A new tour to our portfolio for 2026 follows on from a very successful private tour we ran in October 2025 for an RSPB group. Estonia is of course no stranger to us as we already operate our March and June tours to this fabulous birding country on the edge of Europe. But the autumn offers something altogether different, as its position on the Baltic Sea means the Estonian coastline is a major migration route for birds escaping the harsh winters of Scandinavia and Russia for the more moderate climes of Central and Eastern Europe. The geography of that coastline means that it offers some of the most spectacular visible migration anywhere in the World, with diurnal migrants such as tits funnelling down its narrow spits and peninsulas in often incredible numbers. Among these throngs it is often possible to witness other species migrating such as Great Grey Shrikes and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, while seawatching can produce epic movements of waterfowl such as scoter, divers and other seaduck (especially Long-tailed Duck) moving out of the Baltic Sea for winter.
Coastal fields are filling with the first arrivals of Tundra and Taiga Bean Geese and fresh water bodies and coastal bays attract Slavonian Grebes, Smew, large flocks of Goosander and more Long-tailed Ducks, while raptors such as Goshawk, Hen Harrier, Merlin and White-tailed Eagle oversee the whole affair! There is plenty of time too to look for some of Estonia’s speciality birds such as the magnificent Ural Owl in forest clearings at dusk, the diminutive Pygmy Owl, and several woodpecker species including White-backed, Grey-headed and Black. Northern races of Treecreeper, Willow Tit, Nuthatch and Bullfinch will also likely be seen and there is always the chance of a sighting of an Elk or European Lynx too! Don’t miss this fantastic tour for 2026, which will be guided by Chris Mills and Tarvo Valker.
DAY ONE
Fly London UK-Tallinn and drive to Saremaa Island on the west coast of Estonia. We arrive late in the evening, so dinner will be a snack in a service area en route. Overnight ASA Hotel in Kuressaare.
DAYS TWO—FIVE
This tour gives you the chance to witness one of the most spectacular visible migrationS in Europe. Remarkable numbers of passerines, raptors and various seaduck breeding in Russian tundra and Scandinavia follow the Estonian coastline every autumn. During the peak days up to half a million Chaffinches, tens of thousands of Siskins or continuous chains of Long-tailed Ducks pass through the observation points in West-Estonia.
Over the first two days on Saaremaa our main birding destination is long stretching peninsula – Sõrve. In October any birding day here can easily produce over a hundred species. But even more remarkable are the numbers of passing migrants 0,5 million Chaffinches, 300,000 Bramblings and 1,000 Sparrowhawk to point out some of them.
Over the years also around 20 national firsts have been found from Sõrve adding excitement to any autumn visit here. As each birding day is very different at Sõrve, we will spend also our second morning here before returning back to the mainland.
Our mainland birding include full day around Matsalu National Park – a large Ramsar site. Here we can enjoy majestic Cranes, white-tailed eagles chasing massive flocks of ducks and geese. and admire Hen Harriers patrolling over the meadows.
Then the last full day of our trip will be spent at Spithami – over 2 million wildfowl pass this spit each autumn. In early October we can expect good numbers of Velvet Scoters, Red-and Black-throated Divers and Long-tailed Duck. On a last evening we will be also looking for the impressive Ural Owl found at Leidissoo forests.
Highlights: hundreds of Velvet Scoters and Smew, thousands of Long-tailed Ducks, Merlin, Hen Harrier, white-tailed eagle, Rough-lwggwd Buzzard,Hazel Hen, Black Grouse, Pygmy Owl, Ural Owl, Black woodpecker, Grey-headed woodpecker, whitw-backwd woodpwckwr, Nutcracker, Great Grey Shrike, waxing, Hawfinch, thousands of Bramblings, Snow Bunting, mass migration of passerines.
DAY SIX
Today we depart Estonia on the evening flight which means we have more or less a full days birding in the Marimetsa area, before we have to transfer back to Tallinn. We arrive back late to Luton, where the tour will conclude.
Overview
Day 1 arrival, drive to Saaremaa island. Birding en route. Overnight on Saaremaa island.
Day 2 birding at Sõrve peninsula, evening at Viidumäe forests Overnight on Saaremaa island.
Day 3 second visit to Sõrve, drive to the mainland in the afternoon. Overnight in Matsalu NP.
Day 4 full birding day at Matsalu National Park and Haapsalu. Overnight in Matsalu NP.
Day 5 seaatching at Spithami, evening birding at Leidissoo forests. Overnight in Matsalu NP.
Day 6 morning birding in Marimetsa NR. Drive to Tallinn for departure flight
WHATS INCLUDED
Five nights accommodation, all meals from dinner on day one to lunch on day six, return flights UK/Tallinn, services of leaders and transport in Estonia.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Transport to/from UK airport and any overnight stay that may be required, travel insurance, tips, drinks and any items of a purely personal nature. Lunch on day one and dinner on day eight.
