A Pictorial of 'Old Town' Tallinn

Much like the modern usage of the terms 'superstar' or 'legend' the word 'quaint' is often misrepresented. Elsewhere maybe, but here in Tallinn that just seems to sum up the Old Town perfectly. Having spent many hours discovering one of Europe's truly unspoiled capitals, it was no toil to get out there and see what else there was to be found among the cobbled streets and brightly painted buildings. An ancient city, much of it Medieval, has by and large avoided the damages of war and occupation. The Russians retreated from the country with little distress to the infrastructure, unlike Outer Mongolia where they even took with them the windows of government buildings. The Germans did destroy some of the historic buildings but by and large most remained intact, with city walls bearing witness to Estonia's forefathers.   

This plaque was a fortuitous find, close to the ferry terminal, commemorating our own Royal Navy.

I don't know what many of these buildings are, some being private dwellings while others are National Embassies.

Very few buildings are run down,

with most, like this one, absolutely pristine.

Decoration atop a church spire.

I could imagine this as some important 'merchants' house,

with the main door detail looking very fine!

Heading towards the Main Square.

Detail of a church clock.

A few shots looking around the Main Square.

Detail of an ornate but grotesque gargoyle on the same church.

Looking west across the square.

and a church beyond.

This beautiful Peacock Butterfly landed right at my feet as I crossed the square.

The old Russian Orthodox Church.

Birding the Gulf of Finland

Despite a contrary forecast and a heavy downpour of rain late afternoon yesterday, this morning started sunny and by the time I started out for the sea-side (09-00) the temperature was already in the high 60's. Walking through the 'old town', always a blessing, birds seemed to be singing in all directions. Up above the breeding population of Common Swifts were 'screaming' as they provided for their young and in small gardens no fewer than c3 Lesser Whitethroat and c2 redstart were seen.

Arriving at the shore-line the tide seemed very low with Cormorants, Black-headed Gulls and herring Gulls (the nominate race Larus argentatus argentatus) taking full advantage of the exposed rocks. Further along, what looked like a 'tide line' of sea ducks were still present numbering several hundreds with Goldeneye, Common Scoter and Long-tailed Duck being most numerous but with a few Red-breasted Merganser being represented. It was something of a surprise to find c6 Goosander (c4 x make + c2 x female) among the waterfowl but Terns and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull (also nominate race Larus fuscus fuscus) were expected. I still haven't managed to photograph this Gull, although I have seen it on all 5 of my visits to Estonia, but each time they have been distant.

This Common Tern, with extra large gape, looked ready for a bit of fish passing?

With none forthcoming it settled for the 'closed bill' pose.

An obliging adult male Long-tailed Duck

surely deserves a couple of images of such fine plumage?

While on the subject of 'fish passing' (part of the bonding process between most sea Tern species) this male Arctic Tern has been successful with a catch, and is likely hoping to be successful in other directions!

and yes, the eager female awaits on a nearby rock.

A little teasing, don't let 'em have it all at once son, and the pass is made.

OK pal this one is nearly down the hatch, so off you go for another!

There were c5 Mute Swans along the sea wall including a juvenile.

A male Gadwall, normally associated with fresh water,

and his lady friend.

Just about at the northern limit of their range, this single Little Tern was considered a nice find.

Black-headed Gull, plenty of these to be seen.

Another White Wagtail

One of the male Goosander in preening mode.

A second look at yesterdays Icterine Warbler for comparison

with a back view showing some signs of a wing panel.

One record I forgot to mention yesterday and was the disappointment of the day was a splendid Camberwell Beauty Butterfly. How can you be disappointed with one of the most eye-catching insects in the world I hear you ask. Well, that came not with the sighting, but by the fact I nearly trod on it, it then did a 'get your camera ready circuit' before settling again briefly and I didn't get the shot. 

To update the Estonian Bird List, which on Wednesday reached 12 species, in addition I have now recorded:-

Common Swift, Starling, Sparrowhawk, Shelduck, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mallard, Goosander, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Nuthatch, Tree Pipit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Willow Warbler, Grey Heron, Pied Flycatcher, Goldfinch, Spotted Flycatcher, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Common Tern, Common Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Little Tern, Eider, Great Black-backed Gull, Goldeneye, Redstart, Icterine Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat.

Bringing up a Trip Total of 44 and an all time Estonian Total of 92. Included in that final figure are Common Crane, White Stork, Golden Oriole and Great Snipe from previous trips.

Just When You Thought You'd Heard It All!

At Ille's suggestion, I caught the bus this morning to the small town of Viimsi just a few miles north of Tallinn. There, she had told me, were a number of small, urban woodlands where I should find something to keep me interested. but before that,

just a couple of shot from last nights birthday dinner, unfortunately birthday girl Helis is hiding behind the foliage, sat next to her is her boyfriend, and Ille's youngest son, Herkko, then Ille and Me.

Helis and Herkko again.

It was just 10 paces from the bus to the nearest wood, which was full of bird song.

Chaffinch

A sweet but unfamiliar song was constant from high in a Silver Birch tree and although it took a while to locate the bird it was a Pied Flycatcher, a song I have never heard before!

Robin

Nuthatch, it will be noted that the northern race of this familiar woodland bird is all but devoid of the peachy orange breast and belly of the ones found in UK.

 
and a back view.

a smart White Wagtail

Having spotted a pair of Common Scoter I assumed the large number (hundreds rather than tens) were the same, but on closer inspection most were to seen as Long-tailed Duck, but only a couple ventured near enough for a photo call.

Hooded Crow good numbers keep the fore-shore clean.

Another unfamiliar, yet beautifully sweet song, came from this Icterine Warbler another song I have never heard before, and unlike the few I have seen skulking in the lower levels of thick bramble, this, one of a pair, seemed happy in the tops of the local Silver Birches.

Between seeing the Icterine Warbler above and this smart Fieldfare I also heard, again for the first time, the song of  Redstart. It was only when this Thrush started up that i was reminded of the return of Martin Cade (Warden of the Portland Bird Observatory) from last years 'birding' holiday in Sweden and Finland. Of course full of news of Great Grey Owl and Steller's it was soon apparent that one of his highlights was the 'song' of Redwing. The same happened to me today, and as it was also feeding I thought a little patience may result in something even better? 

Only a brief glimpse of these images will show you what I mean. Have you ever watched a pair of Fieldfare feeding young? what I presumed to be the female bird directed me to the nest, but seemed concerned about my presence and simply perched on the lip of the nest making these open beaked gestures.

Thinking the coast clear it proceeded to feed the 5 nestlings, then carrying out domestic cleaning of the bottom of the nest, before

being relieved by the more colorful partner, which I thought had to be the male. What a sight!

 

Some of the fauna in these wood included (white) Wood Anemony

and with same leaf stucture what I think must be (yellow) Wood Anemony.

a general view of one of the woods.

During the walk back to Ille's I took this photo of a monument to what I know not.

A view of Tallinn from the north east.

The Mariner's Monument.

The estonian Flag.

Germany joined the ranks of the readership today, bringing the countries tally to 60. Welcome to ALL new readers! It's now getting late so I hope to bring an update of species counts tomorrow - good night.