each spring passing Poospea, a small promontory in the north-west. Add to this thousands of Whooper and Bewick’s Swan - sometimes the entire world population of 17000 Bewick’s Swan passes through Estonia - huge flocks of Barnacle, Bean and White-fronted Geese, and it is easy to see why Estonia is very much the place to be.
Botanists and lepidoptera lovers will also find plenty to interest them. Estonia boasts one of the most spectacular flora of any country in northern Europe. The orchid family is particularly well represented and 36 species occur and, since the flowering seasons extends from April to September, some will be in bloom. Days in the field will also produce a few exciting butterfly species such as the Camberwell Beauty, here on its home ground rather than a vagrant as in the UK. And if we are fortunate we may encounter Elk, European Beaver and even Lynx and Wolf if we are very lucky. We will soon appreciate the sheer variety that nature has to offer in this quiet corner of Europe.
Itinerary
Day 1 : Tallinn and Happsalu
On arrival in Tallinn we will depart by road for Happsalu, pausing for birding en route.
Day 2 : Happsalu, Poospea peninsula, Sutlep Lake and Matsalu Bay
We can anticipate waking to the sight of hundreds of wildfowl literally from the bedroom window. Likely species include Scaup, Goosander, Goldeneye and Smew whilst a soaring White-tailed Eagle is not out of the question. After breakfast we will move north to explore Poospea peninsula, the main counting location which should produce thrilling views of passage Black-throated Divers and the sea will be alive with a multitude of Long-tailed Ducks and Velvet Scoter. Nearby meadows hold migrant passerines; at this time of year, Whinchats, Wood Warblers, Wrynecks and Black Redstarts should all be present. Overhead we will see many migratory passerines such as Tree Pipits streaming northwards into Finland.
As the day unfolds we will move on to Sutlep Lake, an equally impressive location with its booming Bittern, patrolling Caspian Terns, both Bearded and Penduline Tits and singing Savis’ Warblers. Surrounding fields often attract passage geese, including the rare Lesser White-front and we will be on the look out for this diminutive goose. As evening approaches we will listen for Spotted Crakes giving their ‘whip lash’ calls, before we reluctantly push on to our next base for two nights at Matsalu Bay.
Day 3 : Matsalu Bay
Matsalu Bay is probably the biggest and most important staging ground for waterfowl in Europe. This large inlet is surrounded by various coastal habitats – reed beds, freshwater and brackish meadows, woodlands and islets. During the spring migration, more than two million waterfowl pass through Matsalu, such is its importance. Our exploration will start at the mouth of the bay where passing sea duck will vie for attention with the nesting Arctic Terns. Woodlands adjacent to our hotel are home to a pair of White-backed Woodpecker and we will endeavour to seek these out. The bulk of our day will be spent along the northern part of Matsalu Bay, visiting such well known sites as Haeska, world famous for hosting large gatherings of Barnacle, White-fronted and Bean Geese, not to mention Lesser White-front, here at one of its few regular spring staging sites.Waders too will be using small inlets in the bay as staging grounds.
Day 4 : Matsalu Bay, Lihula, Tuhu Bog, Parnu and Haddemeeste
Today we explore the southern half of Matsalu Bay. Several watch towers overlook this impressive area, and we will spend time watching the coming and going of birds. Later a short excursion to Lihula often produces Black Grouse and nearby the Tuhu Bog supports breeding waders such as Black-tailed Godwits and Wood Sandpipers as well as the king of the eagles, the Golden, here in Estonia frequenting lowland bog and forest, rather than its usual montane habitat. We will no doubt hear the trumpeting calls of Common Cranes and see many of these birds as we drive through the area. Our route then takes us a short way south to Parnu, and just beyond to the fishponds at Voiste. Haddemeeste is our next base for a further two nights.
Day 5 : Sooma Reserve, Nigula Bog
Today we visit the Sooma Reserve and nearby Nigula Bog. Both are a wonderful mix of bogs, fens and mixed forest. Nigula is a prime example of a raised peat bog, a rare habitat in Europe. Boardwalks give access to part of the area and it is from these that birds such as displaying Green and Wood Sandpiper, Common Crane, Black Stork and Lesser Spotted Eagle can be seen. Interesting plants include Bog Rosemary and Shuttlecock Fern, both very common here. Overnight Haddemeeste.
Day 6 : Tartu
In the morning we will re- visit some key habitats for further exploration.
After lunch we will undertake a slow drive eastwards towards Tartu. There will be several short stops to break the journey, each likely to add numbers to the ever increasing bird count. Today will be a memorable one as we visit a Great Snipe lek and hopefully we will view the birds as they perform their elaborate courtship ritual. Overnight Tartu.
Day 7 : Alam Pedja, Aardla
Today we will work the Alam Pedja, a huge wetland of fens and mires interspersed by birch and alder woodlands, open pools and meandering rivers. The Emajoji River floods here every spring creating a wetland wilderness of over 250 square kilometres and much of the area is ensconced as nature reserve. The list of breeding species totals nearly 160, a testimony to the richness of the area, but it is not only birds as mammals include Elk and a variety of rarer ones including Lynx and Wolf, though we would be extremely lucky to see either of the last two!
After lunch in a cafe, we visit Aardla with its nesting Black Terns, Little Gulls and Citrine Wagtails and a variety of passage waders could be on display, including Temminck’s Stint and Wood Sandpiper. As dusk approaches we will venture from the hotel to look for European Beaver at a regular spot near Tartu. Overnight Tartu.
Day 8 : Return flight to UK
We will depart from our hotel after breakfast heading for Tallinn and the return flight to the UK.
Map