http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/index.aspHot News!en2011-09-03T10:00:09+01:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:30:03 +0000Home2011-09-03T10:00:09+01:00http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/aa782966866c3bcc981dc77aac6c361b-9.htm#unique-entry-id-9http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/aa782966866c3bcc981dc77aac6c361b-9.htm#unique-entry-id-9Brenda Sullivan (The Lesser Spotting Birder)

Weather: wind and rain first thing, but bright and warm thereafter

The day started on a positive note as Gibbo (Jon Gibbs) was greeted to a chorus of “Happy Birthday” from his fellow travellers on his arrival at breakfast. We had spent our first night at Green Villa in Pärnu and, as we boarded the buses, the rain was just starting.

After a smooth journey, we arrived in sunshine at Kabli around 08.15 and walked to visit the world’s largest Heligoland trap. It was unexpectedly right beside the road and HUGE! As usual, individuals and small groups had gone their different ways and the group I was with approached the ringing hut. Sadly, we didn’t receive the friendliest of welcomes, possibly because we were not expected, but Goldcrests were released while we were there and several were also seen in a small mist net.

Wood ants nests dotted the woods as we walked through to rendezvous back at the buses. It had been a fairly quiet morning considering the amazing sights we had seen previously whilst sea-watching, but a fair amount of birds had been seen including Blackbird, Brambling, Hobby and Skylark (c.200 were noted flying south).

Our next port of call was Nigula Bog, which is an expansive area of boggy heathland that could be traversed by negotiating a very dodgy boardwalk. En route, we noted a large flock of Mistle Thrushes (42 in total) and some saw a Black Woodpecker, one of three that was spotted from the buses during the day. Nigula Bog is truly an amazing place and we set off on the five-mile long circular walk, dividing into two groups going in opposite directions. We gingerly trekked the boards – some in better condition than others – and there were a few mishaps ending in wet feet for some! The woodland midway along the boardwalk didn’t yield much although most of the party did manage to get on to a Red Squirrel which was seen scurrying up a pine tree. The walk took us out to some very remote but stunning landscapes with the bright sunshine producing some fantastic colours, but, sadly, very few birds. Wheatear, Mistle Thrush, Great Tit, Wren and Sparrowhawk had been seen, but our golden moment of the day occurred when most of us were back at the buses preparing to leave. Everyone not only heard the distinctive loud cry, but also had magnificent views of an approaching Ericana megaphonus! However, even this momentous event was eclipsed when birthday boy spotted a Three-toed Woodpecker, which was life tick for him and several other well-travelled members. Unfortunately, I dipped on this one, but was more than happy with my mega tick of Ericana megaphonus even if it was just a dowdy old male!


And finally, off to GOSNEY’S MAGIC CORNER. As we pulled up a Raccoon Dog ran across the path and a Hazelhen was heard calling. Our walk produced Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Fire-bellied Toad, an amazing variety of beautiful and variable coloured fungi and Dick managed to stalk and get excellent photos of a pair of Nutcrackers (another dip for me!).

Did I say finally? I should have known better as on our drive back a short stop provided us with good views of five Black Grouse.

The log proved that what we had thought to have been a quiet day was in fact again very productive. Today, I dipped, gripped, had a mega and string and loved every minute of it. Thank you to all you professionals.
]]>Home2011-09-04T09:59:11+01:00http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/63a135a93071088662fadfc27461ed7d-8.htm#unique-entry-id-8http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/63a135a93071088662fadfc27461ed7d-8.htm#unique-entry-id-8Andrew Green

Weather: warm and bright, but foggy on the coast

Our third and final day on Saaremaa dawned full of expectation as we tucked into an early breakfast before checking out of our hotel in Kuressaare. Ahead lay a second assault on the Sõrve Peninsula at the southernmost tip of the island. Following the excitement of the heavy passage on the previous day, hopes were high that an earlier start would yield even greater results.

After reaching our destination by the striking black lighthouse, members of the party set off in all directions seeking their favoured locations from the day before. A Yellow Wagtail was soon logged on the roof of the outbuildings amongst the numerous White Wagtails, a Redstart was found by the derelict greenhouse and a careful scan through the flock of grounded Chaffinches in the same area yielded a single Tree Sparrow. On the other side of the bay, Eric noted a distant Honey Buzzard, while a single Great White Egret, two Cranes, two Whooper Swans and two Marsh Harriers remained around to be enjoyed by all.

The sound of ‘phishing’ emanating from the small copse north of the lighthouse signalled the whereabouts of Josh and Carl and resulted in the re-finding of yesterday’s Red-breasted Flycatcher, while a single Wheatear was still frequenting the area immediately south of the lighthouse.

