Photos Arne Ader
English  translation Liis

Estonian text posted 13.09.2018

Common toad

Common toad      Harilik kärnkonn        Bufo bufo

On Saturday evening, I had the opportunity to keep company with a toad gentleman at an evening meal that started at half past five and lasted almost an hour and a half.

Why a male? The individual was some eleven centimetres long, smart and dignified. Somehow I did not want to class the creature as a female because old females may be even larger than fifteen centimetres in body length and, as fits dignified ladies, appropriately portly.

Mounted and commented by  Mogga, LK forum
English translation Liis

Estonian text posted 12.09.2018

Author’s comments in forum: LINK

Text and photos Aivar Leito
English translation Liis

Estonian text posted 10.09.2018

Hello again, dear crane friends!

In my crane tale on September 4th I predicted that „Hauka 3“ with a GPS probably would not migrate further from Latvia, but that was a mistake!

The author, Kristel Vilbaste, also posts texts in Vikerraadio

Photo: Arne Ader

Translation into English by Maret

Estonian text posted 23.08.2018

Woolly burdock

The stalks of burdocks have grown chest-high and the plants themselves are full on burs, some of them still carrying a ring of purple bloom.

But most of them are totally ready to catch onto a passerby’s sleeve or hair. And to travel away.

Despite being such a catching nuisance, the burs are still liked by everyone. In the middle ages it was customary to present burdocks to your beloved, when you wanted to let her/him know, that you were ready to get fully attached to your sweetheart.

The author, Kristel Vilbaste, also posts texts in Vikerraadio

Photos: Arne Ader

Translation into English by Maret

Estonian text posted 22.08.2018

Raccoon dog

Driving around these days you will notice lots of raccoon dog corpses on the roads. Most likely even you yourself have had to do some zig-zag driving in order to save the life of a little animal.

The mention of raccoon dogs usually does not raise any positive emotions in us, probably because of the song, where they as a foreign species crowded out the badgers. Still, they were brought in decades ago for reasons of vanity, as a hat made of raccoon dog skins was a sign of prosperity. Many people were dreaming of such a nice hat or a fur collar, although once that skin got wet, it smelled something awful.

Just because of that smell, the animals killed on the roads are left there  -  the other predators will not touch them.