Estonia in Autumn. 15 th to 22 nd September Leaders. Barrie Cooper (Travelling Naturalist/Limosa) Tarvo Valker (Estonia Nature Tours)

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1 Estonia in Autumn 15 th to 22 nd September 2012 View from bedroom of Promenaadi Hotel, Haapsalu Leaders Barrie Cooper (Travelling Naturalist/Limosa) Tarvo Valker (Estonia Nature Tours) Introduction Estonia is located in the South East corner of the Baltic Sea. It s location makes it a junction where birds migrating to and from Scandinavia mingle with birds migrating from Russia and Siberia. Estonia s coastline has various sites that are strategically placed for bird migration. This combination of flyways and physical landscape make Estonia one of Europe s best countries to observe bird migration. The 1

2 visual spectacle of thousands of birds migrating through was something that will live long in the memory of the members of this tour. Literally thousands of passerines such as chaffinches and goldcrests passed before our very eyes. Hundreds of jays on our first morning was an incredible spectacle, particularly as it was associated with large numbers of other migrants. One sight we visited ringed 1600 birds in one day. There is nowhere in the UK that has visual bird migration to compare with the sites we visited. Indeed, if these sites with their associated spectacles were in the UK, there would be hundreds of birdwatchers savouring every moment. We had these places almost to ourselves. It was a fantastic spectacle. A memorable wildlife tour, with great hotels and wonderful food. Can t wait to do it again. Saturday 15 September 2012 Bright, but cloudy, with a slight wind. 16 degrees max. After our flight to Tallinn, via Helsinki we met Tarvo at the airport and after collecting the minibuses we headed off to Haapsalu. A brief stop alongside a dual carriageway allowed us to see a flock of lapwing with some golden plover and ruff mixed amongst them. Three roe deer were seen in a field by some of the group before we reached the Baltic Promenaadi Hotel. An excellent dinner was enjoyed before retiring to bed. Sunday 16 September 2012 Sunny, occasional cloud later. Calm in the morning, becoming increasingly windy. 17 degrees max. The view from the rooms of the Baltic Promenaadi Hotel is superb, overlooking a sheltered bay with hundreds of waterbirds literally in front of the bedroom window. This particular morning began with a superb sunrise in an almost cloudless sky. It was a wonderful way to begin the day. Eating breakfast in the restaurant also enables us to look at birds while enjoying the buffet of food. Ann commented that she had looked at the night sky at around 4am to marvel at clear views of Venus and Jupiter. Groups of cranes could be seen in the distance as they left their roosting site to move to the fields for feeding. Other birds to be seen from the hotel included wigeon, gadwall, coot, goosander, great crested grebe and great cormorant. When we were assembled in the two minibuses we headed off to the Puise peninsula. The next couple of hours provided us with excellent visible migration as hordes of birds literally swept in front of us. The most numerous included jay, with at least 800 passing. A few brambling were heard calling among the chaffinches. One star bird was lesser spotted woodpecker with at least 15, some of which gave good views. There were also good numbers of siskin, goldcrests, blue, coal and great tits, and meadow pipits. In amongst the crowds were three hawfinches and a couple of woodlarks. Raptors included white-tailed eagle over the water, with 4 sparrowhawks and a juvenile hobby giving good views. A black woodpecker teased us with its calls before finally revealing itself as it gained height before continuing its migration. A few great spotted woodpeckers were seen, while a couple of white backed woodpeckers were only heard. After enjoying this wonderful spectacle we moved further along the coast to an area with saltmarsh and reeds. A flock of barnacle geese immediately caught our attention. Four great white egrets occasionally emerged from the reedbed and a couple of snipe flew overhead. Greenshank, spotted redshank, lapwing, golden and ringed plover added to the wader list for the day. One or two marsh harriers made some of the birds jumpy, while distant white-tailed eagles also added to the atmosphere. Moving on to do some forest 2

