Elk watching
Elk watching is considerably easy in spring and autumn (Sept-October). Some areas of Estonia are probably suffering because of high hunting limits and might be bit difficult to see them. Around Tallinn and west Estonia there are still many high success rate spots left and there is good chance to see them. Of course it’s a nature and nothing is guaranteed! More information of such wildlife watching daytrip you can find HERE.
Spring birdwatching
Spring birdwatching has started well now. Last evening got the first crane, lapwings, skylarks, mixed flock of geese and of course common residents. Also went to check 3 pygmy owl spots and got positive reply from all of them. Was a good evening! (sorry for the poor image quality, subjecte were far away and it was getting dark, my intention was not to get images but just do some birding). If you need a guide for birding, click HERE for our daytrips
Spring bird migration in Estonia
Spring bird migration in Estonia is about to start. I went for a short tour this Sunday to find some skylarks lapwings or cranes but it was raining and snowing heavily most of the day and had no luck to see any of them. Still i got decent 34 species within some hours including snow bunting, huge flocks of redpolls, bullfinches, very nice observation of sparrow hawk, white-tailed eagle, dipper and after sunset got one balck woodpecker as well. Got a reply from pygmy-owl from 2 spots but did not saw them. In central Estonia, Tartu, Pärnu area and west Estonia larks, lapswings and cranes are present, first small flocks of geese are flying over as well. Last week we had also rare natural phemomena called snow 🙂 here. Of course I was travelling and almost missed it but at least had few hours of snowy landscape Today the snow…
Who is a gamekeeper?
Well, still no snow.. Atleast we have some sunny days! Some days ago I went for a little hike.. and I found something.. Here is an old gamekeeper’s log house. It’s 6km from small borough and not everyone knows where it actually is. Gamekeeper is like a main forester in certain area. Have you heard that in the last century we had gamekeepers all over Estonia? Actually, the first signs of gamekeepers are from 13th century, when landlords had their own forests. In the 19th century the forest management was more popular than before, so the gamekeepers became more important. They had their own log houses in the forests and they knew exactly, what was going on, how many different animals are there or who’s walking there. Estonian history is various and interesting. Would you like to know more? Our Lahemaa National Park tour is for people, who wish to…
Estonian smallest predator – least weasel
Have you heard about least weasel (ld. Mustela nivalis)? Least weasel is the smallest predator in Estonia and also in the world. Average body length in males is 130 to 260 mm (just to make you a little comparison – brown bear footprint is 130-250+mm). I have seen weasels only 2 times. These photos are made some years ago, it was a total surprise to see weasel running in the gravel road. I jumped out from my car and the weasel disappeared. About thirty seconds later the weasel came back with lunch in the mouth. Least weasel has brown back, tail and limbs; their chest is white. But in the winter they are all covered with white fur to hide from predators, so it’s not easy to notice them. Usually they eat different rodents, but they are also able to catch frogs, fish and small birds and it’s not a…
Lynx photography
So I made myself a Christmas present and updated my trail cameras to 4G ones to get finally live information about observations. It took some time and finally last Sunday being semi-illish I managed to set them up at two spots in the forest. The first spot has been success for elks already for couple of years. So on Sunday there were lot of fresh moose footprints and droppings, so it was just matter of some climbing and testing. But the first visitor for that camera was lynx. Although I spend bit more time in the forest than avarage hobby photographer, I have not had any luck so far to get even miserable photo. I have had couple of lynx observations every year, but those have been short and unexpected. So it’s my lucky day then, even i didn’t press the shutter button i’m still happy to see that image.…
The European roe deer – cute and curious
So it’s time to introduce to you one of our most common mammal – the European roe deer (or also known as the western roe deer or just roe). In Estonia there are more than 100 000 roe deers, so it’s pretty much, isn’t it? Usually they are seen in the fields, so drivers must be very careful. Some of them are more curious than others. It’s quite easy to see them in Estonia, but… even if we have one of the best spots, we can’t guarantee you anything. It all depends on the weather and on the predators. Roebuck is a male roe deer and in the late winter to autumn they have antlers. In July, roe deers have mating season. Roe bucks are fighting and kicking with the antlers because of female roes. Would you like to see Estonian mammals? We have wildlife watching tour, let’s go!
Winter in Estonia
This winter in Estonia has started slowly. I really hoped that Christmas would have been white, but no. On the 27th finally there was some snow outside of Tallinn. But it was a very thin cover. On the 28th Lahemaa National Park looked much better and there was even few degrees below zero. Viru bog looked awe and fresh snow and unfrozen bog pools are nice combo. Then had my usual stop at Nõmmeveski and around Palmse… On the way back to Tallinn went to check the Jägala waterfall but its clearly too early for the ice formations there. Today we are back to 7C and rain & wind. Same forecast for tomorrow. I ususally go for the last sunset of the year, if the conditions will be the same… hmm… I might skip that this year… and I wish there will be proper winter in Estonia at least for…
Mute swans
I agree, that mute swans are not on the top of anyones birding list or main subject to aim with camera. But they are still lovely majestetic birds that always get my attention. Close to my home, there is a place called swan bay. When we had cold winters then they gathered to that bay, but now lately there has been just few couples and most of the pairs are spead all over the coastline. Lets see, how winter is progressing, if the sea freezes, they might gather there again.