10,000 Birds

APRIL 29, 2011

The national bird of Estonia is the Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica. Of course, in Estonia the bird is not called Barn Swallow. Since 1995 that same Estonian Ornithological Society has chosen a bird as the bird of the year and this year, 2011, it is the Barn Swallow ! Click on our National Birds page!

Estonia 167

Estonia Austria Campaign Birds 167

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 17, 2019

The Christmas Bird Count was the answer. The IWC census starts from mid-January following the logic that it is the period when the birds have reached their wintering grounds and are rather static, so the chance of double-counting the same flock is minimal. But it is so frustrating to pass the birds by without IDing them!

Geese 141

Geese Serbia Birds Estonia 141

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2023

However, I have to put it in perspective by explaining that during the year I hardly ventured out of East Anglia, and almost every bird was seen in Suffolk or Norfolk – I live on the county boundary. I’m not a twitcher, either, so I rarely, if ever, go in search of a bird, or birds, that someone else has reported.

Estonia 219

Estonia Portugal Greece Barn Owls 219