Birding Estonia

Hi

Estonia may be one of the up and coming places to bird-

Just spent a long weekend looking for winter specialities- more to come

S

Flew to Tallin via Helsinki - no snow but windy

Day1-  out to coast along gulf of Finland- 00s of Long Tailed Ducks , Goosanders, Smew, BT Diver, Scaup, Snow Buntings and a flock of 270 Stellers Eider about 200 yds offshore. 7 Rough Legged Buzzards inland.

Day2- worked forests as we moved inland-  60 Waxwings, woodland and open country birds

Day4- 63  Black Grouse, Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Black Woodpecker, Hazel Grouse, Crested Tit.

Saw 65 spp in 4 days.

The oddest thing is the lack of small birds in winter as its so cold- the gulf stream doesn't reach that far east so the only regular  small passerines are Siskin, Bullfinch, Blue and Great Tits , Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow ,  Nuthatch and Treecreeper.

S

For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides,  binoculars, scopes, tripods,  etc - put 'Birding Tips'   into the search box