3 birding added marsh tit, treecreeper and hornet to the species list. We returned to Haapsalu for lunch at the interesting Kuursaal restaurant. This wooden restaurant was like a step back in time to another era. The old photos and uniform of the waitresses added to the ambience, with an excellent lunch also provided, this was a great choice. Suitably refreshed we went in search of cranes feeding in the fields. A few hundred were seen, but their nervousness restricted how close we could get to them. However, the sight and sound of these magnificent birds can never become too much and we had regular sightings for much of the day. In the same place as some of the cranes, single red-backed and great grey shrikes were seen, along with several wheatears and skylarks. More time in the forest added crested and willow tits, but the prize was the first of at least ten nutcrackers we saw on that day. At least three crossbills were seen by some of the group, mixed in with a flock of chaffinches. Six bean geese flying in the distance were too far away to confirm whether they were taiga or tundra. The main target the remainder of the evening was elk and, sure enough, a young male was found on the edge of the forest. We sat in the vehicles for at least twenty minutes as the photographers prolifically reduced the remaining capacity of their memory cards. After keeping a careful eye on us for awhile, the elk became relaxed enough to browse on the leaves of the trees around it. Despite further searching no more mammals were found, nor owls, so we returned to the hotel for dinner. It had been an excellent first full day, with superb visible migration in the morning and views of the elk in the evening. Monday 17 September 2012 Cloudy start, brightening up in late morning. Windy. 16 degrees max. An early start had us driving up to Poosaspea peninsular for some seawatching. Good numbers of brent geese, wigeon and goldeneye were accompanied by species such as common and velvet scoter, redbreasted merganser, red-throated diver and eider. A Baltic gull and a couple of red-necked grebes provided close views in the windy conditions. Moving on to another part of the coast gave us a good selection of waders. Species included ruff, little stint, sanderling, dunlin, grey and golden plovers. The walk from the vans to the beach was through forest where a hazel grouse gave us a typically brief view before disappearing. A young adder, viviparious lizard, a dead grass snake, common frog and toad provided a contrast to the birds. On the return, two spotted flycatchers were the first for the trip. On the drive between the two coastal spots, a black woodpecker obligingly flew across the road in front of the vans. Lunch was taken at the Roosta restaurant which is in a forest holiday camp. After a brief rest at the hotel we headed south through an agricultural landscape. Conditions were obviously perfect for the cranes with at least 600 hundred in one field. Keeping them company were 70 tundra and 3 taiga bean geese. One white-fronted goose was mixed in with them. A flock of greylag dropped in, while on the other side of the road, a large, but distant, flock of barnacle geese were accompanied by more bean geese. Unfortunately, the geese and cranes were just a touch too far away for Brian to get more excellent photographs on this occasion. We moved on before soon stopping to photograph a close flock of 350 barnacle geese, with a solitary white-front doing a rather obvious where s Wally impersonation. Moving onto the Rannajoe watch tower we waited for the cranes to fly over to their roost. However, a splendid male hen harrier soon got our attention, later to be joined by two ringtails. A couple of snipe were flushed by the harrier, before the spectacle started. A flock of 40+ bean geese flew over as hors d ouvre, before the main course began. In total at least 4000 cranes passed with their evocative calls being slightly spoiled by the strong wind. Seven whooper swans provided a nice 3

