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!
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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
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
