The Winners of the Questionnaire in British Birdfair 2014

For the third time Estonian Nature Tours offered a possibility to win a dream wildlife holiday to Estonia in British Birdfair 2014 and on our webpage as well. Estonian Nature Tours wishes to thank everyone who completed our questionnaire and took part in the prize draw.
All together our questionnaire was filled in by 38 people, 19 of them gave right answers to all the questions and therefore gained the right to participate in our drawing. The second question was most difficult.

We are delighted to announce the winners:

Grand Prize: Wildlife holiday - Birds and Bears. Price 955 € - Mrs A. Durn

This year something extraordinary happened at drawing the lots. We decided with colleagues that I shall be the first to draw the grand prize among the correct questionnaire answers. I wanted to do it quickly, but my colleagues said: “No-no, do not rush! Try to focus, so that the person who really wants the prize will get it.” I was trying to concentrate in my own way and...
... pulled out the form, that was completed by last year's grand prize winner!!! Unfortunately she could not use her prize last year, but now she’s given the second chance :)
 
Congratulations, Andrea!

Marika Mann
On behalf of Estonian Nature Tours team

Lot 1: Brown Bear tracking and watching. Price 115 € - Mrs C. Ballinger

Lot 2: Flying Squirrel Study trip. Price 100 € - Mrs R. Obrien
Lot 3: Beaver boat-trip. Price 85 € - Mr C. Martenson

Congratulations to everyone!

Click here to see Brown Bear watching video...

 Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) / Sven Zacek

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) / Neil Aldridge

 Flying Squirrel (Pteromys volans)  / Rainar Kurbel

Click here to see Flying Squirrel video...

 Beaver (Castor) / Remo Savisaar'

Click here to see Beaver boat-trip video...

We asked all nature lovers to read carefully our homepage www.naturetours.ee or read up on the brochure "ESTONIA – the heart of European wildlife" You have now excellent opportunity to get acquainted to Estonia’s nature.

Estonian Nature Tours (ENT) is supporting a study tour, drawn among applicants for Natura subsidy

“SA Erametsakeskus” (Forest Centre) in cooperation with Estonian Fund for Nature was drawing via e-PRIA four lucky Natura subsidy applicants, who can participate with a companion in a study trip to Flying Squirrel habitats.
The study trip is supported by Estonian Nature Tours and supervised by a wellknown zoologist Uudo Timm and a mycologist Indrek Sell. Uudo Timm is presenting the results of research work of more than 20 years. He is also describing the conditions of Flying Squirrels in Estonia, explaining their needs for habitat and revealing the restrictions of forest management in relevant forest sites.
Indrek Sell is taking the participants to the kingdom of fungi of old-growth forests while other characteristic species and natural values will hopefully be seen.
The prize trip will take place in July 12 this year.
The winners are: Aivar Lambing, Heino Ige, Celia Roose and Rein Ruut. Congrats!

Estonian Nature Tours is caring, having supported Flying Squirrel research work since 2010 and the Young Conservationist Award since 2005.

 Flying Squirrel (Pteromys volans) / Rainar Kurbel

Flying Squirrel trip with Uudo Timm

Birds and Mammals in Estonia 4-11 October 2013

Early in October Luke Massey Images and Tarvo Valker led a Bird Watching magazine readers group around Estonia searching for an array of different birds. They hit the jackpot spotting over 100 species of bird including Hawk Owl, Golden Eagle, Parrot Crossbill, thousands of Barnacle Geese and many more. Though it wasn't just birds they found, amazingly the group saw a great number of mammals, including Elk, Foxes, Arctic Hares, Bears, Pine Martens, Beavers and even the extremely rare and elusive European Flying Squirrel. Autumn is a fantastic time to visit Estonia as birds are migrating through and mammals are out feeding before winter kicks in. See which tour suits you, from photography to orchid spotting.

„Last two days: amazing. Saw two brown bears, 6 raccoon dogs, pine marten, fox and a flying squirrel. All in all 12 different mammals and 105 species of birds. Best part of it: chasing the hawk owl with Luke trough the wilderness.“  B.H / Germany

Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) / Luke Massey

"On our first morning we witnessed a great sunrise right outside the hotel as it rose over the Baltic. As I was photographing the sunrise I heard the unmistakeable calls of cranes, moving out of their roost site to go feed in the surrounding fields. Cranes are making a comeback in the UK, with around 50 now living wild after a a successful reintroduction project." L.Massey / UK

Common Cranes (Grus grus) / Luke Massey

"Estonia is one of the top 10 destinations in the world for bird migration with hundreds of thousands of birds passing through every spring and autumn. Probably the biggest migration is of barnacle geese, throughout our time in the country we saw thousands of them either flying over or carpeting fields feeding up before continuing on their way." L.Massey / UK

Barnacle Geese (Branta leucopsis) / Luke Massey

"We managed to see loads of different stuff from European flying squirrels to hawk owls. I think the highlight for most of the group were the bears, we were incredibly lucky to see 2 bears and one appeared in broad daylight. Not wanting to scare it I didn't take any photos, so this shot is one of the only one I got at dusk at 1/8 second!" L.Massey / UK

 Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) / Luke Massey

BIRTHDAY SURPRISE – an 8-day bird watching tour price is lower than ever before!

On May 26 it was the 10th jubilee of Estonian Nature Tours. Thereby we have in store some surprises to our clients and Facebook followers.

Estonia in Autumn Thu 12th Sep - Thu 19th Sep 2013

BIRTHDAY PRICE: 955 € pp. (before 1150 € pp.)

Make a quick decision – the number of places are limited!

BOOK HERE...