Elsewhere, Steve P led a group to the southernmost point where a Great Grey Shrike and two Lapland Buntings were the highlights amongst the mass of birds passing overhead, with Chaffinch, as yesterday, by far the most numerous. We estimated a movement of 10,000 Chaffinches during our time on the Peninsula today, with numbers of White Wagtail (1,000), Greenfinch (500), Siskin (300), Skylark (200) and Brambling (100) all reaching three figures, accompanied by smaller numbers of Great Tit (70), Yellow Wagtail (30), Common Redpoll (20) and Tree Pipit (six). In addition, the flock of Cormorants, estimated at some 1500, formed an impressive site along the narrow spit at the end.

With the Peninsula well and truly scoured, attentions turned northwards, as the party gradually drifted towards our rendezvous in front of the ringing station. A second Red-breasted Flycatcher was found in the grounds of the former border guard barracks (now a military museum). Despite seemingly excellent habitat, warbler numbers were low with only six Blackcaps and two Lesser Whitethroats noted. Overhead passage continued and included 20 Buzzards, four Hen Harriers, two Hobbies, three Merlins, five Nutcrackers, 12 Jays, two Ravens and 42 Mistle Thrushes, while an impressive total of 70 Sparrowhawks was logged during the course of the morning.

The journey back north to the ferry port at Kuivastu was broken by a short shopping stop at Liiva for souvenirs and provisions. The highlight of some impromptu birding while waiting for the ferry to depart was a flock of five White-fronted Geese which flew past.

Following a very smooth return ferry crossing, we continued on our journey to Pärnu and our base for the next two nights. A minor diplomatic incident almost resulted when our hotel owner’s recommendation of a nearby Russian restaurant as a potential venue for our evening meal was met with a statement of dislike for anything Russian from a member of the party who shall remain nameless (yours truly!). He was kindly informed that our hotel owner, Dimitri, was indeed Russian himself! Fortunately Dimitri appeared not to take offence and recommended an excellent pizza restaurant within short walking distance. The gargantuan portions served here even satisfied the needs of the most ravenous member of the party (Eric!).
]]>Home2011-09-05T09:58:05+01:00http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/18dc46f5ff60e417601ade0ef69aaf0f-7.htm#unique-entry-id-7http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/18dc46f5ff60e417601ade0ef69aaf0f-7.htm#unique-entry-id-7Andrew and Lynda Goodall

Weather: warm sunshine with light winds

After yesterday’s confusion over bookings, I think it would be fair to say we all had a comfortable night’s sleep in the Linnahotell, Kuressaare, on the island of Saaremaa. Brenda, possibly having been the most comfortable, as she was late rising. The plan was for an early breakfast and away so only a few hardy souls ventured out pre breakfast but returned with reports of Hawfinch in the local park. As we waited for everyone to emerge after breakfast a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker was heard calling from trees near the local Orthodox church of St. Nicholas.

With everyone assembled we drove to the edge of town to refuel. It was still fairly early in the morning and the three locals sat on the forecourt were clearly not going to offer much help towards filling up. We understood it was automatic but it still took our 3 drivers a while to establish that to excite the pumps into dispensing fuel, credit cards had to be inserted! Whilst the drivers were left puzzling over the fuel pumps, the rest of the party scanned across a nearby area of scrub to search for migrants. Two Black Redstarts were the first for the trip and there were good numbers of other common migrants, which boded well for the day ahead.

At 10.35 we duly arrived at our destination; Saare Spit. This is the site of a bird ringing station and is well known in Estonia as one of the best sites for observing bird migration. Built in 1960 the current lighthouse is one of Estonia’s best known and marks the north side of the entrance to the Gulf of Riga.

As we climbed out of our vehicles we were greeted by a fine male Hen Harrier, quartering over the marsh. The group split with some members going straight to the point to connect with a gathering of 200 Cormorant and many passerines flying overhead. On the shore line of the point were a few Dunlin, Grey Plover and White Wagtail. Attention was soon drawn to the garden of the old lighthouse keeper’s accommodation, where a Red-breasted Flycatcher had been located.

Visible migration was taking place all around with an estimated 25,000 Chaffinch passing over with many Brambling making up the numbers, their nasal call being constantly heard. With so many small passerines on the move, raptors were cashing in on the chance of a meal. In addition to our early Hen Harrier we saw good numbers of Merlin, Peregrine, close to 100 Common Buzzard and well in excess of 100 Sparrowhawk.

With so much activity it was difficult not to ignore waterfowl. Whooper Swans were heard calling with just 2 in view. Seven bean geese flew over whilst on the sea were good numbers of Goldeneye, and some Red-breasted Merganser. A Caspian Tern was spotted along with Little Gull and Sandwich Tern.

