The author, Kristel Vilbaste, also presents texts in Vikerraadio

Photo: Mairit Kallaste

Translation into English by Maret

_{Estonian text posted 31.07.2018}

A drinking vessel for white storks under their nest. (Yesterday’s story in LK -  LINK)

The Weather God has been so stingy with rain, that even all the still-water bodies are starting to dry up.

My brother Enn Vilbaste says, that he cannot remember the water level in the Nigula bog lake ever having been so low  -  even stones that were never seen before are now all above the water. The ponds by the bog are totally dry. The beavers will have a critical time in their lives.

Screenshot from webcam  IceAge, LK forum
English translation Liis

Estonian text posted 08.08.2018

The young spotted eagle has  chosen a place next to the webcam

Greater spotted eagle    Suur-konnakotkas    Aquila clanga or Clanga clanga

Screenshot from webcam and video Svenja, LK forum
English translation Liis

Estonian text posted 08.08.2018

Black stork        Must-toonekurg          Ciconia nigra     

 

As in every year the visits of the female stork becomes rarer in July until we one day notice that she has not been visiting the nest at all for several days – that is how she sets out on migration.

The last time that we saw the third storklet was on the same day that they became two and a half months old. There have been occasions in earlier years when a young bird that has been out straying around has returned again to the nest after four days …

The author, Kristel Vilbaste, also presents texts in Vikerraadio

Photos: Arne Ader and Vello Keppart

Translation into English by Maret

_{Estonian text posted 26.07.2018}

Birch catkins

Did you notice, how toward the end of last week birches suddenly turned yellow? Normally at this time of the year birches get just yellow streaks in their green dos.

Some birches are already totally autumn-yellow. That, however, does not mean, that somehow the autumn will arrive earlier, it just means that birches are very sensitive to drought and water shortage. Drought is forcing some trees to drop their yellow leaves already.

Also the bird cherry (aka hackberry) is already autumnally red, we can find the first deep-red leaves on the footpaths and the trees themselves look unexpectedly bare. The bird cherry is the first tree to show us the signs of fall.