ivika, Author at Linnuriik

Common swift

The common swift is a very common breeding and migratory bird in Lääne County. As a capable flier, the common swift can be found practically anywhere, but they are most widespread in towns and bigger settlements. The majority of common swifts in Lääne County are found in Haapsalu, where they can nest in the ventilation vents of panel buildings. During the migration, you may also encounter the common swift on the coast.

In late July and August, you can observe the autumn migration of common swifts at Cape Puise or Cape Põõsaspea.

Grey heron

The grey heron is a common migratory and a locally widespread breeding bird in Lääne County. These birds can be spotted near bodies of water all over Lääne County. However, they are most active in Matsalu and Haapsalu bays, where dozens of birds gather to feed. Feeding grey herons can be seen from birdwatching towers near Matsalu Bay or the Silma Nature Reserve.

Estonia’s largest grey heron breeding colony, with over 300 pairs, is located in Lääne County, near the Laikmaa Museum. The grey heron breeding colony can also be seen in the Matsalu manor park.

Tufted duck

The tufted duck is a common breeding and migratory bird in Lääne County. Tufted ducks can be observed in Matsalu and Haapsalu bays as well as the Sutlepa Sea. The most common sightings of these birds occur between April and September.

Tufted ducks nest in reed beds and on small sea islands.

Greater scaup

The greater scaup is a common migratory bird in Lääne County. They are best to observe in the spring, from April until mid-May, when tens of thousands of birds flock to Väinameri to feed. The best place to see greater scaups on Lääne County is from Cape Puise, where over 40,000 birds have been recorded stopping around the peninsula.

During the autumn migration, greater scaups have smaller stopping flocks in Lääne County, although a large migration can be seen in September near Cape Põõsaspea.

Eurasian bittern

The Eurasian bittern inhabits reed beds that grow in shallow sea bays and larger lakes in Lääne County. The majority of Eurasian bitterns breed in the reed beds of Matsalu’s inner bay (approximately 25 pairs) and the Silma Nature Reserve (up to 10 pairs).

As a reed-dwelling bird, they are rarely seen, but they are vocal in the spring, from March to May. Their call, similar to blowing into a bottle, can be heard in Matsalu, including on the Penijõe hiking trail and the Silma Nature Reserve near Saunja Bay and the Sutlepa Sea. Eurasian bitterns vocalize most actively in the morning and in the evening.

Barnacle goose

At Matsalu Bay, the barnacle goose is one of the most common migratory birds in April to mid-May and September to October. Over 100,000 barnacle geese stop in Matsalu each spring.

The beach meadows of Haeska, Keemu and Põgari-Sassi host the greatest flocks of barnacle geese. Thousands of barnacle geese also stop at the Saunja and Tahu bays in the Silma Nature Reserve.

Common goldeneye

The common goldeneye is a common migratory, breeding and wintering bird in Lääne County. In spring and autumn, a large number of common goldeneyes visit Matsalu and Haapsalu bays. Nesting common goldeneyes can be found on raised bog ponds, manor ponds and woodland lakes. Common goldeneyes typically look for a nesting site in an old black woodpecker’s nest hollow.

In winter, common goldeneyes gather in big flocks along the unfrozen sea coast. The most important wintering areas of common goldeneyes in Lääne County are located around Cape Põõsaspea. Occasionally, nearly a thousand birds winter here.

Common buzzard

As in other parts of Estonia, the common buzzard is the most common bird of prey in Lääne County. Common buzzards can be found lurking on power poles and at the tops of shrubs and hovering in the skies across Lääne County. They are especially common in the mosaic cultural landscape, which combines small groves with agricultural landscapes.

Common buzzards are most commonly seen between March and October, but dozens of them also stay to winter in Lääne County.

Dunlin

In Lääne County, there are two subspecies of dunlin: alpina, an extremely common migratory bird, and Southern dunlin, an uncommon breeding bird.

Alpina, which breed in Arctic regions, are common migratory birds along the coast of Lääne County. They are frequently seen in flocks of hundreds of birds in May and from July to September. They are good to observe from the Haeska birdwatching tower, the parking area near Põgari-Sassi beach meadow, or Cape Puise. Alpina are also common during migration at Riguldi Beach and Vormsi on Cape Austergrunne.

The second subspecies of dunlin, the Southern dunlin, nests on the beach meadows of the Matsalu and Silma nature reserves. Matsalu is the most important breeding location for Southern dunlins in Europe. The Haeska tower and the car park at the edge of the Põgari-Sassi beach meadow are ideal viewing spots.

Ruff

The ruff is a common migratory bird on the coast of Lääne County. Few ruffs nest in Matsalu’s flood-meadows and beach meadows.

The ideal time to see ruffs is between the end of April and the beginning of May, when hundreds of ruffs gather on the beach meadows of Matsalu National Park and Silma Nature Reserve. In Matsalu, the best spots to see the ruff are Haeska and Tahu beach meadow in Noarootsi.