Rannajõe lind Archives - Page 2 of 5

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.

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.

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.

White stork

The white stork is a common breeding bird in Lääne County. Only a few of these birds may be found in the county’s northern region, where extensive wetlands and large forested areas are unsuited for nesting. They also avoid nesting on peninsulas that reach far into the sea.
In Matsalu National Park, white storks are more common in the villages and communities around the bay’s southern side. They frequently make their nests on electric poles or the chimneys of old buildings. When the hay is cut in the flood-meadow in the middle of the summer, dozens of white storks gather to eat there.

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

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.

Montagu’s harrier

Montagu’s harrier is an uncommon breeding and migratory bird in Lääne County. It nests in small colonies in our raised bogs, particularly around Leidissoo and Marimetsa bogs. A few Montagu’s harriers nest in the Matsalu flood-meadow. These birds of prey come to hunt, but they also frequently hunt in the fields.

Montagu’s harriers can often be seen from the Rannajõe viewing platform.