Ural Owl

So to the last Estonian post - now here’s an ugly bird but look what it will turn into - the absolute number one bird of the trip!

 

 

Singing Corncrake video

Not often you get to see and hear a Corncrake, this was one of the highlights of the trip for me.

Typical Estonian images

Shuttlecock Ferns common in the forests

Goldeneye mother and chicks

Commonly breeding in Estonia’s wet forests definitely another aahh factor.

A few more Estonian common birds

Still a few Barnacle Geese present but several hundred seen moving on for the summer.

White Tailed Eagles seen daily but always a little distant.

Caspian Tern

Oystercatcher

Common Cranes definitely very common in Estonia!

Whooper Swan

Just one more Black Woodpecker

A few Estonian insects and a Morel

Not sure what this is - any suggestions welcome

nor this one

or this

Ha this is a Morel!

and pretty sure this is a Map Butterfly

and this is definitely a tatty Camberwell Beauty

back to not sure!

Penduline Tits nest building

This one definitely has the aahh factor.

 

A few Black Woodpeckers

Plenty of Black Woodpeckers to be see in the forests of Estonia and this one was particularly tame feeding in a car park! We also had Grey Headed, White Backed, Three Toed and Great Spotted Woodpeckers but no Lesser Spots or Middle Spots

White Stork

Of course White Storks were numerous throughout Estonia feeding in most fields and nesting in most villages.