We completed our visit to the point by calling in at the ringing station. The immediate area also hosted a military museum, reminding us of the country’s turbulent past, and a small natural history museum. Chaffinch and Brambling continued to pour over as did hundreds of Woodpigeon. Common Redstart was found near the museum and Garden Warbler was located close to the net rides.

We left the point and moved on to part of the Ohessaare shoreline. Here we had a Merlin perched on a rock, 2 adult White-tailed Sea Eagle, bean and barnacle geese a Peregrine, small numbers of Skylark and some very good views of Camberwell Beauty butterflies. This part of the Estonian coastline is strewn with boulders, evidence of glacial movement from the mountains of present day Finland and Norway.

Our final stop for the day provided us with Woodlark, Goosander, White-backed Woodpecker, Long-tailed Duck and Red-necked Grebe. This had been a truly memorable day. With 105 species of birds under our belts, the group had also recorded: Adder, Grass Snake, Moustached Darter, Migrant Hawker, Camberwell Beauty, Large Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral, Large White and Brimstone butterflies, Dark Bush Cricket, a 15 Spined Stickleback (not sure whether Eric had actually counted the spines) and a Moon Jellyfish.

Our sightings of mammals on the trip had not been great to date, so the big question was did the pre breakfast sighting of a “wild cat” really have a bell and collar around its neck?
]]>Home2011-09-06T09:53:47+01:00http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/6273b9e0672e0ae82efae2d394c982ee-6.htm#unique-entry-id-6http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/6273b9e0672e0ae82efae2d394c982ee-6.htm#unique-entry-id-6Ally Risborough

Weather: bright and warm but still very windy.

A pre-breakfast birding at the bay behind our hotel was rewarded with the spectacle of 5,000 Common Cranes leaving their roost from the wet meadows beyond the tree line. After breakfast, while loading the vans, several of us had the usual Tree Sparrows outside the hotel entrance before leaving on our journey to the Island of Sareemaa.

Our first stop was at Rannajõe where on a previous visit Eric had claimed seeing a pair Black Grouse in very murky conditions. Eyebrows were raised at the time but he was adamant and alas today, in good light, we all enjoyed watching five of these birds in superb sunlight. It was humble pie for all those doubters and pats on the back for Eric. We also watched six White-tailed Eagles, a male Hen Harrier and thousands of Cranes and Geese. Some of the party watched a flock of 15 highly mobile Long-tailed Tits of the white-headed race (caudatus). These birds were superb appearing like snowdrops as they quickly flitted through the canopy. A Cuckoo was spotted as we tried to relocate the flock and then a large black and white woodpecker flew over our heads from the forest landing in an adjacent hedge. It was a White-backed Woodpecker, giving very reasonable views to most, a lifer for Granty and a grip-back for Josh, who had missed the one on the group’s last trip to Poland.

Our next stop was Haeska where a Peregrine was causing havoc amongst the ducks whilst, on the surrounding marsh, a White-tailed Eagle sat nonchalantly amongst several thousand Barnacle Geese that continued grazing apparently unconcerned! Several Whooper Swans were seen feeding in the bay. A Finnish birder we met who was monitoring Cranes told us that 50,000 had arrived into Estonia in the last few days.

We then left just before midday for the ferry to Sareemaa. The crossing was quite uneventful with the sea watchers on deck only mustering two Red-throated Divers and two Dunlins whilst the rest of us enjoyed lunch and coffees in the ship’s restaurant, Eventually, we located our accommodation only to find a mix up with the bookings! “Twenty three people won’t fit into a two-bed apartment" said Samy, one of the apartment owners! Whilst waiting for Steve, Helen, Rob and Chris to sort things out with Samy, the rest of us enjoyed superb views of four White-tailed Eagles over the town. Eventually, with the help of Samy, we all got booked into a nearby Linnahotell and very nice it was too.

It was then a short drive to a local headland where yet another White-tailed Eagle sat amongst 1,000+ Cormorants nearby in the local park. We found 15 Tree Sparrow and several Yellow Wagtails including one well-marked Blue-headed before the evening light beat us. After a quick shower and change, we all visited various local restaurants with the gluttonous Eric ensuring that he accompanied those with less of an appetite that allowed him to consume four meals! These included two whole steaks, a half-consumed wild boar stroganoff, garnished by other diners left over vegetables! Some of the party then went on to sample the town’s pubs, but most of us re-grouped at our hotel for Eric’s log and then it was off to bed.

]]>Home2011-09-07T09:52:06+01:00http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/2937e93df7d044833c328ba0ddfa6c5e-5.htm#unique-entry-id-5http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/2937e93df7d044833c328ba0ddfa6c5e-5.htm#unique-entry-id-5Steve Howell

Weather: sunny but very windy.

After the very successful and enjoyable sea-watching experienced at the headland of Spithami two days previous, it was decided that another visit to this superb site for hopefully more of the same was essential.

