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. Before Estonia switched over to the Euro the back of the 500-kroon note was graced by the national bird. Estonia is not the only country to have the Barn Swallow as the national bird.

Estonia 178

Estonia Austria Campaign Birds 178

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 17, 2019

And I didn’t pay enough attention because one very dark eagle flew by at the same time, an adult Greater Spotted Eagle. Two hundred yards further, we found another Greater Spotted Eagle! These globally threatened raptors breed from Ukraine eastward through Siberia and only a few come to overwinter here.

Geese 156

Geese Serbia Birds Estonia 156

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2023

I only scored 43 in March, but that was because I was away birding in Portugal and Estonia. Inland in the Alentejo I found Great Spotted Cuckoos and the first returning Short-toed Eagles. On the plus side, Waxwings and White-tailed Eagles (10 in the sky at once) were great to see. The rewards were, however, hugely satisfying.

Estonia 237

Estonia Portugal Greece Barn Owls 237