4 white glow to the murky grey light of dusk and a nice colour contrast to the cranes. During the show, Wendy spotted a black grouse dropping into some reeds and followed this with an elk that obligingly grazed in the meadow some 500 metres in the distance. The cold wind had worked up a fine appetite in the group and Tony remarked that some soup would be nice he would not be disappointed. We had a superb dinner at the Altmoisa guest house. In this writer s opinion, the soup was the best he had tasted for many years absolutely delicious. After another eventful day we drove back to the hotel to relive the memories of the cranes, the geese and the soup. Tuesday 18 September 2012 Early mist, followed by sun, cloud in the afternoon. 17 degrees max. The mist soon cleared to enable us to arrive at another observation tower in good light. Five garganey were new for the trip, mixed in with teal, pintail and shoveler. Great white egret and several snipe were here, but an adult white-tailed eagle sitting on a rock amongst a herd of cows gained most attention. Driving around provided the occasional flock of geese and some family groups of crane. Driving through a forest provided a male elk which showed quite well, particularly to those in the leading bus. A flock of fieldfares and redwings quietened down when a female sparrowhawk flew over. We then had a superb lunch at a local farm, made with mainly local produce. It was an effort to drag ourselves away from all the superb food, but another viewpoint overlooking Matsalu Bay was our next destination. Pochard and greylag geese were prominent, until two white-tailed eagles grabbed our attention. The eagles showed very well, sitting on rocks two or three hundred metres away. Before we returned to the buses, Fiona spotted a wheatear on wires next to the car park. A stop up the road near a ruined manor house gave us good views of blue hawker and ruddy darter. The ferry crossing to Saarema island gave us quite close views of red-throated divers and eider. Driving across the island after leaving the ferry provided us with the most vehicles since leaving Tallinn, but fortunately they had all dispersed by the time we did an emergency stop to have quite close views of three hundred cranes in a roadside field. Our journey came to an end at the Saaremaa Hotel which was in an excellent location next to the sea. Wednesday 19 September 2012 Wet, followed by very wet. Dry in the evening. 13 degrees max An early start to drive down to the Sorve peninsular. Wild boar, red fox and roe deer were seen in the headlights on the quiet road. The weather was grey, but dry when we first arrived, but persistent rain soon followed and this lasted until late afternoon. Unfortunately the weather was not producing the anticipated mass migration of passerines, however several sparrowhawks heading south indicated that they were expecting a feast. After finishing our packed breakfast, Tarvo beckoned us over to the shingle ridge. Alex had located a crested lark sheltering in the sparse, low plants. This is a rare species in Estonia and this bird had been around since mid August. A few yellow wagtails mingled with the white and a distant merlin provided a contrast to the sparrowhawks. John M had wandered off on his own which turned out to be a good idea. He had found a warbler sheltering in the rafters of a two storey building that was being constructed. Fortunately the building had no walls, so the warbler had taken refuge from the weather and aerial predators. As the bird was high up on the top beams beneath the room, the light was poor and it only showed parts of its body at any one time. Chiffchaff and willow warbler were quickly ruled out and then the debate started. Fortunately a few photos were taken. Tarvo sent a selection of photos to a few experts in Sweden to aid identification. However, the mystery warbler even baffled these people. Was it Estonia s third record of Arctic warbler or was it something else? It seems we may never know. 4