With the best sea passage often in the early morning, it was agreed upon that we should arrive there as early as possible to maximise the potential of the site so we opted for an early breakfast and by 8.30 all three vans were fully loaded with scopes and bins and we were on our way. For the first time on the holiday, there was no stopping for birding en-route so a quick glimpse of a female House Sparrow perched on top of a fence as we drove out of Haapsalu had to suffice. This species seemed much less common than its Tree Sparrow congener in the places where we visited, so any sightings of it were noted.

We arrived at Spithami shortly before 9.30am and for the first time on the holiday we met some Finnish birders who were already there. Some of them were lined up alongside their minibus, using it as a wind-break while they sea-watched. Obviously, a good tactic and an idea adopted by many of our party as we lined up our three busses so that we could also shelter ourselves from the inhospitable conditions. This worked really well.

Because of the position of the two headlands at each end of the large bay, migrating seabirds seemed to be using our headland as a point of reference to head towards as they rounded the previous headland which meant a lovely head on view as the birds flew towards us becoming a side-on view as they flew past, giving a better ‘3D’ effect than the normally flatter mostly side-on effect of birds as witnessed whilst sea-watching off Suffolk.

The first and most obvious birds noted were the huge amount of Brent Geese passing and large flocks of 100+ were regularly recorded. The total number of this species must have been well into the thousands. The commonest duck species by far were Scaup and Velvet Scoter (see photo below). Hundreds were seen as flocks up to fifty strong flew past and this was an amazing spectacle to witness, enhanced by the extremely good light conditions which enabled even the smallest details of the birds’ plumages to be enjoyed at close range - they positively dazzled in the bright sunlight! The intricate head and bill markings of the male Velvets were a joy to behold and the contrast between the near jet black underparts and bright red feet was superb.


Other counts of migrating ducks also enjoyed immensely but to just a slightly lesser degree than the above included 200 Pintail, 50 Shoveler, 150 Teal, 100 Tufted Ducks, 35 Eider, three Long-tailed Ducks, 200 Red-breasted Mergansers and a lone Goosander. Aside from the ducks there were smaller counts of terns, gulls and waders and the highlights here included 20 Ringed Plovers, five Sanderlings, two Sandwich and three Arctic Terns amongst the more numerous Commons, and a first-winter Baltic Gull pointed out by Aneka Forsten.

In off raptors were not as prevalent as two days before but a distant male Hen Harrier was a nice sighting and there were also two Sparrowhawks and two Hobbies battling against the elements in their bid to reach dry land. Divers and grebe counts were significantly down on the previous visit with just 98 Red-throated and 15 Black-throated being noted and the Red-necked Grebe count was down to six although there were probably more on the sea farther out.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the sea-watch was a pair of Mute Swans lumbering their way around the point against the strong wind. It was interesting that a species largely regarded as sedentary would even consider taking on such an ordeal let alone tackle it, but for whatever reasons, there they were.

For those inclined towards spending less time sea-watching and opting for more time searching the woods, the rewards included Crested and Willow Tits, 20 Crossbills, one Brown Hare and a Black Adder which must have been a very pleasing sighting for Tony as he watched it soaking up the mid-morning sunshine on the edge of the main track. The last notable observation of the morning was a Nutcracker in the forest near the restaurant where we stopped for lunch and definitely worth a mention were the huge Chaffinch flocks, many numbering several hundred which we came across regularly on the journeys between sites.

We stopped off at a large lake in Sutlepa Forest in the afternoon and the first forms of wildlife spotted here were several Moustached Darter dragonflies benefiting from the sunlight reflecting off the reserve information board which they used to maintain their heat levels and approaching the first viewing platform we bagged several Black Darters which although quite rare in East Anglia being limited to only a few sites, seemed quite widespread and regular in Estonia. A Common Frog had to endure a couple of minutes of man-handling and leg-pulling (literally!) as Eric determined to see if it was a scarcer species by checking the undersides of its feet! And ever enthusiastic, he then went on to show me a large and impressive cricket called a Wart Biter.

A grandstand view of the lovely lake was obtained from the platform on stilts and a maximum count of 29 Goosanders was achieved along with the obligatory Goldeneyes which were the most regularly recorded duck throughout the trip and they were present on all the lakes, bays and areas of sea that we visited. The reedbed in front of the hide produced the first Reed Bunting of the holiday and at the next viewing platform, all binoculars were raised in unison when an Osprey put in an appearance. It swooped down low over the water and presumably caught a small fish, as it was seen apparently feeding on something when it landed on a telegraph pole in the distance. Scanning for the Osprey when it disappeared briefly also produced a Hobby, three Common Buzzards, two Marsh Harriers and a White-tailed Eagle.