Although not widely discovered yet, Estonia is the ideal country for observing one of the most spectacular natural shows – massive bird migration. This smallest and northernmost Baltic country lies on the crossroads of the Eastern Atlantic migratory flyway: Estonia is locked between the Finnish Gulf, the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea and Lake Peipsi near the Russian border. Geographically the Estonian waters and coastline are stepping-stones along the flyway between breeding and wintering areas for millions of Arctic waterbirds, making birdwatching in Estonia fabulous at this time of year. 

Common Crane (Grus grus) / Remo Savisaar

Click here and read Tour itinerary... 

Click here and read tour report...

Period: Thu 12th Sep - Thu 19th Sep 2013
Group size: 6/8 pax
Grading: Day walks only, for all ages
Leader: Tarvo Valker
Accommodation: Comfortable hotels with private facilities
Food: Restaurants and local farms
Extensions: Cultural/sightseeing extensions available on request

 Elk (Alces alces) / Luke Massey

Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive in Tallinn, to Haapsalu                       

Day 2 Põõsaspea & Matsalu National Park
Day 3 Taebla & Martna fields, Matsalu
Day 4 Matsalu National Park, to Saaremaa
Day 5/6 Saaremaa Island, to Pärnu
Day 7 Soomets forests & Kabli
Day 8 Departure

 

 White-tailed Eagle (Haliaetus albicilla) / Luke Massey

Highlights

Birds: Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, tens of thousands of Common Cranes, White-fronted Geese and Bean Geese, peak autumn migration of songbirds, waders and waterfowls, Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon, Black Grouse, White-backed Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Warbler (probably), Nutcracker, Crested Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Bearded Tit, Lapland Bunting etc.
Mammals: Red Fox, Raccoon Dog, Wild Boar, Elk, Roe Deer, European Beaver, tracks of  Brown Bear, Wolf or Lynx (probably) etc.

Racoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) /Sven Zacek

Client comments:

 Common Crane (Grus grus) / Remo Savisaar

"Despite the cloudy, cold and windy days at the start, we only experienced rain on one afternoon and evening, and with the skies clearing leaving a beautiful final full day and a half, the changes helped move many migrants and provide us with some superb birding spectacles. The mass exodus of Common Cranes and mass arrival and passage of Barnacle Geese at the start, followed by large numbers of seemingly disorientated small birds over the Sõrve bird observatory and movement of small birds, especially those gorgeous white-headed Long-tailed Tits, at the Kabli ringing station were all excellent examples of the phenomenon of visible migration at this migration crossroads. Apart from these spectacles, I’m sure we’ll all have our own highlights, with the Racoon Dog running along the road, the surprise Eurasian Eagle-owl, or observations of both Grey-headed and European Three-toed Woodpeckers in the same tree, probably figuring among them. I hope so! And 142 bird species recorded on an autumn tour certainly can’t be bad going." J.M. / Travelling Naturalist, Autumn 2010 

 European Beaver (Castor fiber) / Remo Savisaar

" It is good to discover a country in full bloom, looking toward the future, and respecting nature. The days we spend in Estonia will stay forever in my mind. Birds contrasting in wonderful skies, like thousands of cranes, white-tailed eagles, thousands of ducks, sparrowhawks, and in the same trip the corncrake and the snowbunting, the nightjar and the black guillemot...this is unforgettable. Mammals are also very attracting in Estonia, and will definitely call me back to this country. But the people will most of all stay in my mind, with a real sense of welcome, the will of developping the country with taste, and to welcome the hosts with wonderful food..." P. L., Belgia / FAM trip September 2010

The Winners of the Questionnaire in British Birdfair 2011

For the first time Estonian Nature Tours offered a possibility to win a dream wildlife holiday to Estonia in British Birdfair 2011 and on our webpage as well.

Estonian Nature Tours wishes to thank everyone who completed our questionnaire and took part in the prize draw.

We are delighted to announce the winners:

Grand Prize: Birdwatching holiday Estonia in Spring. Price 1150 € - Mr
Rodger
Lot 1: Beaver photography. Price 180 € - Mr Brink
Lot 2: Flying Squirrel Study trip (1). Price 100 € - Mrs Francis
Lot 3: White-tailed Eagle Photograpy. Price 75 € - Mr Foley
Lot 4: MATSALU TICKET (for 2 person). Price 2 x 40 € - Mr Chew
Lot 5: Brown Bear tracking and watching. Price 105 € - Mr Cropper

Congratulations to everyone!

Photographer Neil Aldridge visited Estonia

Estonia, its people, landscapes and wildlife were truly captivating. I'm already looking forward to returning and I hope to be able to share the country's wildlife riches and photography potential with guests on future trips.

Saaremaa was particularly impressive - the landscapes, sunsets, coast and forests were all remarkable. To be able to walk out of the door at the guest house and watch swallowtail butterflies, fall asleep listening to corncrakes and see in the dawn from the top of the 26m high tower in Viidumae was something special. That said, literally losing count of the number of beavers Remek and I saw on the Emajogi River probably ranks as the highlight of the trip in terms of wildlife watching.

While it was a shame that the weather made it impossible to see the flying squirrels, the study trip gave me the ideal impression of how good the opportunities would be at other times of the year. The quality of the guides in Remek and Uudo was impressive. They both went to great lengths to make sure that I had a great experience, had the chance to get whatever shots I was after and came away with an in-depth understanding of the species and habitats that they know so well. I'm looking forward to working with them both in the future and developing ideas.

All of the accommodation was comfortable and secure (important for a photographer travelling with expensive equipment) and the reception was always warm and friendly. Thank you to everyone at Estonian Nature Tours for your help organising trip and I'm looking forward to working with you closely again.

Read more about the trip from Neil's blog...

Neil Aldridge, Conservation Photojournalism & Safaris

All photos by Neil Aldridge