5 After this identification challenge, we walked towards the end of the peninsular. A dark Arctic skua came flying past and beyond the lighthouse before continuing south and out of sight. A few eiders provided some variety from the usual cormorants and goldeneye, with some brent geese also mingling around. A white-tailed eagle gave them something to think about, however it settled for a fish on this foray. A couple of turnstone were the first for the trip. Passerine movement had slowed to a crawl so we drove around to another part of the coast. Whinchat and wheatear were there we arrived and small flocks of chaffinches were also moving along. On the sea, two shelducks added to the list and a ubiquitous whitetailed eagle was sitting on a rock in the water. Small numbers of chiffchaff and skylark forced their way through the rain, but the weather was poor for man and beast. Time to move on for another excellent lunch, this time at Lumande. As with most other rural eating places we had visited, almost all the food was fresh, local produce. After the usual round of second helpings, it was decided to head back to the hotel for a couple of hours rest in the hope that the rain would move on. The rain eventually stopped in late afternoon so at 5.30 we drove to the Viidumae forest to try for owls. The first notable birds were nutcrackers that we could hear, but not see. We moved to an open area and were soon rewarded with a good flight view of a nutcracker only some 50 metres away. Alex continued his fine form by drawing attention to a bird sitting at the top of a conifer. This was a hobby looking resplendent in the evening sunshine. No success with owls so we headed back to the buses. Bu just before we got into the vehicles, a pygmy owl was heard calling close to the track where we were parked. Eventually, excellent views of a pygmy owl were enjoyed by everyone as it sat at the top of a tree for at least fifteen minutes. Everybody was very happy as we returned to the hotel for dinner. Thursday 20 September 2012 Cool start. Windy, sunny. 16 degrees max. Everyone opted to go for the early start to return to the Sorve peninsular. This time the weather was dry but windy. Lots of birds were migrating through, with the most numerous being chaffinch. Other birds included siskin, linnet, white and yellow wagtail. Sparrowhawk numbered over twenty in the ninety minutes we were there, a few kestrels also mixed in. Our first stock doves gave close views. A sheltered garden with a few trees provided a brief refuge for goldcrests and Barrie located a red-breasted flycatcher doing a couple of forays away from a thick bush. A couple of sandwich terns passed over the sea. Wave after wave of migrants were flying through as they began their fifteen mile journey over the sea to reach Latvia. It was a wonderful spectacle of visible migration, but unfortunately we had to leave far too soon to return to the hotel for breakfast and check out. Driving back across Saaremaa island, we occasionally stopped to look at feeding flocks of cranes in roadside fields. As elsewhere on our tour, Anthony provided us with interesting snippets of information about the history and geography of the area. The short ferry trip returned us back to the mainland. Lunch was taken at a rural restaurant run by a Russian couple. The drive through the agricultural landscape was broken by stops at two forest areas, in search of woodpeckers, sadly only great-spotted was showing well, but good views of nuthatch was appreciated. The highlight of the afternoon was a splendid goshawk flying low across the road in front of us. Our first for the trip and a brief, but welcome sighting. Shortly after, we arrived at the Wesset Villa hotel in Parnu. Friday 21 September 2012 Sunny, windy. 18 degrees max. 5

6 The weather was not looking promising as we watched the pouring rain while having our early breakfast. We were due to visit Kabli bird ringing station and this weather would not have been good for mist nets. Fortunately the rain had stooped by the time we left the hotel and as we drove south it was obvious that it had not rained there, so optimism grew. Before we even parked at the ringing station, we could see there were lots of birds moving through the huge Heligoland net. As we scanned with our binoculars we could see many goldcrests and siskins in temporary confinement. Our time at the station was very rewarding; the ringers later informed us that they rung 1600 birds on that day, including 1400 goldcrests. We had in hand views of lesser spotted woodpecker, crested tit and nuthatch which were particularly interesting. Other species included chaffinch, willow and coal tit. A hobby was seen feasting on a goldcrest while still flying over our heads. Later two hobby and a sparrowhawk gave the impression of doing a combined assault on the feathered mass of migration. On the coastal stretch, a great white egret and white-tailed eagle were a slight distraction. But it was the migration through the trees and over the road that gained most of our attention, with superb views of overhead nutcrackers being another highlight. On the roof of a nearby house, tree sparrows were our first for the trip. Reluctantly it was time to leave this superb example of visible migration and we ended the morning with another superb lunch, this time provided by the women s group at a local village. An excellent stew with tasty homemade rolls was provided with raspberry cheesecake for dessert, should you be interested. After lunch we moved to another part of the coast. Two spotted redshanks, greenshank, four grey plovers and several great white egrets were in the marshes next to the road. At the shoreline, three white-tailed eagles showed very well, making the greylag and bean geese rather nervous. One eagle gave relatively close views in good light allowing John S to get a satisfying photo of it in flight. More consternation was created when a juvenile goshawk flew low over the marshes. Some excellent birdwatching in good sunlight was completed with a group of dunlin that included two little stint. The drive back to the hotel was interrupted by a stop at a supermarket in Parnu to allow some of the group to buy honey and chocolate to take back to the UK. It was a good decision, because a dozen northern long-tailed tits flew from trees at the edge of the car park. Unfortunately the combination of distance and being silhouetted against the sunny part of the sky, made it difficult to make out their white heads. After an early dinner, we drove to the Soometsa forest to try for woodpeckers and owls. A stop at a clearing gave us an open view to try our luck. It was a good choice as we appeared to have discovered an area where woodpeckers were coming into roost. Tarvo got a brief glimpse of a grey-headed woodpecker and, with persistence, the whole group managed to get views of at least one of two grey-headeds. At least one great spotted woodpecker was seen using the same trees. Barrie called woodcock as one flew directly overhead in the gathering gloom. Despite continued searching, no owls were seen. Saturday 22 September 2012 Dry, sunny, no wind. Temperature at 6.30am was 8 degrees. Probably warm and sunny later. Most of the group opted for a 6 am excursion to the Soometsa forest. Grey-headed and great spotted woodpeckers were seen again at the same place. Migration was in evidence as regular flocks of chaffinch, brambling, siskin were regular. Other species passing through included kestrel, tree pipit and wood pigeon. A male and female sparrowhawk passed together, while dunnocks and wrens called from the bushes. A merlin passed overhead before we had to return to the hotel after a productive one hour dawn birdwatch. But after a minute s driving, a goshawk flew in front of the vehicle. After a quick breakfast we loaded up the vehicles for the drive to the airport. On the outskirts of Tallinn, a police officer with a radar gun stopped Tarvo for exceeding the speed limit. There is always a positive from a 6

