The Western house martin is a very common breeding bird and migratory bird in Lääne County. It nests wherever there are suitable eaves for making a nest. In Matsalu National Park, Western house martins nest in considerable numbers near Port Puise and Port Keemu. In autumn, between the end of August and the beginning of September, you can watch the countless Western house martin migrations from the Cape Puise observation platform.
The great egret is now a common migratory bird and an uncommon breeding bird in Lääne County. This Southern heron is a recent newcomer in the bogs of Lääne County, having only become common in the early twenty-first century. Now the great egret outnumbers its close relative, the grey heron, in many regions.
Great egrets can sometimes be found in Matsalu and Haapsalu bays even in flocks of several hundred birds. They’re good to observe from the Haeska birdwatching tower, the parking area at Põgari-Sassi beach meadow, and Sutlepa Sea and Tahu Bay observation towers in Noarootsi. Their breeding colony is also found in the reed beds of the Sutlepa Sea and birds also breed in the grey heron colony near the Laikmaa museum.
The peregrine falcon is an uncommon migratory bird in Lääne County. It can be seen here in the autumn, between September and October, and less frequently in May during the spring migration. Peregrine falcons frequently hunt waders and smaller ducks that eat on beach meadows and along the water’s edge.
They are most commonly found in Haeska, Põgari and Cape Puise. The peregrine falcon nested in Marimetsa Bog in Lääne County in the middle of the twentieth century, but no evidence of nesting has been found in the current century.
The common kestrel is unevenly distributed in Lääne County’s cultural landscape; however, it remains a relatively common falcon. Nesting birds can be seen hunting for prey in the fields and flood-meadow of Matsalu. Often, they may be seen from the Rannajõe viewing platform. In the autumn in September, migrating common kestrels are frequently seen in Cape Puise.
The Eurasian coot is a common migratory and breeding bird in Lääne County. During migration, Eurasian coots gather in dense flocks of thousands at Matsalu and Haapsalu bays.
Eurasian coots are good to observe in Haapsalu by Tagalaht and in Saunja Bay. They also make frequent stops at Matsalu’s inner bay, where the Keemu observation tower provides the best views.
Eurasian coots nest in reed beds along inland bays and lakes.
The common snipe is a common migratory and breeding bird in Lääne County. Migrating common snipes can be found stopping in beach meadows, seaweed and algae banks and even damp pastures. The common snipe is a widespread bird species in Matsalu. Common snipes can be seen in Põgari and Haeska as well as Riguldi Beach and Tahu Beach meadow in Noarootsi. It’s good to observe common snipes flying on the Penijõe or Tuhu Bog hiking trail during spring evenings.
The great snipe is an uncommon breeding bird on the flood-meadow of Matsalu. The national park’s nesting population consists of approximately 50 male birds. Elsewhere in Lääne County, it is a very rare breeding bird. As a strictly protected bird species, the exact breeding locations are classified.
The common crane is a common breeding and migratory bird in Lääne County. The loud mating call of common cranes can be heard already in early March. They build their nests in wet areas to help protect it from predators. However, during the breeding season, you can see common cranes feeding in the fields.
In September, birds that breed in Finland arrive in Lääne County alongside local cranes. Large migrating flocks of common cranes can be spotted in the fields at that time. However, viewing common cranes’ nocturnal flight on autumn evenings provides a unique spectacle. Thousands of common cranes make their way to Matsalu and Haapsalu bays before dusk to spend the night. On some evenings, Matsalu Bay can have around 20,000 birds. To watch them, visit Rannajõe or Haeska observation tower.
The Eurasian oystercatcher is a common breeding and migratory bird in the coastal areas of Lääne County. In Matsalu, they can be seen in Haeska, Keemu, Põgari and Cape Puise. During spring and summer, they can be seen on Vasikaholmi beach in Haapsalu and in Cape Põõsaspea near Noarootsi.
The best time to observe Eurasian oystercatchers migrating is between April and August at Cape Põõsaspea.
The sea eagle is a bird of prey that is difficult to stay away from before leaving Matsalu or Haapsalu Bay. When you arrive at the bay and look at the larger rocks, you are likely to see a sea eagle sitting on one of them. In Matsalu, white-tailed eagles are commonly observed in Haeska, Keemu and Põgari as well as Haapsalu’s Tagalaht Bay and Saunja Bay inside the Silma Nature Reserve.
In winter, when the inner bays freeze, wintering white-tailed eagles in Lääne County head to coastal areas with open water and resting waterfowl.