February 2016

VIDEO: Seal life

Video recorded by Fleur, LK forum
Translation Liis

 

Grey seal   Hallhüljes       Halichoerus grypus
 
The old seal bulls with their dark fur and the necks decked with skin folds that are covered with fighting scars split up the territories between themselves, in order to be near the females when the suckling ends, since their heat period starts then.

VIDEO: Partridges in thawing snow

Video Ahto Täpsi
Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis

 

A flock pf grey partridges were busy in Sahargu village in Viru County under the branches of spruces. A passing caterpillar scared the birds into a run, tails white from thawing snow…
 
Partridge; Grey partridge   Nurmkana        Perdix perdix
 
Towards the end of October last year, partridges formed groups that keep together until spring – however the winter will turn out, it is easier to be in a group and there are more watchful eyes to recognize threats.

VIDEO: Snow cooled down grouse display

Video Ahto Täpsi
Photos Arne Ader
Translation Liis
 
Black grouse     Teder        Tetrao tetrix
 
During the first great and lasting thaw in February black grouse mating displays, or leks, certainly could be seen. See earlier article : LINK
 
More snow fell, and the grouse again sit in birches or  alders, feeding on the catkins and buds.

VIDEO: Antler dropping time

Video, photos and text Tiit Hunt, www.rmk.ee
Translation Liis

 

Söödaplatsil käib umbes veerandsada hirvepulli, igal loomal peas kordumatu kujuga sarved. Vähestest viisidest, kuidas hirvekarja liikmetel üldse vahet teha, ongi nende sarved. Üks pull on pool sarve ära murdnud, teisel üks sarvepulk kolm korda lühem kui teine, kolmandal paistavad veel väheldased sarved aga ideaalilähedaselt sümmeetrilised…

VIDEO: Happenings at badger den

Trail camera video Mats Kangur
Activity track images recorded by  Tiit Hunt
 
Badger    Mäger        Meles meles
 
The reading of this year’s track book was confoundingly tricky. There is no lasting snow cover nor daytime thaw and a new fresh snow layer on it. Because of this we have not reported the mating moves of felines nor canines  - the tracks simply will not tell a clear story.
 
Of course the larger predators make their tours at the badger burrows.

White-tailed eagles and "98"

Text: Urmas Sellis (Eagle Club)
Images from webcam: Urmas, Michi, Mutikluti)
Translation Liis
When we celebrate Estonia’s 98th anniversary  the eagles are prepared to do so too.
 
Two days before the Anniversary of the Estonian Republic the female arrived in the white-tailed eagle nest where the webcam is installed.

Two faces of one phenomenon

Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis
 
Glaze frost on birch branches
 
A winter rainfall that freezes on the ground is called glaze ice, but when it does so on trees, power lines or or on objects above ground in general then glaze frost.
 
Yesterday ice rain fell from nimbostratus clouds, dark, low-level clouds, at a height of about one kilometre and this weather phenomenon we can still feel in the next few days.
 
The precipitation of ice rain is caused by a warm air layer when the

Cornflower blue

Text Kristel Vilbaste
Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis
It is fitting to talk about our national symbols at the Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia on February 24th: limestone boulders, sturdy junipers, barn swallows … and cornflowers.
 
Cornflower blue has enchanted me for years. Maybe because I remember from my childhood preparing herbarium pages together with my grandmother. Preserving the cornflower blue was the most difficult part in drying plants. But Grandmother’s work bore fruit and the blue has survived until today.
 
Until today I have not connected the actions at the end of the 1960ies with the choice of the cornflower as our national flower. Yes, from 1969 the cornflower is the national flower of Estonia.

Current stand of AFS

Info from Estonian  VTA
Translation Liis
African Swine Fever (AFS) zones.
 
According to data at the Estonian Veterinary and Food Board (Veterinaar- ja Toiduamet, VTA)  AFS was found in 51 cases in the period February 9-15:  30 positive tests in samples from boar found dead and from 21 that were shot by hunters.

White-tailed eagle nest camera 2016

Text: Urmas Sellis, Kotkaklubi - Eagle Club
Photos: Triin Leetmaa, Omar Neiland
Transmission courtesy of Tele2 / Televõrk and EENet
Translation: Liis
The white-tailed eagle camera is located at a nest in West Estonia, a neighbour to the nest of Linda and Sulev that we have watched previously. Installation of the camera took two days in mid-January (it was still cold weather then, around -15⁰C), taking part were Renno, Omar, Triin and Urmas. Later Renno and Omar had to adjust a few minor details.

VIDEO: Nest has to be fought for

Video recorded by Urmas Lett, www.eenet.ee
Translation Liis

 

 

White-tailed eagle     Merikotkas       Haliaeetus albicilla     
 
To start with some information: beginning from February 15th it is prohibited to move in the nesting area of white-tailed eagles without special permission according to the Nature Conservation Act.
 
The quite long “film”  shows the fending off of the younger nest occupants  for five minutes. An attentive watcher notes the differences in exterior and the leg rings.

VIDEO: About the winter activities of badgers

Video, trail camera images and text Tiit Hunt, www.rmk.ee
Translation: Liis

 

On the border between Harju and Rapla counties, in a hazel stand with large aspens and some spruces and birches, there is a badger castle with more than ten openings. Here on a hazel a trail camera was mounted in the end of January  to observe whether badgers, besides sleeping, also go outdoors in winter. 
 
Photos and video records testify that there is plenty of activity whenever warmer weather arrives, and that there is no lack of visitors. Four badgers, probably two adults and their two young, are active at the den every evening and night.

Tuhala Witches Well no longer boils

Photo: Kaido Einama

 
 
We also noted that the phenomenon could end at any time. And so it did.
While on Sunday many who came to see it witnessed the amazing happening, those who travelled there on Monday to watch were sadly disappointed: just a wet well rim was to be seen.
 
Nothing to be done about it. Remains only to wait for the next boiling: it may come already next spring, it may take several years.

Seal camera works

Webcam image captured by Bea, LK forum
Translation Liis
In the stormy weather of this year a calm day was hard to find. About the situation then: the pupping of grey seals started about two weeks ago, with the beginning of February: the bigger seal pups look this old. There were about 20 of them on the isle but that nearly 50% die is worrying. When the active period on the isle has ended seal researchers Mart and Ivar Jussi will be able to tell more in detail about the situation.

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