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….

Text Margus Ots, Great Tit Year coordinator

Web camera image captured by Shanta, LK forum

While we could see the hatching of the chicks in nest box no.1 on May 16, then the chicks in nest box no. 2 were hatched  on the morning of May 18.

The just hatched chicks need to be kept warm during the first few days, so the female sits on the nest every now and then. The egg shells are partly thrown out of the nest  but a part is eaten by the female to cover her calcium need. In their first days in life the chicks are fed the smallest invertebrates.

Video recorded by Liz, LK forum

Translation Liis

Black stork    Must-toonekurg       Ciconia nigra

Adults Kati and Karl have spent the last few days in waiting, as have we. Late on Monday night two eggs were already ”talking”, with small holes in the eggshells.

By early morning one eggshell was already lifted on to the edge of the nest and Kati showed us two hatched stork chicks. Congratulations!