Estonia
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The price is per person and includes scheduled return flights London-Tallinn, airport taxes, accommodation, all meals in Estonia, incidental tips, transport and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes holiday insurance, optional tips to the local driver & guides, drinks, and other personal expenses. For an ex-flight cost (starting and finishing the tour in Tallinn) please deduct £105 from the tour cost |
As well as great bird migrations, Estonia has a fabulous array of habitats for flowers and butterflies. This early summer tour to the country aims to visit a great selection of forests, marshes meadows, 'alvar' heath and much more on the Baltic islands and mainland. |
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Estonia is a land of great natural beauty, but still comparatively little known as a wildlife destination, particularly in summer.
Forests and woodlands cover almost half of the country. Other habitats include extensive undeveloped coastal areas with widespread reed-beds as well as winding rivers, vast floodplains, superb marshes and acid bogs, as well as lime-rich grasslands. This rich variety has drawn plants and animal species from both Siberia and also the warmer regions of southern Europe, with many species reaching their respective western or northern extremities of range within Estonia. These combine to make the flora in particular amongst the most spectacular in northern Europe. An admirable seventeen percent of the country is protected by nature reserves that vary in size from the large national parks to the smaller, locally protected, reserves. It is not just this superb mix of wildlife which makes this such a brilliant trip. Time has stood still in Estonia, a country still caught in a wonderful time warp, where the farms are rustic and agricultural techniques favour birds and man. The country is beautiful, mainly rural with pretty landscapes and rustic buildings (a little like Old England between the wars). The accommodation is good throughout with wholesome meals and friendly staff. Roads are good and distances small, giving lots of time for experiencing the wildlife. Itinerary Days 1-2 We take a scheduled flight from London to Tallinn via Helsinki (Finland), and meet our Estonian guide at the airport, before driving to the west of Estonia. We may have time to visit a bird tower before checking in to our cosy guest house on the shores of Matsalu Bay. Next day after breakfast we will drive to Dirhami Port for the crossing to Osmussaar Island in the extreme north-west of Estonia, where we spend the day. Osmussaar is an island with a long and interesting history, and is now farmed by a single family in a traditional manner. The island has a huge variety of habitats. 'Alvar' covers more than one third of the island: a dry calcareous habitat with a sparse, but extremely species-rich flora. Osmussaar Island is noted for many orchid species. In early June Military Orchids, Common Twayblades, Fly Orchids, and Early Marsh Orchids can be seen amongst a total of 16 species. Rosa majalis is especially attractive. Other interesting plants include Androsace septentrionalis, Holy Grass, Mountain Everlasting, Bloody Cranesbill and a Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis coccinea). Breeding birds include Black Grouse, Common Crane, Dunlin and both Common & Arctic Terns. Barred Warbler and Red-backed Shrike breed amongst the juniper bushes, while Corncrakes call from the alvar grasslands. Small lagoons host breeding Bitterns and hunting Marsh Harriers. Butterflies of the alvar include Scarce and Chestnut Heaths and Amanda's Blue. Two nights Matsalu Bay Day 3 Today we cross to one of the two large islands of the Estonian Baltic: Hiiumaa Island, where we head for the Kõpu peninsula in the far west. More than 20 km long, the peninsula mainly consists of forested areas alternating with small mires, some of which are calcareous, and have special vegetation communities. More than 80 rare species have been found in Kõpu, including Ghost Orchid, Lesser Twayblade, Narrow-leaved Marsh-orchid, Fen Orchid, Burnt Orchid and Frog Orchid, and the attractive Twinflower. We'll do our best to track them down, though not all of them may be in flower yet. A superb array of butterflies include Eastern Baton and Cranberry Blues, Geranium Argus and Nickerl's Fritillary. We will also climb to the top of Kõpu Lighthouse, which stands 37 m. high and is the third oldest working lighthouse in the world. After lunch at a local farm, we will visit Vaemla Wool Factory, which will give us a practical demonstration of its production line. The factory was started in 1841, and since 1992 has been run by the Valdma family as a local wool processing firm. Kaina Bay is one of the best bird sites, with plenty of wetland birds, with White-tailed Eagles in attendance In the late afternoon, we will continue across a causeway to Kassari Island in the southeastern part of Hiiumaa. This has impressive semi-natural communities including alvars, juniper stands and wooded meadows. Baltic Orchid (Dactylorhiza baltica) and rare Swamp Angelica (Angelica palustris) can be found here. We will cross to Saaremaa