7 negative, and on this occasion it was provided by a red squirrel that showed well for the people in that vehicle as they waited for the police officer to do the necessary paperwork. After another ten minutes we arrived at the airport, said our goodbyes to Tarvo and headed back to the UK. As the plane taxied to the gate at Heathrow, Rose spotted a kestrel from the window. A confident identification by Rose, gained through the experience of a memorable time in Estonia. 7

8 Species Lists Birds 1. Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata migrating at Cape Põõsaspea, migrating on the feffy trip to Saaremaa island, migrating at Sõrve peninsula 2. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus - seen daily 3. Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena - 3 at Cape Põõsaspea on Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo - common 5. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea - common 6. Great White Egret Ardea alba - seen almost daily, especially common at Pärnu area - 12 ind. at Pikla fish ponds on Mute Swan Cygnus olor - common 8. Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus - 10 at Rannajõe watching tower on 17.9, 2 at Haeska (Matsalu NP) on Bean Goose Anser fabalis- both subspecies seen in small numbers 10. Geat White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons - few hundreds seen around Taebla fields and Matsalu NP 11. Greylag Goose Anser anser - common 12. Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis - few hundreds at Matsalu NP 13. Brent Goose Branta bernicla migrating at Cape Põõsaspea on 16.9, small groups on Sõrve peninsula on 19.9 and Shelduck Tadorna tadorna late juveniles at Rahuste meadow 15. Wigeon Anas penelope - seen in large numbers at coastal areas 16. Mallard Anas plathyrhynchos - common 17. Gadwall Anas strepera - common, especially around hotel Promenaadi 18. Pintail Anas acuta - common 19. Shoveler Anas clypeata - common 20. Teal Anas crecca - common 21. Garganey Anas querqedula - 5 at Haeska tower (Matsalu NP) on Pochard Aythya ferina - small groups at Väike väin on 18.9 and Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula - common 8

