ivika, Author at Linnuriik

Barn swallow

The barn swallow is a common and widespread breeding and migratory bird in Lääne County. In Matsalu National Park, they nest near farms and old boathouses. Barn swallows nest most commonly around cattle barns.
Barn swallows flock together in the evenings at the end of the summer to spend the night in the reed beds of Matsalu and Haapsalu bays. Thousands of individuals can sit on the reeds before dusk. In September, our national bird can be seen migrating, and the best view is on Cape Puise.

Red-backed shrike

The red-backed shrike is a common breeding bird in Lääne County. It can be found both in farmland with shrubs and in coastal juniper patches. Red-backed shrikes can be spotted in a variety of locations in Matsalu. They nest in large numbers on the Puise Peninsula, where the birds can be seen nesting in the roadside shrubs.

Great grey shrike

The great grey shrike is an uncommon breeding, migratory and wintering bird in Lääne County. Grey shrikes are easiest to observe in Lääne County outside of the mating season, which occurs from September to April, when they can be found in cultivated areas or along the coast. During this time, it is worthwhile to travel across the agricultural landscape, when birds frequently watch for pray on power lines or in the tops of bushes.
Great grey shrikes nest in our raised bogs. During the summer, they can be observed on the Tuhu bog or Marimetsa raised bog hiking trails.

European herring gull

The European herring gull is a common breeding and migratory bird in Lääne County. Wintering birds flock largely around ports, particularly in Port Dirhami.
European herring gulls are more common in Matsalu, particularly around small sea islands where they can breed. Therefore, they are most visible in Cape Puise and Port Keemu. However, these birds don’t go unnoticed at other coastal observation locations in the county.

Common gull

The common gull is a common breeding and migratory bird in Lääne County. Wintering birds follow fishing vessels across the open sea and frequently rest in Port Dirhami.
Common gulls breed primarily on sea islands in Matsalu National Park, although several birds have found suitable nesting sites on the thatched roofs of old farm buildings or boathouses. One of the largest herring gull colonies is found in Kakrarahu, near Cape Puise. Since the 1970s, extensive studies of common gulls have been conducted there. That is why you may notice a white plastic ring with black letters around the leg of many common gulls in Matsalu. Those birds are from the Kakrarahu breeding colony.

Great black-backed gull

The great black-backed gull is a common seagull species along the shore of Lääne County, but relatively uncommon here compared to rest of the world. Great black-backed gulls can be found on the seashore, inland bays and coastal lakes. In Matsalu National Park, they can be found at Keemu and Puise ports as well as Haeska and Põgari-Sassi. Great black-backed gulls are also common in Haapsalu and the Noarootsi region.
They often sit on large rocks, where they can be observed for a long time.

Black-headed gull

The black-headed gull is a very common breeding and migratory bird in Lääne County but an uncommon winterer. Black-headed gulls nest in huge flocks along the shores of Lääne County. The county’s largest breeding colony, with over a thousand nests, is found on the banks of Haapsalu Eeslaht Bay.
Cape Põõsaspea offers the best view of the black-headed gull migration.

Bar-tailed godwit

The bar-tailed godwit is an uncommon migratory bird along the coast of Lääne County. Bar-tailed godwits, like many other waders, gather on beaches with open mudflats or loads of seaweed. In Matsalu, the migrating bar-tailed godwit is most commonly found in Põgari and Cape Puise. In addition, they are frequently spotted on the west coast of Osmussaare, Cape Austergrünne in Vormsi and Riguldi Beach.
The largest migratory flocks can be seen in late spring, between mid-April and early June. Birds on autumn migration can be spotted in larger numbers between the end of July and the middle of October.

Black-tailed godwit

The black-tailed godwit is an uncommon breeding and migratory bird in Lääne County. Black-tailed godwits breed in Lääne County’s coastal meadows and bogs. As a breeding bird, it is most common in Lääne County’s Suursoo bog and Marimetsa raised bog. Individual pairs also breed in the well-maintained beach meadows in Matsalu and Haapsalu bays.
During migration, black-tailed godwits are more common in Haeska and Põgari, although during breeding season, they can also be seen on the Puise Peninsula.

Savi’s warbler

Savi’s warbler is a common but relatively local reed warbler in Lääne County. The species’ primary breeding grounds are Matsalu National Park (about 3000 pairs) and Silma Nature Reserve (300–500 pairs), where it thrives in mosaic reed habitats that grow in water. The chirping of Savi’s warbler is extremely loud at dusk. The best time to hear their song is between late April and mid-June. The greatest spots to listen to birds in Matsalu are Port Kiideva, the mouth of the Kasari River and the Sutlepa Sea observation towers near Noarootsi.