Kloostri lind Archives - Page 4 of 5

White-tailed eagle

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.

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.

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.

Goosander

The goosander is a common migratory, wintering and breeding bird in Lääne County. Goosanders make frequent migratory stops in Matsalu and Haapsalu bays in the early spring and late autumn. They are typically the earliest waterfowl to gather in open water areas and the last to go when the bays freeze. It is good to observe goosanders that take a break during their migration in Puise or Keemu. In the autumn months, between October and November, hundreds of goosanders gather in Tagalaht Bay in Haapsalu. Wintering goosanders are more common at Cape Põõsaspea and Port of Dirhami.

White wagtail

The white wagtail is a widespread breeding bird in Lääne County as well as a common migrant. As an adaptable species, it may be found practically anywhere in Matsalu and other parts of Lääne County. However, it is most common in villages, where the structures provide plenty of nesting opportunities. Feeding birds are frequently spotted in beach meadows or along the coast.

Western yellow wagtail

The Western yellow wagtail is a breeding bird that may be found on Lääne County’s beaches and flood-meadows as well as on sea islands with reeds. It is also a common migratory bird along the coast. Western yellow wagtails can be spotted in Matsalu on the Penijõe hiking trail, at the Keemu and Haeska birdwatching towers, and around Cape Puise. Western yellow wagtails are also common along the shore of the Noarootsi Peninsula.
Migrating Western yellow wagtails can be found in huge numbers on Cape Puise and Cape Põõsaspea.