Tim Harris, the author of the RSPB's 'Migration Hotspots of the World' visited Estonia!
„I was keen to sample Estonia in spring, having written about the country in the RSPB's 'Migration Hotspots of the World'. It proved to be an excellent choice of destination for the first week of May. From marsh terns and waders in the polders and fishponds around Tartu to Savi's Warblers in the massive reedbeds at the eastern end of Matsalu Bay. And from woodpeckers in the primeval forest at Jarvselja to the visible migration of Barn Swallows and flava wagtails at Mehikoorma, the country did not disappoint. As someone who has always struggled to see Three-toed Woodpecker, the crowning glory for me was a pair in Lahemaa National Park. And let's not forget White-backed Woodpeckers, which were seen almost daily. In fact, I had good views of eight woodpecker species. Neither will I forget the sight of fields full of White-fronted Geese in the north-east and - later - thousands of Barnacle Geese on the move around Matsalu Bay. There were unexpected birds, too, such as a Whiskered Tern, a little north of its regular range, and a male Pallid Harrier, on the move in the north-east.
Although this was not a trip to search for mammals, we did encounter a Brown Bear that wandered across the track while we were looking for woodpeckers, and we also had good views of Beavers. Five days in the field produced about 160 species, passage migrants still with a long way to travel, returning breeders and resident species. Thoroughly recommended.“
Tim Harris, author of the RSPB's 'Migration Hotspots of the World'
Northern Bullfinch is not a native British bird, and the call is very different.
This is a pair I photographed.
Photos: Tim Harris
Photos: Tim Harris
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