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Friday, August 23, 2013

Estonian Nature Tours at the British Birdfair


It was for the 6th year already that our company was represented on the British Birdfair with our own stand. In recent years, interest in our tours has increased and more an more we feel that Estonia has become a popular destination in Europe! Noone asks any more about the whereabouts of our country, people come to our stand with clearly defined decision to travel to Estonia instead. For us it is really meaningful, that Estonian Nature Tours has now its own fanclub – many of our clients wish to come back for another time, some even for the 5th time. This is a clear indication, that people are pleased with our service and that Estonia's nature and local guides have much to offer.

Luke Massey (on the left in front) talks to people about White-tailed Eagle Photography. 
Behind, in the middle is Tarvo Valker


May 26 was the 10th anniversary of Estonian Nature Tours. We celebrated this event modestly with our clients, friends and partners on the Birdfair.

From right: Kaisa Korhonen (Liminka), Antero Topp (Finnature), Marika Mann (ENT), 
Jari Peltomäki (Finnature) and Roy Atkins (Speyside Wildlife)

Jari gave to Marika a very cute gift – his own favorite photo

Brown Bear cub playing peekaboo. Read more about Jari and this photo...


We really appreciate that You took Your time to stop over our stand - Roy and Jane Atkins, Jari Peltomäki, Antero Topp, Kaisa Korhonen, Miia  Marjanen, Mike Weedon, Killian Mullarney, Tim Harris, John McLoughlin, Ian Lycett, Sally Dowden, Tim Earl, Liz Charter, Peter and Vana Chadwick, Patricia and Raimond Rumbold, Carol Wady, Margaret Collet, Kath and David Beeken, Barry Trevis, David Kay, Luke Massey, Wilfred and Julia Powell, John Wright, Pippa Harvey, Dan Free, Ben Hoare, John Vanderdol, Margaret Alderson, Andrew Howes, Tim Appleton and many, many others...

Thank You!

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Birdfair 2013. What´s new?

Birdfair 

The 2013 British Birdfair will take place at Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland on Friday 16th – Sunday 18th August.

This is the sixth time for Estonian Nature Tours (ENT) to participate in the biggest bird and ecotourism fair in the world as an exhibitor. Estonian Nature Tours has been a pioneer in developing nature and bird tourism throughout Estonia. We have more than 10 years experience in organising outstanding wildlife holidays in Estonia and the feedback from our clients has always been very positive. We would be happy to meet with you and give you a presentation of our services whatever time is suitable for you during Birdfair 2013.

Visit us in Marquee 5 Stand 32!

Short breaks are becoming increasingly popular and in response to the high demand for this type of holiday we are continuing to expand our programme. This year, we offer new trips for birdwatchers who are keen to see woodpeckers (in all, eight species can been found in Estonia!). We also have on offer something new for nature lovers who are keen to see just brown bears or search for the impressive selection of orchids that occur in Estonia.

Estonia is an up-and-coming destination for wildlife photography, boasting fantastic species such as European Lynx and Wolves, White-tailed Eagles, Wild Boar and Elk. You may get the chance to photograph all of these exciting species if you visit Estonia this winter. Read more...

White-tailed Eagle Photography 
Sun 2nd Mar – Thu 6th Mar
Thu 6th Mar – Mon 10th Mar
Mon 10th Mar – Fri 14th Mar
Price: 995 € pp.
Tour leader: Luke Massey (Luke Massey Images)

White-tailed Eagles (Haliaetus albicilla) / Luke Massey


For birdwatchers who are keen to see woodpeckers (in all, eight species can been found in Estonia!), we now offer a new, fully-inclusive, 5-day holiday.
Read more... 

Great Snipe & Woodpeckers 
Wed 23rd Apr - Sun 27th Apr
Price: 695 € pp.

Three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus) / Sven Zacek


We also have on offer something new for nature lovers who are keen to see just brown bears or search for the impressive selection of orchids that occur in Estonia. Read more... 

Orchids & Bears
Wed 18th Jun – Sun 22nd Jun
Price: 955 € pp.

Bears & Birds
Wed 8th Oct – Sun 12th Oct
Price: 955 € pp.

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) / Sven Zacek


Lady´s slippers (Cypripedium calceolus) / Neil Aldridge


In recent  years Estonia has been a magnet for birdwatchers from Europe and beyond. Now this Baltic State is also becoming a mecca for dragonfly (and butterfly) enthusiasts eager to see the country´s speciality species.  Read more...

Dragonfly Holiday
Fri 1st Aug – Fri 8th Aug
Price: 1250 € pp.

Yellow-Spotted Emerald (Somatochlora flavomaculata) / Philip Smith


Ruby Whiteface (Leucorrhinia rubicunda) / Mati Martin

_________________________________________

Estonia has been chosen to appear among the 30 of the world´s most dramatic migration locations for its amazing spring and autumn passage of birds, involving millions of wildfowl and waders flying along the coast between the Baltic Sea and breeding grounds on the Arctic tundra. In addition, there is an exceptional migration of songbirds through the country each autumn, while in winter there are large congregations of wildfowl (including Steller's Eider, now considered a Vulnerable species by BirdLife International) along its coastline. Estonia is a crucial country for birds and a visit or two should be on every birder's itinerary!

