Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis

Follicle fruits of marsh marigold

Marsh marigold    Harilik varsakabi         Caltha palustris

Many plants have not started flowering yet but the seeds of the marsh marigold are already ripening and if it hurries, it will have time to flower once more at the end of summer.

As the grasses develop the marsh marigold that flourished in damp habitats in spring becomes less noticeable, even the leaves will lose their bright green colour.

Photos  Kristel Vilbaste
Translation Liis

The nests of black garden ants this year in Tartu are built at the roots of dandelions that retained moisture  during the recent drought. Do the ants predict a dry summer?

 

Black garden ant      Mullamurelane or must sipelgas         Lasius niger  

Video recorded by  Mutikluti, LK forum
Translation Liis

White-tailed eagle    Merikotkas     Haliaeëtus albicilla

A severe storm the whole Saturday and there was already a fear that the right-hand part of the nest had fallen down with an eaglet. From 6 o’clock the storm started to abate, and bird calls were heard from the nest forest but there are still strong winds.

Only remnants of the nest remain but all barely fledged eaglets have stood up to the harsh ordeal. Nearby the calls of the adult birds can be heard.

Image from webcam captured by Liz, LK forum
Video recorded by  Mutikluti, LK forum
Translation Liis

The large birds must manage with a smaller nest area

White-tailed eagle    Merikotkas        Haliaeëtus albicilla

The rains of the last few days have soaked the eagle nest through and through, in addition there have been strong gusts of wind.

The nest area has become clearly smaller but the eaglets are already at an age when they are able to get across shorter distances by flying.

Text and photos  Aare Lindt, www.loodusmuuseum.ee
Translation Liis

Great oak beauty

Great oak beauty  Hiid-samblikuvaksik   Hypomecis roboraria

The great oak beauty can be seen in Estonia quite often in broadleaf and mixed forests, but frequently also in gardens from mid-June to early August.

It is one of the largest among the geometer or Geometridae moths, with a wing span of up to 60 mm. Thanks to its efficient protective colouring it is simply not noticed in nature.