Possibly the bird of the day for some people was the Hazel Hen, which was flushed from the damp woodland, but unfortunately it was only seen in flight a couple of times and it never gave itself up for most of the group.
Mammal of the day for about half a dozen of us was a Mink - hopefully a native European and not an American invader - which was seen trotting along the boardwalk in a confident cat-like manner and this was the only record we got of this usually elusive animal during our stay.

With dusk fast approaching, it was time to make a move to get back to the hotel in time for dinner but one last birding treat came in the form of 14 Grey Herons circling over distant trees in a pre-roost gathering and more Marsh Harriers were noted, indicating that this site was being used as a raptor roost, so it was a shame that we didn’t have enough time to spend a while longer here and see what else flew in. One last sighting which was enough to make the minibuses pull over on the way back to Haapsalu was a large flock of Taiga Bean Geese numbering around 100 and on the edge of this flock were 12 White-fronted Geese - another first for the holiday.

When we got back to the hotel, all but one of us headed straight to our rooms but that one person, Josh, who went the extra mile and spent a final few minutes scanning the local lake, was rewarded with around 3500 Cranes coming into roost which must have made quite a spectacular end to his day!

To recap, it was an astonishing and dramatic morning’s sea-watching and the sheer amount of Brent Geese and ducks passing made it feel like all the best ever sea-watching days experienced at home all rolled into one - and then by contrast we finished at a relaxing peaceful lake steadily seeing one good form of wildlife after another before ending the day with an evocative dusk setting. Birding abroad doesn’t get any better than this!!
]]>Home2011-09-08T09:49:52+01:00http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/d51778f6e4175604f3bd3370c9c774f7-4.htm#unique-entry-id-4http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/d51778f6e4175604f3bd3370c9c774f7-4.htm#unique-entry-id-4John (Granty) Grant

Weather: miserable for most of the day, heavy rain in afternoon, but bright period just before dusk

This proved to be an exciting, exhilarating and, in retrospect, a thoroughly thought-provoking day.

After overnight downpours, in overcast but mercifully dry conditions, we set out for the Puise headland area – but had a little distraction along the way!

A roadside stop at Põgari-Sassi, a potential White-backed Woodpecker site, put the sea-watchers among us a little on edge – surely we had to get to the sea asap didn’t we? Well, as it happens, no!

Vigilantes Andrew Green and Stephen Howell drew attention to an “interesting” harrier on a fence post in the coastal meadows. With a cracking pale collar, a dark “boa”, warm-brown and unstreaked underparts and a really striking face pattern this was “interesting” alright! Agreement was soon arrived at – we were looking at a fine juvenile Pallid Harrier! It was subsequently established as about the 12th record for Estonia and we later had the luxury of having the bird ratified by none other that Aneka Forsten, the fantastic female Fin, who we encountered later in the trip. She saw Jon Gibbs’ photographs and dispelled any fears of the dreaded hybrid Hen Harrier x Pallid Harrier pitfall. This was the real deal!


The conundrum of hybrid harriers got me thinking, however. It’s not for the faint-hearted, as I discovered by Googling “Hybrid Pallid Harrier.” It’s a minefield! A morass of minutiae – triggered by instances of hybridisation in Scandinavia! As usual, the Scandinavians are light-years ahead of us Brits on such matters – with discussions on the big influx into Europe of Pallids interspersed by references to hybrids in such forensic detail as, believe it or not, the emargination on the outer web of P6 (the fifth finger of the spread wing) which is shown on Hen but not Pallid!

This is cyber-birding in the most intimate detail imaginable – micro-birding. What we were treated to for most of our time in Estonia was the bigger picture, the enthralling, uplifting spectacle of mass migration – macro-birding! Somewhere in between these two extremes lies the birding space many of us inhabit and our group went on to enjoy many less demanding identification challenges during the course of the day.

We were thrilled to watch a big young female Peregrine giving the local Marsh Harriers some stick over the meadows as we waited for the Pallid Harrier to reappear, and other highlights here included a very viewable Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, some Marsh Tits of the race “palustris”, and a few more White-tailed Eagles. Incidentally, an audio highlight was provided by a juvenile Common Crane which flew overhead giving a curious thin, squeaky call quite unlike the adults’ haunting bugling.

When we eventually made it to the point at Puise a little embarrassment ensued. We confidently strode up a birdwatching tower overlooking the sea – only to be thrown out by a mystified owner who exclaimed that he had built it, it was his private property and we could only stay if we paid up! We beat a hasty retreat!

A search of the nearby area produced our first Tree Pipit and a Hare, but there seemed little else of note so we headed to the imposing Haeska Tower at Matsalu Bay, notching up a Great Grey Shrike on the way. By this time the wind was a searing south-westerly gale, making viewing virtually impossible, although some of the party managed glimpses of Wryneck and Red-backed Shrike as we headed away from the wind-lashed coast.

