Estonia Day One

As we can't do a Bulgaria spring trip this year I thought I'd take the opportunity to visit another area of the Western Palearctic so after a potential trip to Mauretania fell through this week I did a last minute to Estonia . There's a few mammal and bird ticks for me and I was always interested in visiting the Estonia/Gulf of Finland migration flyway.  This time of year the waterfowl flocks that have wintered in western Europe start heading back to Siberia and concentrate in Estonia. Common Cranes are beginning to arrive too. So while Wheatears, LRPs and Sand Martins mark the beginning of Spring in the UK, here it's the arrival of the Geese, Swans and Cranes that herald the start of Spring migration. None of the birds below were here a week or so ago.  

Live Trip Report HERE

Mainly Tundra Bean Geese (above and below). Also Russian White-fronted Goose and also amongst the flock of approx 10,000 birds there were some Barnacle, Greylag, Canadas and one Pink-footed Goose

Tundra Bean and Russian White-fronted Geese (mainly Bean) 

Tundra Bean Geese 

Bewick's and Whooper Swans 

Common Cranes