Winter Feeding Ground ~ Nov 2008 - March 2009

[Mutikluti]

I got on a picture how one raven scared a woodpecker away from it`s place...

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[Mutikluti]

10.05 the first hungry bird! A jay....

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[Liis]

Dendrocopus....but whitch one?
For me the first time I see one, is it an leucotus?

Renno, others from Kotkaklubi who know the area: possible that it was the white-backed woodpecker?

Interesting, because it seems that it is not rare in Estonia, about the same as the Green woodpecker, 1000+ breeding pairs. There are whitebacks in south Finland, and Norway (along southwestern coast, some 1500 breeding pairs), but it is very nearly extinct in Sweden, probably because of the changes in landscape and forest management. So how is Norway different for whitebacks? anybody from Norway in the Forum?

[Mutikluti]

11.22
A buzzard on the feeding place...

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[Mutikluti]

11.56
The first crow came to ask from this buzzard: May I take some mouthfools too here? Few minutes later landed some crows more near this buzzard....

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12.12 A buzzard left the feeding place.

[renno]

Renno, others from Kotkaklubi who know the area: possible that it was the white-backed woodpecker?

Interesting, because it seems that it is not rare in Estonia, about the same as the Green woodpecker, 1000+ breeding pairs. There are whitebacks in south Finland, and Norway (along southwestern coast, some 1500 breeding pairs), but it is very nearly extinct in Sweden, probably because of the changes in landscape and forest management. So how is Norway different for whitebacks? anybody from Norway in the Forum?

no, it was still greater spotted woodpecker dendrocopos major which breeds in Estonia at least 50 000 pairs. compare to Scandinavia white-backed woodpecker is quite common here, breeds in 3000-6000 pairs but green woodpecker Picus viridis is very rare (50-100 pairs) and breeds mostly on the island (Saaremaa). Grey-headed Picus canus have been on the perch tree also (3000-5000 pairs in Estonia), also black woodpecker Dryocopus martius(6000-9000 pairs). In Estonia here breeds also lesser spotted woodpecker dendrocopos minor (5000-8000 pairs) and middle spotted woodpecker (50-200 pairs).

too many numbers...

[Liis]

Thanks, Renno! and not to many numbers at all.
Maybe we can have a LK article on woodpeckers sometime?
I haven't realised that the green woodpecker is so rare. Maybe it is so in Sweden too, we just believe we see the green one ...
The whitebacked woodpecker disappéared quite quickly in Sweden. Is there any risk in Estonia, if (when!) the biotopes change?

[renno]

Thanks, Renno! and not to many numbers at all.
Maybe we can have a LK article on woodpeckers sometime?
I haven't realised that the green woodpecker is so rare. Maybe it is so in Sweden too, we just believe we see the green one ...
The whitebacked woodpecker disappéared quite quickly in Sweden. Is there any risk in Estonia, if (when!) the biotopes change?

Yes, white-backed disappeared quikly from Finland and Sweden and are rare species now. It was mostly due to the changes of timber harvesting practice - clear felling raised as main forest management method since 1970-s (?). Estonia is generally following the same road but 20-30 years later - clear felling is main management method since 1990-s - but numbers of white-backed have been grown during last decade. Maybe it is due to small amount of maintanence cuttings and therefore there is still enough dead wood for insects as a food of many rear woodpeckers. Or the breakdown will come in the future...

[Jo UK]

Please, please, post a lot of pictures and observations, in kindness to our admins.
There is such a surge of spam - fraudulent requests for membership from spammers - that there is little time for us to see the webcams or read the forum. If you haven't seen Juta, bociany or me for while, that is why.

So we will have to rely on you to keep us informed about webcam events. Thanks.

[Mutikluti]

Good morning!

9.00
A woodpecker...

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[Mutikluti]

9.32
A buzzard landed on the feeding place...

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[Mutikluti]

A woodpecker and a crow together on the same time on the perch tree....

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[Mutikluti]

10.18
A buzzard flew away...

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[Mutikluti]

Birds are back on the feeding place...but no eagles yet...

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[Mutikluti]

Here was a hard fight between ravens...
Before those 4 were walking and walking together arround the feeding place....then they did a circle and bowed the heads sometimes, then they again were walking...They did this ritual some times...

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And then began an action..serious fighting...

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[Mutikluti]

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[verlit]

Mutikluti: Wow, that sound like some kind of ritual, almost spooky!

[Kuremari]

nice to see the birds back at the feeding place,
woodpecker on perch tree

[Kuremari]

a crow on perch tree

[Kuremari]

it started snowing
"Choose me, please, i am most handsome and clever raven
in the neighbourhood!"