May is a favorite time for birding in Estonia (for those wanting to see as many bird species as possible), but you will have missed some interesting opportunities: the lek of the grouses and Capercaillie are over and owls and woodpeckers keep a low profile. And one of the most attractive species among the waterfowl— the Steller’s Eider - leaves its wintering grounds in Estonian waters at the end of April. So...there are goodl reasons to visit Estonia in early spring. Join us for an April tour!

Mid-May is the optimal time for bird-watching in Estonia  – at least if your aim is to see as many bird species as possible. A wide range of species have begun breeding, some are about to  leave for the north and each day brings new arrivals. Thousands of swans, hundreds of  thousands of ducks and geese, millions of Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks, myriads of waders and passerines are stopping en route to feed and build up their energy reserves for the long trip to their arctic breeding grounds. This mid-May spectacle, involving millions of waterfowl, is the most massive migration scene in northern  Europe.

Estonia, a small country on the shores of the Eastern Baltic Sea, is increasingly popular among  birdwatchers, who flock in ever increasing numbers to watch spectacular arctic migration in spring and autumn. But, winter, too,  has its photo-worthy and memorable offerings.

The main attraction for winter birdwatching in Estonia is the spectacular Steller’s Eider. Most of this eider species winter in the Bering Sea, but a small number spend winter months in the Baltic, mainly at the NW coast of  Saaremaa, the largest of the many islands that stud the Estonian coastline. Seeing these rare seaducks in flocks of hundreds will be our main target, but the open waters around Western Saaremaa are also teeming with scoters, Long-tailed Ducks and other waterfowl.

After their short breeding season, millions of Arctic waterfowl start to migrate southwards. Following a first long haul over the northern part of the continent, the Estonian coast is an important staging post to rest and refuel before continuing the trip. Estonia's long, indented coastline provides a wealth of habitats for stopovers – sheltered bays, inlets coastal lagoons and lakes, wet meadows and marshes, and many goose and swans feed on wet fields.  Migrating passerines will concentrate on the wooded strips on the coast or extended peninsulas stretching southward.

Autumn migration is notoriously difficult to predict and it depends largely on weather, but the migration peak in Estonia is usually late September/early October.

Paljasaare, a protected bird area of international importance, has a good bird-watching infrastructure including paths and towers, and is only about a 15 minute drive from Tallinn. Although very small, it offers a number of different habitats. Even a brief (about 2 hours) walk offers views of open water, reed-bed, bay and bush bird species.