18th March 2026 - Estonia for Oriole Birding

Our final day in Estonia saw us heading after breakfast for the centre of the country in the hope that the long staying but somewhat erratic Hawk Owl was consider showing itself.  We eventually left the fog behind and only stopped for our first two newly arrived White Storks one of which was already sat up on one of the numerous nests.  We had a family of Bewick’s Swans and a couple of Whoopers along with the expected Cranes pairs dotted across the arable landscape.

White Stork

White Stork

Whooper Swan

It was not to be with the Hawk Owl around Paide and despite our best efforts at scanning every tree, pole and wire we could not find it and Tarvo had said that they simply do not hide – they are either on view or not there.

Our first stop however was excellent with our closest views of Black and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers along with Fieldfares, Nuthatches, Yellowhammers and few finches which included a couple of Mealy Redpolls for me. The sound of Cranes resounded once again across the fields. 

Middle Spotted Woodpecker - Dickie Greasby

Black Woodpecker - Rob McIntyre

Tarvo took us on a loop into the surrounding forests but there was no Hawk Owl joy but here once again we did very well with Woodpeckers with Great Spotted, several Grey-headed including a pair on the same tree and calling Blacks once again.  Nutcrackers eluded us too but a pair of Pygmy Owls put on the best show yet and flew past us within a few metres while all the local Tits, Goldcrests and Nuthatches went spare.  A Great Spotted Woodpecker even came in and gave them some stick.

Grey-headed Woodpeckers

Pygmy Owl

Pygmy Owls

Pygmy Owl

The trail took us back into the farmland for a final scan round which did give us a rather fine female Rough-legged Buzzard sat up on a telegraph pole.  This is a scarce bird here and one we were hoping to bump into.

On to a fine fish ‘n’ chips lunch and then into the Kõrvemaa forest for a final attempt at elusive grouse and game. It was quiet but we did get to explore on foot after noting the ‘don’t underestimate a bear’ sign.  The understorey of mosses, lichens, Common Bilberry, Lingonberry and Marsh-tea but a Treecreeper was the only bird.  We did find the trails of Roe Deer and even where a Moose bedded down for the night while on the road there were the tracks of a large Canid.

Cladonia

Cladonia

Common Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus

Lingonberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Marsh-tea Rhododendron tomentosum

Stiff Clubmoss Lycopodium annotinum

Ruby Tiger cat I think

Another Pygmy Owl was singing and was found perched up on the very top of a young pine where amazingly it got mobbed by four male Parrot Crossbills that were basically the same size.  There was no way to get them in the same shot unfortunately!  It was good to see the Crossbills this well rather than just flying over.

Crew and the last Pygmy Owl

Crested Tit

Parrot Crossbills

Parrot Crossbills

Parrot Crossbill

Pygmy Owl 

Pygmy Owl 

The surrounding farmland gave us a our last Great Grey Shrike but little else so we started to wend our way back to Tallinn where a fine coffee and tart awaited. We then took a final short walk around the suburban woods of Pääsküla where a Goshawk shouted and attracted the attention of a passing male to round up a marvellous trip of Estonian wildlife, fine hospitality and gastronomic delights.