Estonia - Day 3: 7th June 2024 for Oriole Birding

A slightly more sleep orientated night but I was still awake just after four and up and about before five.  The Thrush Nightingales were slightly subdued but a White-backed Woodpecker called and drummed outside my room and we all had it flying around not long before we headed out along with Bullfinches, Siskins, Hawfinches and that sweetly tremulous Tree Pipit.

The journey started with our male Montagu’s Harrier and along the way we saw two Brown Hares and three Roe Deer and then a huge female Moose lolloping across a meadow!  There was even time to pull over and take some pics. 

Moose

The famous promontory of Spithami was our early destination and we had a stunning view looking out north into the Baltic.  Breakfast was taken in the field, watching a few Common and Velvet Scoter and Eider passing along with a Razorbill, chocolate and cream male Long-tailed Duck, four drake Scaup and 13 Black-throated Divers in various plumages. Goldeneye, Goosanders and Mergansers were also noted and we could all imagine the site in full swing in spring and autumn with hundreds of thousands of birds on the move.

Serious weather incoming

Black-throated Diver

Common Scoter

Immature Common Gulls loafed around in flocks and amongst the Herrings we found two Great Black-backed and a 4cy Caspian while a few Terns moved over.  We could see some serious weather heading our way and so left as the rain started.

I think they are Pasque flower seedheads

Sea Sandwort

Sea Kale

Stonecrop

Sand Lucerne - Medicago x varia seems the best fit

With the rain easing up we all had a ten minute power nap in the van at Lake Sutlepa with Crested Tits poking around outside before wending our way along the Mosquito trails to the viewing tower.  A Golden Oriole sung from the Poplars on the way down and skeins of Cormorants moved to and from the coast and we could hear the cacophony of youngsters in the invisible nests.

The view over the lake was grand and we very quickly picked up 13 Red-necked Grebes in gleaming  burgundy, black and white plumage as well as eight graceful Black Terns and a at least 16 2cy Little Gulls.  The Terns looked to be nesting on the lily pads in one corner.   Great White Egrets and Grey Herons were always on view and two Bitterns were heard booming below us in the extensive reedbeds where Great Reed, Sedge, Reed and Savi’s Warblers all churned out tunes and Reed Buntings and Bearded Tits moved across the tops. White Tailed Eagles cruised the skies and Marsh Harriers were busily hunting.  

 Red-necked Grebe

 Eye level with a Willow Warbler

At that height the Mosquitoes were not a problem especially as the sun properly came out and with out hundreds of Odonta appeared as if by magic.  Most were Four Spotted Chasers but we also saw Downy Emeralds, Black-tailed Skimmers and Hairy Dragonfly along with both Yellow-spotted and Dark White-face Darters.  As for the Damselflies they were a bit of a headache but it seemed to be a spread of UK species with Azure, Common Blue, Variable, Blue-tailed and Red-eyed present and often together sunbathing on the lower leaves. 

Yellow-spotted Darter

Yellow-spotted Darter

Yellow-spotted Darter

Yellow-spotted Darter

Hairy Dragonfly

Four Spotted Chasers 

Downy Emerald

Variable Damselfly

Variable Damselfly

Red Eyed Damselfly

Two Common Blue & Variable Damselfly

Variable Damselfly - they are a headache

Lackey Moth cat

Scorpion Fly

Volucella pellucens

I think that this is Anasimyia lineata

Anasimyia lineata

And that this is a Parhelophilus sp

Water Avens

Round Leaved Wintergreen

Lesser Butterfly Orchid

Bloody Cranesbill

Lily of the Valley

It was time to go and as we exited the wood, Tarvo shouted ‘Greater Spotted Eagle’ and there above us was a tatty immature bird (2cyr?).  This is a rare species in Estonia and the subject is clouded by hybrids with Lesser Spotted Eagle.  This however, seems to be the real deal and the images have been sent up the ornithological food chain.

Greater Spotted Eagle

Greater Spotted Eagle

A park on the outskirts of Haapsalu gave us Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Icterine Warbler and Pied Flycatcher but I still can’t get used to Northern Wheatears being and full on urban breeder.  We had lunch in town followed by coffee and baked delights (Rhubarb cake…) and then drove past the Slavonian Grebes (avoiding random Orienteerers running hither and dither all over town in their lycra) and stopped at the old Russian radar base at Nomme (I think) where Barred Warbler did not materialise but a rather odd sounding and very brown Lesser Whitethroat was watched for some time.  Hopefully we have enough recordings, video and images including the spread tail to get it identified as an Eastern race bird.  Rosefinches, Thrush Nightingales and ‘normal’ ‘throats joined in the backdrop and a male Red-backed Shrike posed nicely.

Lesser Whitethroat - showing white outer tail feather

and extending onto base of second feather

                                   Potential singing Eastern Lesser Whitethroat

Common Blue

I suspect Helophilus trivittatus

Helophilus trivittatus

Red-backed Shrike

Turkish Rocket - Bunias orientalis

Turkish Rocket - Bunias orientalis  - not very tasty!

Back to  Altmõisa for a couple of hours down time – we were all a bit tired – to be greeted by two male Monty’s tussling with each other over the female who was trying to keep out of the action.

Montagu's Harriers

Black-tailed Skimmer

Large Skipper

Long Horned Bee - Eucera longicornis 

Pyrochroa serraticornis

Mason Wasp I think

Common Spotted Orchid

Ragged Robin

Military Orchid

possibly a Melitta sp?

The evening was spent walking the lanes through the forests around Haeska and Võnnu where the woodland and parks were quiet although we did find a band of snowball Northern Long-tailed Tits, Hawfinches, Pied Flycatchers and… drum roll please… a Moorhen.  Tarvo had relatedly told us just how difficult and shy the species is in Estonia and so finding one was very pleasing and was actually watched properly rather than passed over for they are actually a very fine rail.

Moorhen

Moorhen - get in there!

Lesser Marbled Fritillary

False Heath Fritillary

Weaver Longhorn beetle - Lamia textor

Common Cranes

Pied Flycatcher

Aquilegia

I reckon our old friend Gracilaria syringella on Lilac

Wood cow-wheat - Melampyrum nemorosum - oh my - what a plant!

Another raptor got away from us but was tantalisingly suggestive and Comma and a mighty female Poplar Admiral joined the Butterfly list before we headed back into Haapsalu for dinner at a local restaurant while Swifts crazily zoomed in the now clear blue sky above the 11^th century castle walls.

Poplar Admiral

Haapsula

Back at the lodge there was time for a quick log before notional bedtime. I was good and did not go back out but still 14 Cranes and heard Marsh Warbler, Whinchat, Cuckoo and White-backed Woodpecker while sitting in my room writing my notes.