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Showing posts with label Great Snipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Great Snipe. Show all posts

Monday, November 16, 2015

Autumn Mammals and Birds tour summary


Dates: 25 Sep – 2 Oct 2015
Group size: 7 pax
Local guide (text by): Kaarel Võhandu 

We started our tour in Western Estonia. In the first morning we went to Puise peninsula which is an excellent passerine migration spot. Migration was in full swing and we saw 157 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Black Woodpeckers and 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. If there was a short gap in migrating woodpeckers it was filled with passerines and jays. We also spotted a young Hen Harrier and a Peregrine Falcon. Around lunch time we visited several spots in the northern coast of Matsalu bay, where the highlights were 5000 Barnacle Geese and 3800 Lapwings. In the evening we took a boat trip on Suitsu and Kasari rivers. The beavers did not make an appearance but we got to stare a drinking elk in the eye from 4 meters. Photographers were complaining it was too close for their telephoto lenses.

Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) / Photo: Kaarel Võhandu

Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) / Photo: Kaarel Võhandu

In the morning of the third day we did some forest birding picking up a singing Pygmy Owl, that we did not manage to get views of. We then headed to Cape Põõsaspea for some seabird migration. Hundreds of Common Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Goldeneyes, Brent Geese and Wigeon passed by. We also spotted some Velvet Scoters, Red-necked Grebes, Black- and Red -throated Divers and Scaups. Hike on the meadow of the peninsula produced Great Grey Shrike and an unexpected highlight of the trip, lifer for everybody – the Great Snipe. We spent our evening at Saunja bay watching 1700 cranes flying over to their nighttime roosting sites. From raptors we spotted two Ospreys and two Hen Harriers.

Brent Geese (Branta bernicla) / Photo: Kaarel Võhandu

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) / Photo: Kaarel Võhandu

In the fourth day we transfered to Central Estonia. We did quite a few stops along the way and were awarded with one Goshawk, couple of Nutcrackers, two White-tailed Eagles and one Merlin. We stayed at Toosikannu guesthouse, where they have a huge fenced area with semi-wild Red Deer, Elk and Wild Boars. We saw plenty of those on an evening safari. In the fifth day we did a lot of forest birding. The birds proved hard to find but with some hard work we managed to locate a Kingfisher, some Grey-headed Woodpeckers, a very late White Stork and a flock of Black Grouse. On the night time spotlighting drive we spotted a Ural Owl sitting in a tree at the roadside. As we admired it another one started calling somewhere nearby.

Merlin (Falco columbarius) / Photo: Kaarel Võhandu

In the sixth day we drove to NE Estonia, settled into our guesthouse and went to the bear hide in the evening. There were lots of Raccoon Dogs and Red Foxes about. Willow and Crested Tits were common on the bird feeders. But no bears around. As it got dark people started to nod off in the bunks. Luckily some stayed up and spotted a mother Bear with two cubs arriving around midnight. Everyone were quietly woken up and we were lucky to admire their activity for 45 minutes or so. We left the hide in the morning and on our hike out spotted a Badger crossing the trail. Driving around in the forests we spotted quite a few Black Grouse, one male Capercaillie and heard a Hazel Grouse calling. In the afternoon we had a look at the 4th largest lake in Europe - Peipsi and Russia behind it. There was a good number of birds at Vasknarva with 900 Goldeneyes, 50 Cormorants, 300 Mallards, 40 Tufted Ducks and 3 Smews. An Otter was fishing in the river. Last night we spent driving around forest roads and spotted 6 Woodcocks and another Ural Owl hunting on the road.

Crested Tit (Parus cristatus) / Photo: Kaarel Võhandu

Elk (Alces alces) / Photo: Kaarel Võhandu

Red Deer (Servus elaphus) / Photo: Kaarel Võhandu

Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) / Photo: Kaarel Võhandu

Remarkable 121 bird and 11 mammal species have been seen during the 8-day Mammals and Birds tour in Autumn 2015! 

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Special offers until 28th February!

Special offers until 28th February! Save up to 150 €. Discount does not apply to earlier booked trips.

Estonia – A Shelter For Western Taiga Forest Birds
Wed 9th Apr - Mon 14th Apr
Price: 860 € pp.
Special price: 760 €
BOOK HERE...
Visit the Estonian Nature Tours web page: www.naturetours.ee

Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) / Ingmar Muusikus


Mammals & Birds in Estonia
Fri 9th May - Fri 16th May
Price: 1495 € pp.
Special price: 1345 €
BOOK HERE...
Visit the Estonian Nature Tours web page: www.naturetours.ee

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) / Neil Aldridge


Estonia in Spring
Fri 16th May - Fri 23rd May
Price: 1150 € pp.
Special price: 1035 €
BOOK HERE...
Visit the Estonian Nature Tours web page: www.naturetours.ee

Great Snipe (Gallinago media) / Arne Ader
.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Clients are talking / Kliendid räägivad


"We had a good time in Estonia last week. All the warm clothing wasn’t really necessary, luckily. Tallinn is beautiful, and the two-days birding with Karel were also excellent. We saw or heard about 120 bird species, 6 of which I had not seen before. Excellent view of Great snipe, Corncrake, River warbler, White-backed woodpecker, and a soaring Lesser spotted eagle. And other very ‘good’ birds like Citrine wagtail. The pair of Hawk Owls was a very nice surprise." B.B / Belgium, May 2013

  Great Snipe (Gallinago media) / Arne Ader

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) / Rein Kuresoo

***

"Thank you for giving up your own time to take us out, and to give us such a super day, the first day we were "on tour" in Estonia.  It was great seeing you again, and thanks for a very special lunch.   If only I had known you would be with us that day, I would have asked you to the opera - it was "La Traviata", and the Estonian company did it well.

