Dunlin
In Lääne County, there are two subspecies of dunlin: alpina, an extremely common migratory bird, and Southern dunlin, an uncommon breeding bird.
Alpina, which breed in Arctic regions, are common migratory birds along the coast of Lääne County. They are frequently seen in flocks of hundreds of birds in May and from July to September. They are good to observe from the Haeska birdwatching tower, the parking area near Põgari-Sassi beach meadow, or Cape Puise. Alpina are also common during migration at Riguldi Beach and Vormsi on Cape Austergrunne.
The second subspecies of dunlin, the Southern dunlin, nests on the beach meadows of the Matsalu and Silma nature reserves. Matsalu is the most important breeding location for Southern dunlins in Europe. The Haeska tower and the car park at the edge of the Põgari-Sassi beach meadow are ideal viewing spots.