March 2016

Image from webcam captured by  Mutikluti, LK forum

Translation Liis

White-tailed eagle     Merikotkas       Haliaeetus albicilla

We were a little too quick with yesterday’s incubation story – in early morning light the view opened on female Anna’s third egg, probably laid late yesterday evening. Now the clutch should be complete.

So the first egg for Women’s Day, the second on March 11th and the last one on March 14th. Incubation is in process and we might begin to expect the hatching of eaglets from April 11^th onwards.

Image from webcam captured by  Mutikluti, LK forum

Translation Liis

Male eagle  Uku was allowed to be stand-in on the nest for only a few minutes…

White-tailed eagle    Merikotkas      Haliaeëtus albicilla

The incubation time of our largest birds will be quite long. Information in literature varies but we might expect the hatching of eaglets in the camera nest around  April 11th.  First, the ”surprise” egg of the eagle pair appeared on Women’s Day, the next one on March 11th. The  full clutch of white-tailed eagles generally consists of 1-3 eggs.

Video recorded by  Lusy, LK forum

Image from webcam captured by  IceAge, LK forum

Translation Liis

Badger; European badger       Mäger        Meles meles

At least every other day we see how our adult badgers bring in more nest material, dried in the spring air.

Video record by Fleur, LK forum

Translation Liis

Tawny owl    Kodukakk      Strix aluco

On Saturday morning, at a quarter to eight, it seemed that Klaara had laid an egg. We could not be quite certain but had to wait until evening.

There are always reasons to get out in the evening: legs and wings need stretching, some food would be nice, company kept with Klaus.  And at 19.48 the second egg could be seen, before flying out Klaara turned the eggs with some clatter.

Video recorded by Ame, LK forum

Translation Liis

The final part of egg-laying looks like this

White-tailed eagle     Merikotkas     Haliaeëtus albicilla

When we saw the first egg of female eagle Anna in the morning mists of Women’s Day, we prepared to expect the second egg on Friday afternoon, or before the camera ends its transmission in the evening and so it was.

Videos by Liz, LK forum

Translation Liis

Tawny owl        Kodukakk        Strix aluco

 

Let us begin the story as it was written on Thursday night when we were waiting for Klaara to arrive in the nest. She did not arrive in the nest until Friday morning at 6  o’clock. Thus she was absent from the nest for 11 hours.

Photo Kaarel Kaisel

Translation Liis

Bean geese in snowfall

Bean goose     Rabahani        Anser fabalis

Bean geese do not stay in Estonia, their breeding territory begins at the marshes of central Finland and from there extends towards north. During the spring migration in March-April tens of thousands of bean geese can make a stop in Estonia however – for feeding, waiting for warmer weather in the breeding area or waiting for suitable migrating winds. It does not do to be late to the breeding territories. In the flight view there are the usual ”goose triangles” but sometimes they also fly in a long line at each others’ tails .

Video recorded by Fleur, LK forum

Translation Liis

Tawny owl       Kodukakk       Strix aluco

At about half past three in the afternoon Klaara was shifting in the nest somehow nervously. Our viewers got to see the egg in the evening, at a quarter past six.

Congratulations to the tawny owl pair!

The video also shows glimpses of Klaus, who is feeding Klaara as a caring husband should.

Webcam images captured by Lianaliesma, LK forum

Translation Liis

Gray seal       Hallhüljes       Halichoerus grypus

On the weekend, 117 gray seal pups (25 carcasses, not a particularly high mortality rate according to the seal researchers) were counted on the small plot of land where the seal camera is located. At the time of the survey 100 adults were present on land. Ten white-tailed eagles were hoping for easy food.