Life in front of the forest camera is agile

Forest Cam started the new season on 25th November 2014 and on the third night there was great excitement when it captured a herd of 11 Wild Boar. This species has since become a regular sight on the camera with visits from hers of 18-23 animals.

Source: LK forum

About 10 kilometres from the Forest cam there resides a Wolf pack of 11 animals. Late at night of 2nd December a large single Wolf appeared on the camera's. A few days later, the Wolf appeared again this time at half past eight in the evening. Wild Boars appeared after an hour, but there was no sign of fear in their behavior or signs of nervousness suggesting that the Wolves do not really bother them.

Source: looduskalender.ee

Source: looduskalender.ee

At night, Raccoon Dogs sometimes visit the feeding site and a local pair have been hanging aorund the marked feeding site since October.

Source: looduskalender.ee

Follow the direct stream from the forest cam.

Watch the ‘Ozone’ newscast about the Wild Boar and the forest cam here (click the picture).

Abundance of mammals in Estonia

The abundance of Lynx has dropped significantly recently and researchers have therefore suggested to stop hunting this carnivore in the upcoming season. The reason for the decline has been a sharp drop in the abundance of Roe Deer in 2010, when females were no longer able to supply their offspring by adequate nutrition. Over the last two years, three adult female Lynx have been equipped by monitoring devices. The average size of their territories has been 200 square kilometers. When Lynx abundance was high, the average size of male territories was 180 square kilometers, but this year's territories are on average four to five times higher, 800 square kilometers!

Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) / Remo Savisaar

Lynx (Felis lynx) / Sven Zacek

There has also been a slight decline in numbers of Brown Bear and Wolves. There were about 20 Wolf packs in Estonia this year after a steady decline from 31 packs in 2011.  Wolf packs are found in specific area and this is not influenced by other wolves in areas nearby.  Since last summer, local researchers were able to observe in detail the movements of two Wolf packs in Pärnu and Viljandi County as the alpha females of these packs were radio tagged.  Both of the territory sizes were found to be in the range of 700-750 square kilometers. The amount of damage caused to farmers by wolves has continuously declined since 2011, which is probably due to the decrease in their numbers.  

Wolf (Canis lupus) / Valeri Štšerbatõh

   Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) / Luke Massey

The abundance of Wild Boar and Raccoon Dogs is still high but there has been a moderate decline in Elk and Red Deer numbers which primarily inhabit in the two islands, Hiiumaa and Saaremaa. Roe Deer populations that were severely damaged by previous snowy and very cold winters have begun to recover.
The numbers for Pine Marten and Beaver have fallen slightly, but more significantly for Foxes, while numbers of European Polecat, Badger, Mountain and European Hare have increased. Also of interest - a new species of mammal was recorded for Estonia - the Golden Jackal, a species who's range has been gradually moving north and west in recent years.

Elk (Alces alces) / Luke Massey

Racoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) / Valeri Štšerbatõh

Wild boars (Sus scrofa) / Sven Zacek

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

Click here to see video of Alutaguse Bears, taken on the same night...

 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

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!