Spent the last couple of days on Saaremaa island exploring the icy Baltic bays, harbours and coastline. The highlight of the trip were the famous Steller's Eiders that winter here but the supporting cast of thousands of seaducks and waterfowl were equally impressive with thousands of Long-tailed Ducks (the largest winter concentration on the planet), hundreds of Goosanders and Goldeneyes, Red-breasted Mergs and tens of Smews, Eiders, Common and Velvet Scoters and we also picked up the odd Slavonian Grebe, Black-throated Diver and Razorbill.
We also had Pygmy Owls and Parrot Crossbills in the pine forests.
On the way to our next destination we twitched a first-winter Glaucous Gull, the first in Estonia since 2020.
Live Trip Report HERE
Steller's Eiders (above and below) - the main target of this trip, World Lifer
Long-tailed Ducks (above), female in the centre
Male Smew- great to see plenty of Smew on the trip
Goldeneye and Goosander
Male Goosander- there are hundreds of these in the bays which is fantastic to see
Great Scaups
Barnacle and Russian White-fronted Geese- skeins of geese going over is a near constant feature of this trip- absolutely magical
Whooper Swans
Adult White-tailed Eagle
Common Crane- pairs are scattered across the whole landscape and their bugling calls constantly fill the air
The ferry to Saaremaa island
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