A Cinereous Vulture spotted in Matsalu

Birdwatcher Tarvo Valker recently spotted a Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus), a rare sight in Estonia, on a coastal meadow along the southern shore of Matsalu Bay.

The vulture, which usually inhabits more southern regions, is a rare accidental visitor in Estonia. It has previously been seen in Lääne county only four or five times. Valker himself last encountered the same species in 2015 in Haeska, where the bird stayed for an extended period and remained in the area for several weeks. In total, vultures have been recorded in Estonia around 14–15 times. Occasionally, this scavenger has also been captured by trail cameras at wildlife feeding sites.