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 Robin 

 

January 17

 

In winter when waters generally are ice-covered, water treatment plants are good birding spots, with open water at the outflow points even in the hardest frosts. Many interesting winterers can be seen in these places. Since the Läänemaa coastal areas are beginning to freeze and there are steadily fewer birds at sea I headed again for the Haapsalu water treatment plant. In addition to the usual mallards, teal and gadwall were among the ducks today, and 6 grey herons flew up from the ditch verge.  I did not find a moorhen this time, but noted robin and wren in the reeds. The robin is a relatively rare winter visitor here, the wren can be seen quite often in West Estonia in mild winters. Even today I found a new year species here – two bearded tits were busy in the reeds.

The bearded tits were not the only new species of the day. On the Matsalu national park grounds the eagle owl has been quite vocal lately in one of its old territories, needed checking. Fortunately the bird called a few times. The eagle owl has become rather rare in Estonia in the last few years. Good that this difficult bird could be noted already in the beginning of the year. My 2012 list now has 97 bird species.