Text and photos Aare Lindt, www.loodusmuuseum.ee

Translation Liis

Oak beauty

Oak beauty  Tamme-kedrikvaksik  Biston stratarius

The oak beauty was discovered in Estonia for the first time by amateur entomologist Tiit Marnot in 1961. By now they have spread over all Estonia and have become locally quite common

It flies from mid-April to mid-May.

Video recorded by Urmas Lett, www.eenet.ee

Translation Liis

Black stork   Must-toonekurg       Ciconia nigra

The two bigger storklets are only three days old, one is a day younger which shows too, but all are well and sturdy.

Feeding is easy for the adults at first. Half-digested food which the storks-to-be digest better is regurgitated for the storklets (they already know that food comes from a beak and one must stretch towards there). Larger fish and anything that is not suitable for the storklets the adult eat themselves and so the ”table” gets cleaned up too.

Text and photos Aare Lindt, www.loodusmuuseum.ee

Translation Liis

Brindled beauty

Brindled beauty    Saare-karusvaksik      Lycia hirtaria

The brindled beauty is widely spread in all Estonia and is quite common. It can be found in forests and thickets but also in parks or gardens. The moths fly in April and May.

Text and photos Aare Lindt, www.loodusmuuseum.ee

Translation Liis

Sallow nycteoline

Sallow nycteoline    Paju-varjeöölane    Nycteola degenerana

The sallow nycteoline is a quite small moth (wing length only 11 mm) but its life span in contrast is quite long – about 10 months. The moths hatch at the end of July and fly until the arrival of frosts. After wintering they may live until June, and we can meet them now.

If the sallow nycteoline is disturbed it may stick out its white legs from under the wings as a means of scaring.

Image from webcam captured by Mutikluti, LK forum

Translation Liis

Black stork       Must-toonekurg          Ciconia nigra

A brief review of events, starting from the very beginning. Male  Karl arrived to his home nest on March 26, but had to wait for his mate Kati until April 7. Happiness seemed to be mutual and the eggs were laid already on April 11, 13, 15 and 17.

The first two chicks were hatched on May 17, the third in the morning of May 18; we will see how things develop further….