On day 2 we visited several sites around the north-side of Matsula Bay.
The first area we visited was a coastal habitat near Keemu. Again we spotted large numbers of Tundra Bean Geese, White-fronted Geese and Barnacle Geese feeding. Just offshore, feeding in the shallows were Pintail, Garganey and Gadwall. On the shoreline, there were Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Ruff, Redshank, Avocet and Lapwing.
Further around the bay we stopped at Haeska a small hamlet once used by the Russian fishing fleet.
Offshore, there were hundreds of Greater Scaup and the coastal pastures were filled with Barnacle Geese. We had hoped to find Barred Warbler in the gardens, but we were not lucky. However, we still managed to see a Bluethroat (red-spot), Goldcrest and a Red-backed Shrike, plus the air was filled with the song of a Thrush Nightingale sitting in a nearby tree.
We also tried the fire ravaged woodland at Veskijavi for Three-toed Woodpecker, but sadly no luck although we did see Cuckoo, Pied Flycatcher, Raven, Great-spotted Woodpecker and heard Red-breasted Flycatcher.
The next stop was in the grounds of a disused manor house where we spotted Fieldfare, Spotted Flycatcher, Icterine Warbler and Wryneck.
At another woodland site, the group's patience was rewarded with a pair of White-backed Woodpeckers visiting a nest hole. The male bird was spotted first, but soon left the clearing and then after approximately 30 minutes he returned. Flying straight to the nest hole, the female emerged flying on to a nearby tree and the swap was made. Behind the group, a Wood Warbler was singing within the woodland symphony.
We finished day 2 having seen 118 bird species.
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