Back From Estonia

Well, that was a hard tour... and again it was the weather that did it. It was Arctic-like conditions up in Estonia, with often sub-zero temperatures, deep snow, icy roads and a frozen sea. The longest and hardest winter for over 20 years the locals said. But, we did not sit the the warmth of the hotels but got out into the field, and took a ferry across the frozen sea. The iced over sea meant we did not see Stellers Eiders but in the forests we did well and found the likes of a daytime calling Pygmy Owl, Black Grouse lekking, a male Capercaillie, confiding Nutcrackers, Black Woodpeckers daily, and a pair of drumming Three-toed Woodpeckers. Lots of animal tracks and signs, too.