9 24. Common Eider Somateria molissima - 15 at Cape Põõsaspea on 17.9, few birds at Sõrve peninsula on 19.9 and Common Scoter Melanitta nigra - 10 migrating at Cape Põõsaspea on Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca - 4 migrating at Cape Põõsaspea on Goldeneye Bucephala clangula - common 28. Smew Mergus albellus - 2 at Väike väin on Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator at Cape Põõsaspea on 17.9, few on Saaremaa island on 19.9 and Goosander Mergus merganser - common 31. Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus - seen daily 32. Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus - 4 at Rannajõe watching tower (Matsalu NP) on 17.9, 1 at Haeska fields on Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus - few birds seen daily, 25 at Sõrve peninsula on Goshawk Accipiter gentilis - 1 en route to Pärnu on 20.9, 1 cy ind. at Pikla fish ponds on 21.9, 1 at Soometsa forests on Common Buzzard Buteo buteo - common 36. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla - 5+ ind. seen daily 37. Kestrel Falco tinnunculus - few birds seen daily 38. Hobby Falco subbuteo - 1 at Puise peninsula on 16.9, 2 at Taebla fields on 17.9, 1 at Sõrve peninsula on 20.9, 2 at Kabli bird station on Merlin Falco columbarius - 1 at Sõrve peninsula on 19.9, 1 near Pärnu on 20.9, 1 at Soometsa forests on Hazel Grouse Bonasa bonasia - 1 seen at Nõva forests on 16.9 and 17.9, 1 seen on Soometsa forests on Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix - 1 at Rannajõe tower on Corncrake Crex crex - 1 seen en route to Haapsalu on Moorhen Gallinula chloropus - 1 at Võnnu park on Coot Fulica atra - common 45. Crane Grus grus at Soolu fields on 16.9, roosting at Rannajõe on 17.9, 800 at Saaremaa island on Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula - 15 at Haversi beach on 17.9, few on other days 9

10 47. Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria - seen in small numbers in several fields 48. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola - few birds at coastal areas almost daily 49. Lapwing Vanellus vanellus - common 50. Knot Calidris canutus - 2 at Haversi beach on 17.9, 1 at Sõrve peninsula on Sanderling Calidris alba - 6 at Haversi beach on 17.9, 1 at Sõrve peninsula on 19.9 and Little Stint Calidris minuta - 1 at Haversi beach on 17.9, 2 at Pikla fish ponds on Dunlin Calidris alpina at Haversi beach on 17.9, small numbers of other days 54. Ruff Philomachus pugnax - small numbers on several days 55. Curlew Numenius arquata - 6 at Rannajõe watching tower on Greenshank Tringa nebularia - 4 at Põgari coastal meadow on 16.9, 1 at Rahuse on Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus - 1 at Põgari coastal meadow on 16.9, 2 at Pikla fish ponds on Woodcock Scolopax rusticola - 1 at Soometsa forests on Snipe Gallinago gallinago - few birds seen daily 60. Turnstone Arenaria inerpes - 2 at Sõrve peninssula on Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus - 1 migrating at Sõrve peninsula on Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus - common 62. Common Gull Larus canus - common 63. Herring Gull Larus argentatus - common 64. Lesser Black-backed Gull (Baltic Gull) Larus fuscus - 1 juvenile at Cape Põõsaspea on Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus - seen daily in small numbers 66. Sanwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis - 2 at Sõrve peninsula on 19.9 and 20.9, 1 at Kuivastu harbour on Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus - common 68. Stock Dove Columba oenas - 2 migrating at Sõrve peninsula on Feral Pigeon Columba livia - common 70. Pygmy Owl Glaucidium passerinum - good views of 1 ind. at Viidumäe forests on Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius - 1 migrating at Puise peninsula on 16.9, 1 at Nõva forests on