Those with a head for heights and a strong sense of adventure scaled a truly dizzying, towering tower at Kloostri where, in now driving rain and even stronger winds, two “ringtail” Hen Harriers were seen along with two Common Snipe and two Roe Deer.

There may have been a groundswell of opinion that the best option now was to return to the hotel but those with a never-say-die attitude prevailed and we salvaged something of a bonus out of the dying embers of the day as the weather, at last, improved. At Vonnu Pond we were entertained by excellent views of a very vocal “europaea” Nuthatch, complete with stunning white underparts, as well as another Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, two Spotted Flycatchers and our only Moorhens of the entire holiday.

Bird of the day? Pallid Harrier, of course, a creature that for many was also the bird of the trip.
]]>Home2011-09-09T09:48:31+01:00http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/242cde5bc5b7ad1279487e33a282bc29-3.htm#unique-entry-id-3http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/242cde5bc5b7ad1279487e33a282bc29-3.htm#unique-entry-id-3Josh MacCullum Stewart

Weather: overcast in morning, but mild with westerly wind.

Our first full day dawned with a nifty breeze and a few threatening clouds, however the wind was apparently favourable for a sea-watch and we were soon on our way towards Põõsaspae. We were quickly passing a number of juicy Crane flocks but did well in not stopping as we wanted to see what was passing on the sea as early as we could. However our resolve finally snapped as we entered an open area surrounded by high pine trees. The reason for the slamming brakes was initially a Great Grey Shrike perched on top of a pine tree, jauntily going about its business of snaring prey. Soon a Crossbill flew over and we were getting scope views of a young bird. Excitement mounted though when we glimpsed a short tailed Jay-like bird scooting over the treetops - Nutcracker! This bird was high on most of the party’s 'hit-list' and we got good flight views as birds flew back and forth. A Northern Bullfinch turned out to be the only one of the trip and, as people began to wander down the track, it was evident that there were lots of birds around. However, our aim for the day was sea-watching, so we had to hastily move on.

We attempted to drag ourselves away, but only got as far as the next clearing, another flyover Nutcracker halting the convoy once A few additions to the trip list were added before the shout went up of Diver! I managed to ‘scope the bird and was able to note a huge elongated bird with a pale almost ghostlike plumage, whacking great big feet and an upturned bill 'disappearing' into the background, the monster seemed almost as big as a large Goose - wow White-billed Diver, not just a great bird but made even more memorably for the reason that it is the first Diver I've ever seen flying over pine trees!

After driving a little further we soon realised the diver sighting wasn't as incongruous as it first seemed as the forest opened out onto grassland leading to the foreshore - ah ha Europe's best kept sea-watching secret! On entering the seawatching hide, it was obvious this was going to be good, a hide with a stove for a start but not so sure about the leather sofas! Our attention was soon drawn to a huge passage of wildfowl ensuing outside. Really close flocks of Velvet Scoter, Scaup and Wigeon all gleaming in the morning light. Good numbers of Divers too, both Red-throated and Black-throated in sparkling summer plumage flying past. There were good numbers of Red-necked Grebes just offshore, while on the rocks a juvenile Baltic Gull and a few tardy Sandwich and Common Terns. Pretty soon the first raptors started being clocked, Sparrowhawks shooting in from over the sea, Hen Harrier and White-tailed Eagle. Another small raptor was picked up incoming and what followed proved for many to be the highlight of the trip. A Merlin was honing in on a knackered passerine. Suddenly, we were witnessing a classic predator versus prey tussle full of intricate weaves and shimmies as the determination of the raptor increased. Eventually, as the passerine was within shouting distance of the shore and safety, it seemed to give up the ghost, flaking out against a rock and was plucked from the water by the triumphant Falcon - what a spectacle?

By this point, a few of the hardened bushwhackers were finding the pull of turning up migrant land birds too much and went stomping round the woods with great results - a mixed flock of tits including Crested and the 'borealis' race of Willow Tit, before Wryneck, two Red-backed Shrikes and a flushed Corncrake were bagged. Back at the sea-watch two raptors flying in from distance were eventually 'pieced together' as Honey Buzzards and were subsequently observed by the crowd further inland.

Feeling exhilarated but windblown we decided that it was time to cash in on some of the Crane action. Initially, we had trouble with flocks spooking too easily as soon as we left the busses, but eventually we settled on a huge flock of many thousand strong in a large earthy field, the majority too distant to feel threatened and fly off. The scene that unfolded represented everything that migration in this country stood for. Cranes in their thousands congregating at this stop-off point. Two White-tailed Eagles in close attendance constantly kept the Cranes on their toes, a large number of Barnacle Geese fuelling up in preparation for a long flight, massive flocks of Chaffinches buzzing about. It was this point that the group began to realise why the emphasis of this holiday was on migration, birds were simply pouring through the country in huge numbers.