Thank you for going to so much trouble over my anorak.  It doesn't look very special, but I am very attached to it - especially when it is cold!!    I feel such a fool to leave it in your car, but thank you for all the trouble you have taken to return it to me.

Thank you for finding us such a good guide.  He is absolutely one of the best.   We still want Tarvo, but when we can't have Tarvo we will be delighted to have Margus.   I know very few guides as good as him - he is a good bird finder and guide, and good company also.   You did well to find him.

I am already looking at my diary to see when we can go back again!" P.C / UK, June 2013 

 Female Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) / Pierre Vernay

***

"Our trip to Estonia was a great success. All participants were absolutely satisfied with Roosta puhkeküla accomodation (the cottages), all meals we were served, sauna and the atmosphere of the personel. The buss service and the driver Aivo were also great. Aivo did a good job taking account that we changed the routes many times according to weather. Our guide Mikko was super. He created from the very beginning open relations to all of our group members. He also knew the areas and places we visited and he had a good knowledge of both flora and fauna.

We all want to recommend Estonian Nature Tour services to all Finnish tourists and also to people from other countries. The Estonian nature is rich and beautiful. Satisfaction starts when you get  more than you expected. Here, in our case, this happened!" K.S / Finland, May 2013

A group of 19 birdwatchers and nature photographers of the Finnish Club of Helsinki 
visited Western Estonia 17.-20.5.-2013

***

"I am delighted to report that the bear-watch at Tudu was a success. I easily found the spot as you described, and soon after, two more cars of English people, along with Triin arrived. We were in the hide by 6 pm., and very quickly the first Racoon Dogs appeared, showing interest in the bear-food. About 9, two adult bears arrived, presumably a pair, and while one (the female?) stayed in the background, the other fed hungrily for about 15 minutes, giving wonderful views. A little later a Woodcock came and stood in full view before the hide for several minutes -- the best view I have ever had! In the morning light a fox came to wander around, and a White-Backed Woodpecker (very clearly seen and positively identified) appeared too. I am very grateful to you for organizing all that for me." J C-E. / Australia, June 2013



 White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) / Agamemnon Loutsios 

***

"Just to say we all had a great trip to Estonia and saw plenty of good birds - particularly the Grouse, Woodpeckers and Geese and even found a Black Kite. The mammals were equally good even though we didn't see a bear the Racoon Dogs were super and the Flying Squirrel was just fabulous. 

 Flying Squirrel (Pteromys volans) / JM Bompar


 Black Kite (Milvus migrans) / Source: Wikipedia
 

Margus is a really good birder, a superb tour leader a great guy and great company. We more or less stuck to the itinerary but changed things around a bit to suit our needs after discussions with or suggestions from Margus.Margus worked tirelessly throughout the week to find us birds & mammals and nothing was too much trouble for him - he really helped to make the trip and I wouldn't hesitate to use him again. So please pass on a big thank you once again from all of us.

The Mooste Viinavabrik Guesthouse was absolutely wonderful - a great building, great food, great staff and ideally located. You have just got to continue to use the place.

Finally a big thank you to you for the organisation and all the work you have done in the background that helped make for a fabulous and successful trip." J.W / UK, May 2013

***

"We had all a great trip in Estonia. It seems that everybody in the group enjoyed our visit very much. Margus is a very easy-going person to deal with and his knowledge about birding in Estonia is over the top! I like very much to travel with him. The people in the group also find him very nice." G.P / Sweden, Avifauna, June 2013

Ural Owl (Strix uralensis) / Raili Mets


Friday, June 15, 2012

Client Comments - Wildlife Holiday in Estonia

"We had a fantastic trip in Estonia and all your organisation worked perfectly. We saw all three woodpeckers and the capercaillie with Margus (and he helped us with a location for black grouse lekking). We got at least 7 beavers with Rannus and the great snipe lek was a success - at least 7 or 8 birds!

Great Snipe / Arne Ader

The raccoon dogs were a disappointment - just a bit of bad luck I guess (especially for the dogs), but Jan tried very hard to find us things and was really helpful. Sorry we didn't get to meet you on the 5th but we decided to try for corncrake at Aardla (corncrake is virtually impossible in the UK) and it made us very late so we drove directly to Tallinn. We got fantastic views of the corncrake though!!!


Raccoon Dog / Valeri Štšerbatõh

Loved Tallinn (though you should tell them to keep the restaurants open later) - and the birthday lunch was great (a very nice place called Aed that was recommended by a girl we met). I even got up at dawn to watch the transect of venus.
We definately want to return - perhaps earlier in the season next time. Owls, raccoon dogs and lynx please.
Thanks so much for helping with a terrific trip. Great countryside, very friendly people and 12 birds off our list (plus the beavers)." Brilliant! M.A. / UK, June 2012


"Yes, back home now unfortunately. I did not want to leave. Peace, quiet, friendly people and above all great birding. Roosta and Hobekala guesthouse were both very comfortable and suitable for what I wanted. All in all the trip was a great success and I will certainly be back.
Many thanks for setting it up for me, it all went very smoothly." R.G. / UK, April-May 2012

As well as offering a high quality service Estonian Nature Tours can also organise your trip quickly and reliably. Even if you are only getting in touch last minute we can still help you enjoy an excellent trip - and if you know what you want to see then we can get you sorted in no time!