Tour Dates: Sunday 25th – Thursday 29th January 2026 (Tallin to Tallin)
Tour Price: £1,199pp plus flight
Estimated Flight Price: London to Tallin approx. £200 return
Deposit: £350 per person
Conservation Donation from Wise Birding: £50 – £100
Minimum Number: 3 people
Maximum Group Size: 6 people
Target Species
Flocks of Steller´s Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks, Velvet Scoter, Smew, White-tailed Eagle, Rough-legged Buzzard, Hazel Hen, Black Grouse, White-backed and Grey-headed Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Northern Hawk Owl, Eurasian Pygmy Owl, Ural Owl, Great Grey Shrike, Spotted Nutcracker and Bohemian Waxwing.
Tour Summary
This exciting tour is specially designed as a short winter break to see the wintering flocks of Steller’s Eiders combined with some impressive wintering Owls including Northern Hawk Owl and Ural Owl.
Numbers of Steller´s on Saaremaa island vary each winter but generally you can expect to see around 250 birds and thanks to the knowledge of our local guide we will visit sites where birds are often just 50 metres from us! We will spend 2 nights on Saaremaa island where we have an excellent chance to see and photograph this highly sought after seaduck. Also on Saaremaa, there will be thousands of Long-tailed Ducks and possibly up to a few hundred Velvet Scoters and Smew. Aside from seaducks, we should also see Rough-legged Buzzard, Nutcracker and a Pygmy Owl.
The second half of the tour will focus on finding the diurnal speciality Northern Hawk Owl and with luck, the Ural Owl can be found at dusk. We also have good chances to see Eurasian Pygmy Owl and we will also try for Tengmalm´s, though we need little luck. Our birding will finish in the woodlands around Soomaa NP which has superb forest habitat and we should see several Woodpeckers and perhaps even a glimpse of the Hazel Hen.
ACCOMMODATION: 4 nights in Estonia
2 nights in a manor guesthouse on Saaremaa Island and 2 nights at a hotel near Sooma NP
Meals: Full board
DAY 1: Tallin – Saaremaa Island
On arrival at Tallinn Airport we will travel around 160Km to Virtsu where we take the early evening ferry to Muhu Island. This takes just 30 minutes and then we cross by bridge to Saaremaa Island. Depending on the severity of the winter, the Suur Väin Strait which we cross on the ferry can be covered with ice, or host large flocks of seaducks. If the sea is open we will be looking out for flocks of Long-tailed Ducks and Greater Scaup. We will then travel to the west side of the island where if the weather is suitable we will try for Eurasian Pygmy Owl. Overnight Loona Manor
Day 2: Saaremaa Island
Today our main target will be the wonderful Steller’s Eider so we will travel to the north-western tip of Saaremaa Island. The hot spot for Steller’s Eider is located close to Cape Undvao where we hope to find the dense feeding flocks where their synchronised diving is a real spectacle! Other species we hope to find include flocks of Greater Scaup and Long-tailed Duck as well as White-tailed Eagle and maybe Bohemian Waxwing. We also have chances of divers and waders including Purple Sandpiper. After lunch we will explore the island further and try and find Great Grey Shrike with chances of Rough-legged Buzzard and Nutcracker. As evening approaches we will again try for Eurasian Pygmy Owl. Overnight Lonna Manor
DAY 3: Return to mainland – Soomaa NP
After breakfast we will return to the mainland. Once back at Virtsu Harbour we will drive south east towards the town of Parnu and then on to Soomaa National Park. Whilst travelling, we will keep our eyes peeled for Northern Hawk Owl and if there are any wintering birds nearby, we will try our luck before arriving on the edge of Soomaa. The park is located in central Estonia and has very good quality forest. Our main focus for the rest of the day will be Woodpeckers, particularly White-backed and Grey-headed, Hazel Grouse and Capercaillie. Then in the early evening, dependent on weather, we will try for owls with good possibilities of both Ural and Pygmy Owl. Overnight near Sooma NP
DAY 4: Soomaa NP
We will have a full day exploring the wonderful forest habitats of Soomaa and we will focus our time on the speciality Woodpeckers and Grouse as well as any other species that we have yet to find. It will be a very enjoyable day in one of the best forest birding areas in the country and in a classic winter wonderland setting. Aside from birds, there is always a chance of something unexpected, like a Moose or even a Lynx!
DAY 5: Soomaa NP – Tallin
After breakfast we will have time for a short birding session around the forests for any species that may have eluded us and then we will slowly make our way back to Tallin, but keeping an eye out for Hawk Owls along the way! The journey time is around 2hrs, so depending on flight times there may be time for a short visit around Tallin before getting to the airport where the tour concludes.
Please note this is a flexible itinerary which may need to be adjusted slightly dependent on arrival / departure times, weather conditions and the most recent information from our local guides
Leader: Tarvo Valker
Included in cost: Accommodation in twin en-suite rooms, all meals, all entrance fees, ground transport and services of leader
Not included in cost: International airfare, travel insurance, drinks other than water and any airport/visa fees
Single Supplement: £95
Transport: Minivan or Minibus dependent on group size
Difficulty: Easy, though be prepared for snow and ice
The walking throughout the tour is easy going with leisurely walks on open trails. However, snow and ice are likely to make walking more difficult.
Climate: Very cold with sub zero temperatures expected.
Tour Start Point: Tallin airport, Estonia
Tour End Point: Tallin airport, Estonia
Suggested Airlines: Easyjet or Baltic Air