Island in the late afternoon to reach our hotel in time for dinner. Overnight Saaremaa Island Day 4 Although separated from the mainland by only 5km of sea, Saaremaa Island stretches out its fingers about 100 km westwards into the Baltic, and is the largest of the Estonian Baltic islands. Today we visit Viidumäe Nature reserve, in the highest part of Saaremaa Island. More than 700 species of vascular plants can be found here, along with over 600 species of butterflies and moths, including Nickerl's Fritillary and Woodland Brown. There are several different types of forests here, and we'll see many species of steppe plants, including Hairy Milk-vetch (Oxytropis pilosa) and Danzig Vetch (Vicia cassubica). Several orchids such as Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium calceolus), Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia) and both Butterfly Orchids (Platanthera bifolia & P.chlorantha) grow in moist wooded meadows, and Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica) can be found here. The spring fens are especially rich in rare species of plants. The most famous among them is the Saaremaa Rattle (Rhinanthus osiliensis) - an endemic plant species that occurs only in Saaremaa and in no other place in the world. Cranes & Black Storks breed, while the forests have Black, Grey-headed and Green Woodpeckers. Overnight Saaremaa Island Day 5 We continue on Saaremaa Island by exploring some of the protected landscapes of the Sõrve peninsula for Burnt Orchids, Lady's Slippers, Rosa dumalis and Veronica longifolia, dunes for Dianthus arenarius, Alyssum gmelinii , Dark Red Helleborine, and German Asphodel. We visit a meteorite crater formed some 4000 years ago and a museum-village before crossing back to the mainland. After a picnic at a local farm we explore some wooded meadows, amongst the most species-rich ecosystems in Estonia. The best example has up to 76 vascular plant species per square metre! Walking through the woods we may find Burnt, Early Purple & Bird's Nest Orchids, Swallow-wort, Vincetoxicum hirundinaria, naturalized Martagon Lilies and Lady's Slipper Orchids. Butterflies here include Scarce Copper, Idas Blue, Scarce Fritillary and Large Chequered Skipper. Thousands of Common Scoters are migrating at this time and often some Arctic Skuas are passing. In the shallow water, many different waders which have started already their autumn migration, can be found. In the late afternoon, we travel to the southern part of Estonia, to the town of Tartu. Overnight Tartu Day 6 South-eastern Estonia is an area of dry boreal forests and boreal heath forests, also well known as the location of several steppe species. In the morning we shall have a walk along a railroad dam with open sand habitats for several steppe specialities, including Arenaria procera, genuinely wild 'Hen and Chickens' Houseleek, Fastigiate Gypsophila, (American) Pasqueflower and Spiked Speedwell. Close by another reserve has Sand Esparsette and Sand Pink. In the afternoon we stop in the stratified primeval valley of the Piusa River and its magnificent Devonian sandstone formations, with floodplain meadows, alluvial forests, and very typical pine forests with cowberries and lichens. Botanically, the occurrence of several plant species of South-eastern origin is notable. These include Shining Meadow Rue, Siberian Sandwort and Yellow Everlasting. Clouded Apollo butterflies can be found, as well as Olive Skipper, Pallas' Fritillary, and sometimes Lapland Ringlet. Often Lesser-Spotted Eagles are seen soaring overhead. We also visit the vast expanse of wetlands near Aardla. This area with lakes and ponds usually holds a good selection of water birds and we will be hoping for a few surprises. After a short rest and dinner in the hotel we will head for some marshy areas nearby which are an excellent spot for Great Snipe, which could still be displaying in the evening. Overnight Tartu Day 7 Early in the morning with a picnic breakfast we will take a trip to a bog, which has a unique water-regime and several interesting plants, including Pleurospermum austriacum, Dortmann's Cardinalflower, Lake Quillwort and several orchid species. Here we could see Cranberry Blue, Moorland Clouded Yellow, Bog Fritillary or even the rare Frigga`s Fritillary. Greenish Warbler and Red-breasted Flycatcher breed in the nearby woodland. Next we visit Taevaskoja, a magnificent valley with steep riverbanks and dry boreal pine forest with several interesting boreal species. Finally, a delightful small inundated brook valley not far from Tartu, has interesting flora, including Laserpitium prutenicum, Shining Meadow Rue and Siberian Iris - and will make a fine afternoon walk to conclude the tour. Overnight Tartu Day 8 On our way back to Tallinn, we may have time for a short visit to an old-growth coniferous or mixed forest once again. We will return to Tallinn by late morning where we have some free time in the old town before having our last lunch together. After lunch we head to the airport for our homeward flight to London Accommodation: Good quality hotels with all rooms en suite. Leaders: Ray Nowicki and local guides Numbers: Max. 14 clients |
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