Estonia

Day 1 - FLY TO TALLINN, DRIVE TO LAHEMAA NATIONAL PARK IN NORTH ESTONIA

Our trip to Estonia starts with a flight to Tallinn where we will meet WildWings guide Tarvo Valker for the c.90-minute drive to our guesthouse in the Lahemaa National Park. Overnight in guesthouse in the Lahemaa National Park

Day 2 - EXPLORING LAHEMAA NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, we will begin our exploration of the forests of the Lahemaa National Park. Those predominantly coniferous woodlands are home to a number of special birds including approximately 250 pairs of Eurasian Three-toed Woodpeckers. We have a great chance of also finding both Black and White-backed Woodpeckers here and another bird we will look for is the tricky and ever elusive Hazel Hen.

In the late afternoon and as the sun starts to lower in the sky, our quest for Eurasian Lynx will begin with the assistance of local trackers who are very familiar with this tricky feline. After returning to our guesthouse for dinner, we will then head out again with further opportunities to look for Lynx, as well as other mammals such as Raccoon Dog and Moose. There are also chances for both Ural and Pygmy Owls. Three further nights in guesthouse in the Lahemaa National Park

Day 3 - CONTINUE EXPLORATION OF LAHEMAA NATIONAL PARK

Our routine will be similar to Day 2 with the morning focussing on forest birds. If our guides are aware where any owls are roosting we may look for these, with other possibilities we may not have seen so far including (Western) Capercaillie and Eurasian Nutcracker.

We are likely to have a short 'siesta' after lunch and will then resume our afternoon, evening and night time searches for Lynx once again benefitting from the experience of local trackers.

Day 4 - FURTHER EXPLORATION OF LAHEMAA NATIONAL PARK

We are likely to start our last morning in Lahemaa National Park by exploring some coastal areas where we can expect to find some very different species. Assuming the weather is kind, we stand a chance of finding Otters with the birds likely to include the impressive White-tailed Eagle.

Once again, our afternoon, evening and night will concentrate on finding Eurasian Lynx and if we have already had some good encounters, we may try some different areas within the park for mammals and owls.

Day 5 - DEPART LAHEMAA NATIONAL PARK FOR SAAREMAA ISLAND

After breakfast, we will reluctantly leave Lahemaa National Park for the drive to Saaremaa Island which should take about two hours. The ferry ride to the island takes about half an hour and this should give us our first opportunities to enjoy the impressive numbers and diversity of sea duck that winter off the coast of Estonia. Whilst we are less likely to find our principal quarry here (the black, white and orange male Steller's Eider), there should be thousands of Long-tailed Ducks, plus good numbers of Common and Velvet Scoters and Greater Scaup.

One of the options for the afternoon is a visit to the Viidumäe Nature Reserve, which is not far from our guesthouse, where we have a further chance of seeing Eurasian Pygmy Owl. Overnight in guesthouse in the Vilsandi National Park

Day 6

We plan to spend the full day birding on Saaremaa Island and are likely to visit two different sites for wintering Steller´s Eiders. Good numbers of these impressive ducks spend the winter in this part of the Baltic Sea and at this time of the year, the flocks tend to be closer to the shore and can sometimes be found less than 100 metres away.

We should also see hundreds of Long-tailed Ducks, as well as smaller numbers of Red-breasted Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Velvet and Common Scoters and Greater Scaup.

In the afternoon, we will head inland where we plan to explore some meadows where there are good chances to find Rough-legged Buzzard, Common Crane and Great Grey Shrike.

Day 7

Depending on our success with Steller’s Eider on day 6 we have the option of making a second visit to the Steller´s Eider wintering sites or alternatively check some coastal areas good for early spring migrants. We will head back to the mainland shortly after the lunch to explore the Tuhu Bog Nature Reserve. This gives us another opportunity to look for any species that may have eluded us earlier in the trip including Black and Grey-headed Woodpeckers, Hazel Hen, Black Grouse and Nutcracker. Overnight in guesthouse near Tuhu Bog Nature Reserve

Day 8

We may have time for some final birding before heading back to Tallinn for our flight back to the UK.

WHAT TO EXPECT

This tour has the dual objective of looking for one of Europe's most elusive mammals, the Eurasian Lynx, plus a great range of speciality birds including Steller's Eider, Hazel Hen and a variety of woodpecker and owl species not found in the UK.

Our excursions to look for lynx will typically start in the late afternoon and will go on into the night so you should be prepared for late (to extremely late) finishes on some nights, although all nocturnal excursions are entirely optional.

The weather is likely to be cool to very cold with likely temperatures between -15C to +5C (occasionally at this time of year +10C) but when we are at, or close, to the coast, it may well feel colder due to the wind chill. There could well be lying snow.

Our tour is, however, deliberately timed for late March/early April as this is considered an excellent time to look for Eurasian Lynx and Steller's Eider.

ACCOMMODATION

We will stay in comfortable to good quality guesthouses and hotels throughout our stay, all of which have private facilities.

MEALS
All main meals are included in the tour price, commencing with breakfast on Day 2 and concluding with breakfast or lunch on Day 8 depending on flight times.

Breakfasts and dinners will generally be taken at the hotel. Lunches may sometimes be picnics although we may take the occasional meal at a local restaurant or cafe or return to our accommodation.

WALKING
Easy. Short walks and rarely far from our vehicle.

Comfortable walking shoes or boots with good grip which are designed for the cold and snow are recommended.

FLIGHTS

Despite the end of pandemic restrictions, we have taken the decision to continue to price our holidays as excluding international flights.

To keep the process as simple as possible, we are working very closely with a dedicated agent at Travel Counsellors, Sacha Barbato, who is essentially now our “in house” flight consultant.

Sacha will be able to advise you which flights we are recommending for each holiday, and he will be able to book these for you.

This will also sometimes give you the option to travel from a regional airport if you prefer.

GROUND TRANSPORT
By minibus or 4x4 depending on the number of clients.

• ESTONIA Trip Report and Systematic List 2023