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 Crow teasing white-tailed eagle.

 

There was more spring in the air than in mid-April in some other years. Such weather makes birdwatchers as well as of course migrating birds restless. So this afternoon I took an hour and a half off for airing and walked to Haapsalu bird-watching tower to see the Tagalahe bird soup. Ice openings in the bay are quite big already. As first thing I noticed white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla). Juveniles, (1W- 4W sea eagles) now roam about and the sea bays presently are lavishly laid food tables for them. Plenty of fish that have died during the winter now melt out of the ice, and the eagles don’t let valuable goods go to waste. In the bay altogether 5 white-tailed eagle youths are busy, in addition a local pair. While the best roaming period has just started for young birds, the adults are busy around the nests since long already, and any moment the first eggs can be expected to be laid in the nests. 

 

Bewick’s swan

 

By telescope I manage to see all three swan species and I got the first eco-point from the Bewicks swan (Cygnus columbianus). Dabbling ducks are solidly represented as well – nearly twenty wigeons (Anas penelope), six pintails (Anas acuta), in addition a solitary teal (Anas crecca). The two last-named again new creatures on my eco list. Besides the dabbling ducks other waterfowl are visible too but they were already noted in January – many goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) were swimming around, somewhat fewer goosanders (Mergus merganser) and smews (Mergellus albellus).

 

Black-headed gull with stickleback

 

Among the spring signs I further managed to meet a lonely grey heron (Ardea cinerea) hunched up at the margin of the reeds. Among the black-headed gulls (Larus ridibundus) too there are specimens or new arrivals in mating plumage.

 

 Linnet

 

Afternoon is not very favourable for seeing passing migrants but despite that I soon heard the calls of linnets (Carduelis cannabina) flying over. Again an arrival and one more eco-point . 

 

Bean geese

 

On my way back home I noticed a flock of bean geese (Anser fabalis). Barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) are already in place too in Haapsalu. The latter are really extraordinarily early. But at the same time, only a few reports have arrived about gray geese (Anser anser). I have not even seen the species this spring myself. Surprising, because they should be expected to be present quite numerously in Haapsalu now.

 

See the eco-rallying people’s blog:

http://okoralli2014.blogspot.com/