randombirder

A destination popular with birders but one that I hadn't yet visited until now. Views from the airplane window across Northern Europe confirmed the obvious that it was going to be a cold one. Arrival was interesting as the pilot had to initiate a TO/GA, the first I'd ever experienced but it did provide an opportunity to have a look at the local area and the Baltic beyond. Picking up the hire car, I began the journey toward Kussamarre. It was as I imagined, bitterly cold and full of snow. Picking a spot halfway toward my hotel destination, I jumped out for five minutes and connected with a lovely male northern bullfinch . There was however very little around. Despite the cold and the snowy scenes, it was sparkling. The sun made a huge difference and I was full of anticipation as to what the next few days would bring. Arriving at Virtsu for the car ferry , a short wait and I embarked on the 30 minute sail across the straight. It was a real treat being on board and experiencing a ...

A lovely day out on a dull day that threatened rain that thankfully stayed away. Plenty of great birds at a fabulous reserve that deserves more than what has become an annual visit. Best of the day was the regular tawny owl roosting in a modest ivy-covered tree, two firecrest including a preening individual a matter of metres from a small assembled crowd. There were also two chiffchaff in the general area. Heading to the sea, a decent scan eventually revealed the four long-tailed duck , three great northern diver and a black-necked grebe along with decent numbers of red-breasted merganser . A female scaup on the Tidal Lagoon on the way back was a surprise but the usual assemblage of brent geese , wildfowl, lapwing and four avocet and the odd marsh harrier are standard fare for this site but a great place to see a range of great birds.