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July 12th

 

The great white pelican that appeared in Karksi in early May is still in place (12.07.2012 Karksi).

 

 

Yesterday the 55th anniversary of the creation of the  Nigula nature protection area   was celebrated and I never got off on a longer bird trip. Early this morning I once more headed for Valgamaa and Võrumaa  to look for the European roller (Coracias garrulus), but on the road I turned off to Karksi too. Nothing has been heard for a long time of the great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) that appeared there in the beginning of May, but yesterday a report came that the bird is still there. I thought I too would have a look at the pelican and after some searching I found the bird too. Who knows for how long it intends to stay here? Maybe even until winter?

At the Latvian border I again checked a large number of one-time European roller territories but the blue bird was nowhere. This species evidently no longer breeds in Estonia. I give up, no more European roller searches this year. But if anyone has seen the creature in Estonia this year please be sure to send a report to the Estonian Ornithological Society .

On the way home to Tartu the Valguta polder got a visit again. There were not so many waders as at the Audru polder a few days ago but the variety of species was great. All kinds of pipers could be seen, in addition common sandpipers (Actitis hypoleucos), snipes (Gallinago gallinago), ruffs  (Philomachus pugnax), little plovers (Charadrius dubius), dunlins (Calidris alpina) and curlew sandpipers (Calidris ferruginea), no less than 9 individuals of the last-named. I have not seen so many curlew sandpipers inland at the same time . The waders’ autumn migration is already in full swing, it is worthwhile visiting wetlands, among the common species a rarity may be hiding.