Text and photos Tiit Hunt, www.rmk.ee
Translation Liis

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It is worthwhile to take the trouble to look up the ancient tree with the droll name, since where else but here would a tree have its own guest book!

The stout  Tülivere oak hides near Kuusalu on the bank of a stream in the small Allika village. At a first glance the old tree, sheltered between pretty cattle paths and stone fences at the bubbling water, is difficult to see but a map application brings a hiker with dendrological interests unfailingly to the site; the path to the tree is not signposted.

The Tülivere oak is an ancient grove tree that was still in active use in the 20th century but no longer today – the wind tugs at a couple of lonely faded ribbons in the tree crown that someone’s hands tied there long ago.  

Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis

Raccoon dog

Raccoon dog    Kährikkoer or kährik      Nyctereutes procyonoides

Surely you remember the wild boar camera, although now already absent for a year, where raccoon dogs too came to eat; one year they even had transmitter collars  (zoologists studied how the season influenced their movements and use of the territory).

Photo Arne Ader

Video Ahto Täpsi

Translation Liis

Foxes courting

Red fox; European fox   Punarebane or rebane        Vulpes vulpes

Since the end of last summer when the young foxes left the care of the adults they have lived solitarily. They have marked their territories that may be about ten square kilometres in size.

Text: newspaper Võrumaa Teataja

A rather rare incident when a bird flock gets involved in a car accident, newspaper Võrumaa Teataja writes: LINK

Comment: Arne Ader

Siskins are seed-eaters. Mostly they are busy in the crowns of trees but when the seeds drop they can also forage on the ground. Seeds that have been frozen into the snow from the road can sometimes be released all at once – when the cold decreases and the road thaws.

Similar behaviour can also be seen towards spring on the ice of lakes and rivers but there it is not dangerous for the siskins: LINK

Photo Simmo Kikkas
Translation Liis

Portrait of young world citizen on Friday

Grey seal; Gray seal     Hallhüljes        Halichoerus grypus

Thanks to Simmo who went by kayak to count the seal pups the web camera was also adjusted and other necessary jobs got done – it is more uncomfortable for white-tailed eagles to sit on the camera now!

The Baltic-facing side of Saaremaa is free of ice and the pupping of grey seals is in its early stage. Thirteen females have given birth, all young are alive and healthy.