Western marsh harrier

Western marsh harrier

The Western marsh harrier is common everywhere in Lääne County, where there are reed beds ideal for nesting. It breeds most commonly around Matsalu Bay and in the Silma Nature Reserve.
In Matsalu National Park, the Western marsh harrier is frequently spotted from Keemu, Suitsu and Haeska observation towers. It is also good to observe the Western marsh harrier from the observation towers near the Sutlepa Sea.

Hen harrier

Hen harrier

The hen harrier is an uncommon migratory bird in Lääne County and only some individuals stay here for the winter. Migrating hen harriers can be seen searching for prey in fields and flood-meadows, but they occasionally glide over reed beds.

The observation tower at Rannajõe provides a good view of hen harriers. In September and October, you may see their small-numbered migration in Cape Puise.

Long-tailed duck

Long-tailed duck

From late autumn to spring, long-tailed duck is one of the most common sea ducks in Lääne County. In spring, long-tailed ducks migrate in Virtsu and Puhtu, while in October, the migration of tens of thousands of long-tailed ducks can be seen on Cape Põõsaspea.
Thousands of long-tailed ducks winter along the county’s northwest coast. The best places to see them are at Port Dirhami or Cape Põõsaspea. Many bigger long-tailed duck flocks congregate to eat on offshore shallows, where they are difficult to see even with good vision. The Neugrundi shallow in Osmussaare is one of those important winter feeding areas.

Tundra swan

Tundra swan

Matsalu and Haapsalu bays in Lääne County are vital feeding grounds for tundra swan throughout their migration. In the spring and autumn, almost one-third of all European swans stop at these two wetlands.

The spring migration of tundra swans is most frequent in early and mid-April, while the autumn migration begins at the end of September and lasts until October.

Whooper swan

Whooper swan

The whooper swan is an uncommon breeding and a common migratory bird in Lääne County. The whooper swan stops most frequently in Matsalu and Haapsalu bays during spring and autumn. During early spring, while the inner bays are still partially frozen, loud whooper swans frequently visit the fields to graze.
The greatest spots to see whooper swans are from the Haeska and Keemu observation towers as well as the Haapsalu Promenade. The wintering whooper swans are most active around the coast of the Noarootsi Peninsula and Vormsi Island.

Mute swan

Mute swan

The mute swan is the most common of the waterfowl breeding among the reed beds of Matsalu and Haapsalu bays and on small sea islands. Mute swans can be observed in large numbers in the spring and autumn, when thousands of individuals converge to eat.
The Haeska, Keemu bird observation towers and Tahu and Saunja birdwatching towers in the Silma Nature Reserve provide the best views of mute swan migration stopovers.

Western house martin

Western house martin

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.

Great egret

Great egret

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.

Peregrine falcon

Peregrine falcon

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.

Common snipe

Common snipe

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.