We had time for one last site, which turned out to be the cause of much mirth towards a certain Eric Patrick, but it was he that had the last laugh? On mounting the tower hide we were greeted by a huge expanse of seemingly empty grassland, but the visibility was poor in the murky conditions. Fairly soon Eric spotted what were from henceforth referred to as 'black blobs'. Eric confidently called them as Black Grouse despite the fact they were about three miles away in the murk, but many of the group were discouraged by the simple fact they just looked like 'black blobs' and could quite easily have been chickens! A few of us were in support, but Eric suffered general ridicule for the next three days until we returned to the site in better light to discover that they were in fact Black Grouse - for once Eric well done!
]]>Home2011-09-10T09:45:01+01:00http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/638d18c75042b3280ca4bcbcaa55d5a4-2.htm#unique-entry-id-2http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/638d18c75042b3280ca4bcbcaa55d5a4-2.htm#unique-entry-id-2Rob and Helen Gooderham

Weather: warm and sunny on arrival in Estonia with cloudy interludes and strong northerly winds.

Alarm clocks rattle sleeping heads.

The coach pulled out of Lowestoft at 3.00 am. Groups gathered along the dark roads, to climb into the small vehicle. Kathy again provided sustenance for the journey with croissants and drinks. Banter rose and fell as slowly daylight came as the coach neared Stanstead.

An empty airport, check in, security and finally take off. A smooth flight and landing with Estonians well into their day, being two hours ahead.

The pick-up of the three 8-seater Citroën Jumpys was achieved (with rip-off additional insurance cover) and the convoy rolled out of Tallinn. Our destination was the Haapsalu Spa Hotel, which was an hour and a half drive to the southwest. We found the hotel, which was an ex-Soviet spa hotel complete with mud treatments, swimming pool and saunas but in a wonderful setting surrounded by water with many wildfowl and distant White-tailed Eagles. Elderly residents in need of refurbishment were wrapped in dressing gowns and towels strolling the corridors seeking their chosen pampering. No time for that sort of thing! We were here to experience the autumn migration and after a chaotic booking-in was completed, we were off!

Binoculars around necks ‘craning’ for the first birds, appropriately dozens of Common Cranes (see photo below), in roadside fields! We arrive after an hour’s drive at Haeska mõis, a beautiful reed fringed bay on the Baltic Sea with a promontory and tower hide. It was in a wonderful setting with a small group of cabins, granary and barns. We also noted our first earth closet! On our arrival, we immediately noted a number of passage migrants including several Wheatears, Fieldfares, a Whinchat and a rather tardy Cuckoo. It wasn’t long before White-tailed Eagles were seen spooking the thousands of Barnacle Geese. A scan of the shoreline revealed Great White Egrets, Whooper Swans, Greenshank, Ruff, Dunlin, Grey Plover and Little Stint and a red-head Smew was feeding in the channel.


The tidal range in the Baltic is minimal and we were to find that the sea blends into the land, often with reedbeds and boggy areas. There are pristine grass lands, raised bogs and forests. Remote log cabins with vegetable gardens, orchards and barns dot the landscape. It had a very Scandinavian feel. The land is flat often with large granite boulders left by the receding Ice age.

Estonia has its ethnic origins in Finland and despite being invaded and occupied on so many occasions retains strong links with Finland.

We return to the hotel as darkness fell in anticipation of a much needed meal. We did not expect the live entertainment and dancing that took place every night. After much scrutiny of a rather alien menu, orders are placed and after about two hours some of us are served with soup the consistency of custard and meat that has no obvious connection to an identifiable animal.

A late log and at last a chance to sleep, but up early tomorrow!
]]>Home2011-09-02T09:34:40+01:00http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/9f901fc4c166467cd0b64d42141fada7-1.htm#unique-entry-id-1http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/9f901fc4c166467cd0b64d42141fada7-1.htm#unique-entry-id-1Steve Piotrowski

Weather: bright, sunny and warm, but breezy on the coast and torrential rain on drive back to Tallinn.

Our final birding day started with an early breakfast and a quick checkout at our Green Villa Hotel and then swiftly on to Kabli Ringing Station. Visible migration was much more obvious today with thousands of Chaffinches passing south as well as good numbers of Bramblings. The ringers were also catching well with Goldcrests being prominent. Birding was quite difficult amongst the dune pine forest, but we did manage superb views of Crested Tit and some enjoyed watching a group of Tree Sparrows in a roadside garden.