11 72. Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus - 2 at Soometsa forests on 21.9, 1 at Soometsa forests on White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos - 1 heard at Puise peninsula on Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor - about 20 migrating at Puise peninsula on 16.9, small numbers on other days 75. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major - common 76. Skylark Alauda arvensis - common 77. Wood Lark Lullula arborea - few birds at Puise peninsula on 16.9 and Haversi beach on Crested Lark Galerida cristata - 1 at Sõrve peninsula on Swallow Hirundo rustica - common 80. Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis - common 81. Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis - common 82. White Wagtail Motacilla alba - common 83. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava- few birds at Sõrve peninsula on 19.9 and Wren Troglodytes troglodytes - several heard in the forests 85. Dunnock Prunella modularis - calls of passing migrants in several mornings 86. Robin Erithacus rubecula - common 87. Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus - 1 at Cape Põõsaspea on 17.9 and 1 near Pärnu on Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 89. Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe - common 90. Blackbird Turdus merula - common 91. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris - common 92. Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus - 5 at Nedrema wooded meadow on 20.9, 10 at Pikla fish ponds on Song Thrush Turdus philomeus - common 94. Redwing Turdus iliacus - common 95. Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus birds seen almost daily 96. Chiffchatt Phylloscopus collybita - common 97. Goldcrest Regulus regulus - common, hundreds ringed at Kabli bird station on

12 98. Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata - 2 at Haversi beach on Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva - 1 at Sõrve peninsula on Marsh Tit Parus palustris - 2 at Võnnu park on Willow Tit Parus montanus - common 102. Crested Tit Parus cristatus - fairly common, 1 seen from the hand at Kabli bird station on Blue Tit Parus caeruleus - common 104. Great Tit Parus major - common 105. Coal Tit Parus ater - fairly common 106. Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus - a group of 20 ind. at Pärnu town on Nuthatch Sitta europaea - common 108. Treeceeper Certhia familiaris 109. Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio - 1 juvenile at Soolu fields on 16.9, 1 juvenile at Cape Põõsaspea on Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor - 1 at Soolu fields on Starling Sturnus vulgaris - common 112. Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius - common, 800+ migrating at Puise peninsula on Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocactates - fairly common 114. Magpie Pica pica - common 115. Raven Corvus corax - common 116. Jackdaw Corvus monedula - common 117. Hooded Crow Corvus cornix - common 118. Rook Corvus frugilegus - common 119. Tree Sparrow Passer montanus - 2 birds at Kabli on House Sparrow Passer domesticus - seen at Haapsalu and Pärnu town 121. Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs - common 122. Brambling Fringilla montifringilla - small numbers migrating among Chaffinches flocks 123. Siskin Carduelis spinus - common 124. Greenfinch Carduelis chloris - common 12

13 125. Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis - common 126. Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes - 3 migrating at Puise peninsula on Redpoll Carduelis flammea - 1 near Pärnu on Linnet Carduelis cannabina - common 129. Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra - small group at Nõva forests on Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella - common 131. Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus - few birds seen on 19.9 and 21.9 Mammals Red fox Vulpes vulpes Wild boar Sus scrofa seen on three days seen on one day Elk/Moose Alces alces seen on three days Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus seen on five days Butterflies Large white Pieris brassicae seen on two days Small white Pieris rapae seen on two days Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni seen on one day Small tortoiseshell Aglais urticae seen on one day Red admiral Vanessa atalanta seen on two days Dragonflies Blue/Southern hawker Aeshna cyanea Ruddy darter Sympetrum sanguineum Migrant hawker Aeshna mixta 13

14 Other recorded wildlife Adder Vipera berus Common toad Bufo bufo Common frog Rana temporaria Viviparious lizard Zootheca vivipara Hornet Vespa crabro Elf fly Lipoptena cervi Bush cricket sp. 14

15 The Travelling Naturalist & Limosa Holidays Photo gallery. All photos Barrie Cooper except the Brent Goose and Crested Lark photos which are Tarvo Valker Brent geese over the Baltic The group outside the excellent Kuursaal restaurant Crested Lark a rare bird for Estonia Cranes and bean geese 15

16 The Travelling Naturalist & Limosa Holidays Cranes coming into roost Goldcrest at Kabli ringing station Nuthatch at Kabli Willow tit at Kabli Brian relied on wife Ann to do the daily log The thousands of migrating birds left Alex exhausted 16