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Haeska Birdwatching Tower

Matsalu National Park  >  Estonia

A splendid spot for birdwatching is this recordbreaking tower in Matsalu National Park. In one day 128 different birds species were seen from this tower!

Added* by Ants Ale
Most recent update 1 May 2020

Description

The Haeska birdwatching tower on the north shore of Matsalu Bay is one of the best birding towers in Europe. The coastal meadows and shallow bay are a popular spot among migratory birds. Many species have been recorded in the vicinity of the Haeska birdwatching tower and Finnish birdwatchers have also set a European record – 128 different bird species were seen from the tower in one day.

Details

Access

The birdwatching tower and recreation area are situated on a private land and therefore staying on this object is only allowed from sunrise to sunset.

Terrain and Habitat

Wetland , Sea

Conditions

Flat

Circular trail

No

Is a telescope useful?

Yes

Good birding season

Spring , Autumn , Summer

Best time to visit

Spring migration , Autumn migration

Route

Paved road

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Caspian Tern
1. Caspian Tern
(Hydroprogne caspia)
White-tailed Eagle
2. White-tailed Eagle
(Haliaeetus albicilla)
Ruff
3. Ruff
(Calidris pugnax)
Common Crane
4. Common Crane
(Grus grus)
Eurasian Oystercatcher
5. Eurasian Oystercatcher
(Haematopus ostralegus)

Other birds you can see here

Greylag Goose
Greylag Goose
(Anser anser)
Eurasian Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon
(Mareca penelope)
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
(Mergus serrator)
Goosander
Goosander
(Mergus merganser)
Smew
Smew
(Mergellus albellus)
Common Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
(Bucephala clangula)
Common Eider
Common Eider
(Somateria mollissima)
Tufted Duck
Tufted Duck
(Aythya fuligula)
Common Teal
Common Teal
(Anas crecca)
Northern Pintail
Northern Pintail
(Anas acuta)
Mallard
Mallard
(Anas platyrhynchos)
Gadwall
Gadwall
(Mareca strepera)
Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler
(Spatula clypeata)
Garganey
Garganey
(Spatula querquedula)
Common Shelduck
Common Shelduck
(Tadorna tadorna)
Whooper Swan
Whooper Swan
(Cygnus cygnus)
Tundra Swan (Bewick's Swan)
Tundra Swan (Bewick's Swan)
(Cygnus columbianus)
Mute Swan
Mute Swan
(Cygnus olor)
Barnacle Goose
Barnacle Goose
(Branta leucopsis)
Tundra Bean Goose
Tundra Bean Goose
(Anser serrirostris)
Taiga Bean Goose
Taiga Bean Goose
(Anser fabalis)
Greater White-fronted Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
(Anser albifrons)
Black Grouse
Black Grouse
(Tetrao tetrix)
Cuckoo
Cuckoo
(Cuculus canorus)
Avocet
Avocet
(Recurvirostra avosetta)
Common Ringed Plover
Common Ringed Plover
(Charadrius hiaticula)
Grey Plover
Grey Plover
(Pluvialis squatarola)
Northern Lapwing
Northern Lapwing
(Vanellus vanellus)
European Golden Plover
European Golden Plover
(Pluvialis apricaria)
Eurasian Curlew
Eurasian Curlew
(Numenius arquata)
Black-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit
(Limosa limosa)
Dunlin
Dunlin
(Calidris alpina)
Snipe
Snipe
(Gallinago gallinago)
Spotted Redshank
Spotted Redshank
(Tringa erythropus)
Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank
(Tringa nebularia)
Common Redshank
Common Redshank
(Tringa totanus)
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern
(Sterna paradisaea)
Common Tern
Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
Little Tern
Little Tern
(Sternula albifrons)
Great Egret
Great Egret
(Ardea alba)
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
(Circus aeruginosus)
Hen Harrier
Hen Harrier
(Circus cyaneus)
Montagu's Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
(Circus pygargus)
Wryneck
Wryneck
(Jynx torquilla)
Red-backed Shrike
Red-backed Shrike
(Lanius collurio)
Great Grey Shrike
Great Grey Shrike
(Lanius excubitor)
Common Raven
Common Raven
(Corvus corax)
Skylark
Skylark
(Alauda arvensis)
Whinchat
Whinchat
(Saxicola rubetra)
Northern Wheatear
Northern Wheatear
(Oenanthe oenanthe)

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