Our next destination was the Lapanina Hotel where we had originally booked, but then having our booking cancelled when the owners decided to close for the winter a week early! This hotel would have been ideal for us, being sited immediately on the coastline, with superb sea-watching opportunities and adjacent to the large forests. This late change of venue put paid to any realistic chance of a night drive for owls. Our sea-watching efforts were rewarded by three Baltic Gulls, eight Bewick’s Swans and a good selection of wildfowl species. A quick stop for “elevenses” at the nearby bakers (Pagar – Pood) culminated with a photo call, although translation complications resulted in the lady baker insisting on being in shot rather than operating the camera! Whilst we consumed our tasty buns we admired a flock of around ten House Sparrows, whilst Willow Tit and Reed Buntings were noted nearby. By now, Chris had distributed his picture quiz sheets and the competition between the buses was hotting up.

Our next port of call was Luitemaa Nature Reserve, which is an area of flat coastal meadows with post-glacial coastal dunes and bogs. After a magical mystery tour of Häädemeeste, we eventually found the reserve car park and made our way to a tower hide, noting Kingfisher and around 40 Snipe en route. From the tower, we watched around 30 Great White Egrets, a Spotted Redshank and good numbers of sea-duck offshore. Now the trip couldn’t conclude without a classic piece of misidentification from our trusty Scribe, Ericana megaphonus, when he declared that he was very surprised to find no walnuts on the walnut tree beside the car park. It came as no surprise to the rest of us when we pointed out that Eric’s walnut tree was actually an ash!

The afternoon was spent in Soometsa Forest where we split into groups to ensure that we covered a wide area with the limited time available. Forest birding is difficult in autumn as nothing is singing and bird sightings are few and far between. There was one scare, when Gibbo noted a large silvery owl swooping low amongst the pine trees (Ural Owl came to mind?), but after an exhaustive search nothing was found. One further sighting of a Nutcracker, a Hen Harrier and two Black Woodpeckers were the highlights of what was otherwise a fairly unproductive session.

The drive back to Tallinn in torrential rain was lightened by everyone focusing on the quiz with rivalry between the busses becoming evermore intent. The tactics used by some were extraordinary to say the least with every method of cheating and extortion being employed even to the extent of the adjudicators (Granty and Chris), who of course knew all the answers, being nobbled, bribed or threatened. The drive through Tallinn was hairy to say the least with the following busses struggling to keep up in heavy traffic. Chris had a near escape with an oncoming tram, but we soon found our way to our hotel (Hotel Metropol Alexala), checked in and returned to the bar for the quiz results. There was some questionable clandestine marking and, needless to say, Granty’s bus won by a whisker with the winning team being treated to cocktails by our quizmaster extraordinaire. Sour grapes by the losing teams – no way!
]]>Home2011-09-01T09:30:41+01:00http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/d231536106d105498b92da3e0745bfbe-0.htm#unique-entry-id-0http://www.waveneybirdclub.com/pages/reports/page52/files/d231536106d105498b92da3e0745bfbe-0.htm#unique-entry-id-0Carol Elliott and John Garbutt

The day started in the Hotel Metropol Alexala in the centre of Tallinn, Estonia’s Capital City. As the hotel is situated just a short walk from Tallinn’s picturesque Old Town, some of the party took another chance to walk along the cobbled streets with their handsome old buildings and the restaurants where we had dined the previous night. Other party members took the first opportunity of a “lie in” after the early alarm calls of previous days.

The city birds were limited to Starlings, Feral Pigeons, Goldcrests, the eastern European race of Jackdaws, Tree Sparrows and Herring Gulls of the nominate argentatus race.

After breakfast, we started the return journey. Steve set off in the lead minibus and, as usual, we sped towards our destination – rumour has it that “Piotrowski” may be the Polish for “Petrol Head”. We filled up the three minibuses and returned them to the hirers who would need to give them a good clean before their next contract. Tallinn Airport was well organised and our passage through it was less uncivilized than at Stansted when we started the trip.

The sky was clear for the return flight enabling views of the Estonian coast with Finland to the north then passing over southern Scandinavia before following the German and Dutch coasts. After crossing the North Sea, the coast of England was visible around Felixstowe. We then flew over Ipswich and on to Stansted where our coach awaited.

Back in the UK, our first bird was a Rook that also occur in Estonia but, whereas we saw many Steppe Buzzards during our trip, we were pleased to see a Common Buzzard that are now more common in East Anglia due presumably to a reduction in persecution by those who like to call themselves “sportsmen” and “gamekeepers”.

From Stansted, we travelled north along the M11 then A11, A14 and A143. The first “drop off” stop was at Harleston, then Bungay, Beccles and Lowestoft. An excellent trip had come to an end and all the party would like to thank our leaders Steve Piotrowski and John Grant plus Kathy Piotrowski, Roger Buxton, Chris McIntyre, Helen Gooderham and others for either making the arrangements or helping with the day-to-day matters while we were away.

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