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 April 9

Already at early dawn we went to the Põõsaspea headland for birdwatching. It was a beautiful morning but not much bird movements. Scoters, eiders, cormorants, longtailed ducks and barnacle geese moved eastwards to some small extent. Among the migrants was one horned grebe and coming from the sea a long-eared owl landed on the shore. Both were new species for my year list, during 2012 I have now noted 152 bird species.

On the road to Tallinn we once more inspected the Tuula fields near Keila. As before there were plenty of geese on the flooded hayfields – at least 8000 birds altogether. In this great crowd we again spotted the red-breasted goose; a pink-footed goose caught the eye too. In addition I managed to read 9 neck rings - 6 bean geese, 1 greater white-breasted goose and 2 Bewick’s swans.

Since Uku had just enough time to spare before the ship left we went in the afternoon to telescope gulls from behind the fence at the Jõelähtme refuse area. At least 5000 gulls were busy in the area but at first sight we didn’t find anyone exciting among the others. With this we parted in the harbour.

 

Glaucous gull at the Jõelähtme landfill 09.04.2012, found only from photos (Uku Paal).

 

But suddenly at about six o’clock in the evening all turned hectic. To start with Uku let know that he found a glaucous gull in a large gull flock in the landfill. That creature we (at least I) did not notice at all on the spot. And almost at the same time information came that in Oriküla in Pärnumaa a red-flanked bluetail had been seen yesterday evening! A photo of the bird is in the Estbirding gallery. According to information at the Bird rarities committee this bird has only been seen in Estonia only 3 times, last in 1995. Since I was just heading towards Pärnumaa, I decided to investigate the matter for myself on the spot, maybe the bird was still in place, although there wasn’t much hope. But for such a splendid rarity one must at least try. I looked around in the area until dark but the bird with the blue tail was not to be found. But then information came by Rariliin that on the verge of the Haapsalu promenade 2 red-crested pochards had come to stay overnight. At night and in the street lights nobody could be seen on the beach, I went to sleep for a few hours to be in place early next morning.

 

 April 10

Today I was up before the cock crowed and dawn arrived, walking along the Haapsalu promenade, but the red-crested pochards that had stayed here for the night were nowhere. It seems that history from some years back repeats itself. Then the red-crested pochards stayed in the same place for a quite long time but some men had to go twitching several times before they at last saw the birds. I checked the beaches and small bays around Haapsalu several times during the day but. In the evening other searchers came too, twitchers from Haapsalu and Tartu, but today the birds were not to be found any more. Maybe tomorrow will bring better luck. If not, then a slight twitcher depression might be settling in. Maybe something has to be offered to the Sender for a more benevolent attitude.

As new species today I saw a dunlin at the Põgari shore meadow, my 2012 species list now has 153 birds.