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Itinerary - spring tour
- Saturday, 1st day:
The bus will pick you up at Tallinn-Airport at 5 p.m. und take you to your accommodation in Oidremaa. After check-in at the manor-house, we will have an Estonian-style dinner. If you wish, it will be possible to have a first short trip to Matsalu Bay afterwards, where we can enjoy the nocturne concert with soloists like the Water Rail or the Spotted Crake.
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Sunday, 2nd day:
After breakfast, we will start off with birdwatching at Matsalu Bay. Six look-out towers, which are all around the area, offer the best observation possibilities. Who knows, may be we will not only see the flocks of geese and ducks which you really can’t fail to notice, but also some of the species which are hidden in the reed beds like the Bittern. Perhaps we will even see a White-tailed Eagle or a Lesser Spotted Eagle flying above our heads. In order not to lose any time, we offer packed lunches which we can eat while birdwatching and keeping an eye out for new species. The day will be concluded by an evening meal at the accommodation in Oidremaa
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Monday, 3rd day:
Throughout the day, we will once more have the opportunity to find some new bird species at Matsalu Bay. In order to be able to see as many birds as possible and to explore as many different parts of the vast area as possible, we will enjoy a packed lunch on our way. In the early evening, there is a transfer to Rohuküla from where the ferry to Hiiumaa departs. We will have dinner in the salon of the ferry out on the open sea during the 90 min. crossing. After arriving on Hiiumaa, the bus will take us to our accommodation in Soonlepa. Now it is up to you whether you want to go for a walk in the forest or along the seashore or whether you decide to relax in the sauna.
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Tuesday, 4th day:
The day starts with a big breakfast and then we will visit Käina Bay, another bird reserve of international importance. On our way, we will be passing a demonstration area which shows the results of the reintroduction of traditional grazing methods on semi-natural grassland. The rest of the morning we will spend with birdwatching at the shallow bay with its 23 islets. The modern observation tower in Orjaku offers the best views of the area and from there you can see Avocets and terns, too. After lunch at the “Vetsi Tall” restaurant which is situated in the middle of the nature reserve, we will have enough time to continue our observations. You will certainly be impressed by the huge numbers of birds! More than 1% of the European population of Cranes and Grey-lag Geese can regularly be seen there during their stopover. During dinner in our accommodation in Soonlepa there is the possibilty to discuss the sightings of the day.
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Wednesday, 5th day:
That day, the "Hiiumaa Islets Landscape Reserve" will await us after breakfast. The bus will take us to Salinõmme from where we have a good view of the numerous small islands and islets off the south-eastern coast of Hiiumaa. They are one of the most important staging sites for migratory bird in this region. Most certainly we will be able to see one or the other of the 187 bird species which have already been recorded there. There is also a small observation tower. After enjoying our packed lunches, we will visit the Sarve peninsula that is famous for its variety of plants, especially orchids. Later in the afternoon, we will go to Suuresadama and Sääre nina where we might be lucky to spot some rarities off the coast. Finally, dinner will await us the accommodation.
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Thursday, 6th day:
After the last breakfast in Soonlepa, we will visit the unspoilt landscape in the west of Hiiumaa. On the Kõpu peninsula, where you also can find the highest point of the whole of Western Estonia (68m), we will take a walk through never-ending forests. Perhaps we might even be lucky enough to see some of the typical breeding birds of this area, as we can find a wide diversity of forest birds there like the Wood Larks or the Black Woodpecker. In Ristna, the westernmost point of the island, a spectacular sea-view is waiting for us. To keep body and soul together, we will have lunch at the former vodka-distillery “Viinaköök” in Viskoosa. Next the bus will be driving along the west coast of Hiiumaa to Sõru, from where the ferry goes to Triigi on Saaremaa. After crossing the biggest island of Estonia from north to south we will finally have dinner at our accommodation in Mändjala.
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Friday, 7th day:
Full of fresh energy and after having coffee, we will start the day by going to Sõrve peninsula. Saaremaa located on one of the most important migration routes, is the main reason for the enormous number of recorded bird species there. Not only Red-throated Divers and Black-throated Divers are regular visitors in the south of Saaremaa, but also Steller’s Eiders. For eating we will have packed lunch, which we can enjoy on the site while continuing birdwatching. At the end of the day, we offer you the option to have a relaxing evening in Kuressaare, the capital of Saaremaa. There you could take a stroll on your own and visit some of the sights like the 13th century Bishopric Castle or the town hall, and during dinner at the “Mönus Villem” pub, you could exchange views on your experiences of the whole trip once again. If you like to continue birdwatching on Sõrve peninsula instead, then we will be glad to transfer you to your accommodation at a later point in time.
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Saturday, 8th day:
The day of departure has come. After the last breakfast on Estonian ground in Mändjala, the bus will take us to Kuivastu via the island of Muhu, where the ferry departs for the 30 minute trip to Virtsu. From there the trip goes on to Tallinn. We will have lunch either on the way or in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Depending on the time, there might be the possibilty to saunter through the medieval streets of the old Hanseatic city of Tallinn. We will be at Tallinn-Ülemiste airport by 3 p.m. at the latest.
Changes to the itinerary due to the weather are possible!
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