Visit Estonia for Winter Birding and New Year's 2021
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Greetings from Stockholm!
I have just returned to Stockholm from Estonia where I spent the week of New Years in Tallinn. It was really wonderful and I am adding a trip to Estonia for next winter for the new year, 2021. I already have a new web page on my website about the tour and you can check it out by clicking here:
Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn is a fortress city that dates back to the year 1219 and much of the city wall that is still standing dates back to the year 1346. It is impressive to see and to walked the many cobblestone streets and passages within the city fortress. There is so much history here, that it is highly recommended that you do some of your own reading before you arrive. There have been many occupying and influencing forces over the years in Estonia: The early empires of both Denmark and Sweden have left their mark, Russia and the Soviet Union were occupying forces through most of the 20
th
century, including Germany during WWII. Estonia regained it independence in 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union and joined the European Union in 2004.
Estonia is small, about the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. It is bordered by Russia, Latvia and the Baltic Sea. Nearly 20% of Estonia is protected and preserved land; this includes five national parks, 167 nature reserves and 152 landscape conservation areas and because of this Estonia has a good diversity of flora and fauna, including marine life.
Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and has a population of about 450,000 people in the urban area, which is about one third the total population of Estonia. The outer perimeter is lined with numerous artillery towers from the middle ages and in the heart of the city are rows and rows of beautiful historic buildings, which are now modern stores, hotels and restaurants. There are many interesting museums and theaters in the old city as well. The site of Toompea Castle, Toompea Hill, has been used as a strong hold since the 9
th
century. Today, the castle is the home of the Estonian Parliament.
On this trip we will also be traveling to Kuressaare Saaremaa, which is an island of the west coast of Estonia for 3-days of birding and fun. This area is one of the best places to view Steller's Eiders. We will be staying at a hotel that
will have both indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas and all sorts of spa stuff. Kuressaare is also a medieval town dating back to the year 1154 and the town castle with ramparts is from 1559.
The national bird is the
Barn Swallow
, which flies south to Africa for the winter.
- Travel Dates: December 30, 2020 - January 6, 2021
- Group Size: 4 travelers
- Trip Length: 8 days
- Rates: Rate per person = $3,650 (based on double occupancy)
- Rates include: Domestic transfers, lodging, breakfast, lunch, dinner, scheduled group tours, park entrance fees and basic travel insurance.
- Not included: International airfare, customs & immigration fees and visas, alcohol, trip cancellation insurance.
- Adventure level: Easy, please check "Welcome" page for definition
Weather on New Year's Day:
Sunrise 9:18 am, Sunset 3:30 pm, 6 hours of sunlight. High temperatures during the day are often in the mid to high 30’s and low temperatures are high 20's - low 30's. Some of the activities will depend on the weather: The last few years the temperatures in Tallinn have been warm, which has been great for being outside, walking and birding. If we get a cold and/or we have snowy days, there will be more indoor activities.
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Tallinn, Estonia is a fortress city that dates back to the year 1219 and much of the city wall that is still standing dates back to the year 1346. Tallinn has a great opera house and performing arts center and depending on the winter schedule, an evening event might be possible.
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The site of Toompea Castle, Toompea Hill, has been used as a strong hold since the 9
th
century. Today the castle is the home of the Estonian Parliament.
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The Steller’s Eider winters in the Baltic Sea and along the Estonian coastal waters. Flocks of 100–300 birds have been regularly reported since 1975 and are most commonly seen in the northwestern part of the island of Saaremaa, just off the coast of western Estonia.
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The Rusalka Memorial faces to the sea in the direction of where the Russian warship Rusalka sank en route to Finland in 1893; all souls perished. In 2003 the ship was located in the Gulf of Finland. The ship was intact, but oddly it was deep into the mud, bow first in a near vertical position with only half of the ship visible.
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Hooded Crow,
Corvus cornix
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Black Woodpecker,
Dryocopus martius
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The Great Spotted Woodpecker, (
Dendrocopos major
) can be found in the parks outside of Tallinn. The birds are omnivores and will eat insects, seeds, bird eggs, chicks and even scavenge carrion and trash.
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The Pirita area has many miles of hiking trails through pine forest and along the Pirita River. Even in the middle of the winter, it is a beautiful area.
Tallinn has many beautiful walking paths throughout the city and along the waterfront.
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The medieval Kuressaare Castle was originally built with wood in the year 1260. The castle and ramparts that stand today date back to 1559.
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Eurasian Jay,
Garrulus glandarius:
The "Jay" was one of the birds described by Carl Linnaeus and had no other common name.
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The Estonian Maritime Museum is located in the Fat Margaret artillery tower, built in 1511. Once this served as the main gate that face the harbor and there was a ditch and a draw bridge to cross to enter the city.
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The outer perimeter of Tallinn is lined with numerous artillery towers from the middle ages and in the heart of the city are rows and rows of beautiful historic buildings, which are now modern stores, hotels and restaurants.
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Fieldfare,
Turdus pilaris
, is in the Thrush family and is closely related to the American Robin.
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Blue Tit,
Cyanistes caeruleus
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The Suur Tõll was a Russian steam powered ice-breaker built in 1914. At the time it was the most advanced ice-breaker in the world. It is now open for viewing at the
Lennusadam Maritime Museum in Tallinn.
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Just outside the city is a nature area called the Pirita, which is next to the Kloostrimetsa Nature study area next to the Tallinn Botanical Garden and the Pirita River Landscape Conservation area. A great birding area.
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The Kadriorg Art Museum and Gardens was once a residence for czar Peter the Great of Russia and his wife Catherine in the early 1700's.
It now houses mostly foreign art from around the world.
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Russia and the Soviet Union were occupying forces in Estonia through most of the 20
th
century. The
Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral, completed in 1900 in Tallinn is an example Russian Rival design.
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Pictured is the Estonian flag and coat of arms.
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Your Dedicated Guides
Kaiyote & Ed
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Photo: Here we are along the Pacific Coast in Olympic National Park. We look forward to meeting and showing you all the great birds, wildlife and adventures that can be found around the world, the United States and in Washington state. Call us anytime! See you soon!
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