Estonian Nature Tours invites you

Migration hotspots of the world
on Saturday 9:30 am - 9:50 am
Lecture Marquee 1

Presenter: Tim Harris
The author of RSPB book „Migration Hotspots: The World´s Best Migration Sites“

The best places to see migrating birds and the reasons why those places are so good. From Point Pelee to Beidaihe, a “Cook’s tour” of some of the planet’s most awe-inspiring migration sites – and the birds that use them every year.


The RSPB book „Migration Hotspots: The World's Best Bird Migration Sites“ by Tim Harris is now available in the internet.

Estonian Nature Tours visited Russia on the beginning of July to find new destinations in birdwatching and wildlife photography tourism.

We invite you

Lake Baikal: the pearl of Siberia
on Friday 16th August 4:00 - 4:20 pm 
Lecture Marquee 1

Presenter: Tarvo Valker
The member of Estonian Ornithological Society Council, bird guide 

Lake Baikal is home to more than 2,000 species of plants and animals, two-thirds of which can be found nowhere else in the world.  It is the deepest and oldest freshwater lake in the world.  Located in south central Siberia, not far from the Mongolian border and surrounded by mountains, forests and wild rivers, Baikal is an immense and breathtaking area of natural beauty.  An incredibly magical place for watching and photographing birds and mammals!


Long-tailed Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus undulatus) / Tarvo Valker


Sunset on the Lake Baikal / Remo Savisaar


Marika, Remo, Tarvo and Valeri / Remo Savisaar


Estonia is an up-and-coming destination for wildlife photography, boasting fantastic species such as Brown Bear and Elks, White-tailed Eagles, Wild Boar and Roe Deer.

Estonian Nature Tours invites you

Wildlife photography in Estonia
on Saturday 18th August  11:00 - 13:00am
Marquee 5, Stand 32

Presenter:  Luke Massey     
Luke has been obsessed with wildlife since he can remember, this has led to a career in photographing and filming animals, recently working alongside the BBC natural history unit. He has travelled around the world but keeps coming back to Estonia, one of his favourite locations. 
Estonia is a hidden gem in Europe, complete with a large array of different habitats, as well as the highest population of wolves, bear and lynx in Europe, supported by a cast including eagles, cranes, geese and many other mammals.

No matter what time of year, there is always something to train your camera on in Estonia. Luke will talk of his experiences with bears, eagles and other species he has come across in Estonia. From sitting out in -40C conditions waiting for a white tailed eagle to appear, to watching an opening in a wood waiting for a bear to emerge from the vegetation.

Join him at this talk and maybe you'll be out taking your own photos of the wildlife that calls Estonia its home soon.  

   
 Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) / Luke Massey


White-tailed Eagle (Haliaetus albicilla) / Luke Massey


White-tailed Eagle (Haliaetus albicilla) / Luke Massey



Monday, August 5, 2013

Estonian Nature Tours brochure 2014 is now available


With pleasure, we are continiously offering individual bookings on our fully-inclusive holidays. To order Estonian Nature Tours brochure 2014 enter your details here...








See also the selection of  best birdwatching, mammal tours and other wildlife holidays in Estonia available for the year 2014  by clicking here...

Monday, July 29, 2013

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




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

Friday, June 21, 2013

SÜNNIPÄEVAÜLLATUS III- kanuumatkade hinnad maas!

Estonian Nature Tours sai 26-ndal mail 10-aastaseks!



Seoses sellega on kanuumatkade hinnad Matsalus madalamad kui kunagi varem, suve lõpuni!!!

Hind grupile 10-15 inimest 10 EUR / in
Hind grupile 15-20 inimest 9 EUR / in
Hind grupile 20-30 inimest 8 EUR / in

Hind sisaldab: kanuude renti koos varustusega ja kohalikku logistikat
Väiksema grupi puhul küsi eraldi hinnapakkumist.

Pakkumine ei kohaldu kanuumatkadele giidiga.

Helista juba täna ja küsi lisainformatsiooni tel. 5695 0350 või e-maili teel: raili@naturetours.ee

Estonian Nature Tours soovib teile ilusat jaanipäeva!

Estonian Nature Tours wish you a Happy Midsummer Day!

Sünnipäevaüllatuse võitjad teada / Birthday surprise winners announced

Meil on hea meel teatada sünnipäevaüllatuse võitjate nimed/ We are delighted to announce the birthday surprise winners:

Marika Blossfeldt-

Kaia Vooremaa-


Rita Mets-


Teele Meriste-



Palju õnne võitjatele!
Võtke meiega palun ühendust: raili@naturetours.ee
Estonian Nature Tours tänab Sind meiega veedetud aja eest!
Tutvu Second Design ehetega siin...

Congratulations to everyone!
Estonian Nature Tours would like to thank you for your time with us!

To see Upcycling design by Tuuli Mann click here...

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