Text and photos Aare Lindt, www.loodusmuuseum.ee

Translation Liis

March moth

March moth    Keltsavaksik         Alsophila aescularia

The March moth emerges from the pupa when the last snow thaws in late March and we can see them in flight until the end of April. This moth stands some degrees of frost so cold spring nights doesn’t kill it.

Webcam image captured by Maggy, LK forum

Translation Liis

Tawny owl

We see Klaus face-to-face for the first time this year. Usually he makes just a quick visit to bring some rodent to his brooding partner. Probably hunting will be easier för Klaus as warmer weather arrives and the snow thaws. Until now Klaara has been brought about 5-6 rodents every night.

During the night Klaara leaves the nest a couple of times for short whiles – body needs stretching, the nest hollow home is not the most comfortable of places.

Info from Leho Luigujoe

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Matsalu bay

On Sunday and Monday night a beautiful swan migration took place; with it the first swans provided with GPS transmitters also arrived in Estonia.  Three of them stay in Pärnu and two at Matsalu bay. The birds can be recognized from the white neck ring with a black solar powered battery.

In case anyone happens to visit these two locations please take a look. It would be interesting to know how large the flock is, what the birds feed on, how many of last year’s young swans are there in the flock?

Bay of Pärnu 

Video record and investigation Ahto Täpsi

Photo Arne Ader

Translation Liis

Roe deer    Metskits or kaber    Capreolus capreolus

In Virumaa in the Roostoja area the roe buck is out for food. In the bog bilberry kind of pine forest habitat there are not many choices. So an investigation was made to see what goes for food in such a place at this time of the year. He had nibbled at fresh shoots of hare’s-tail cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum). In pulling them out of the tussock he managed to get hold of the white and sweeter lower parts of the stems as well.

Trail camera record sent by Ahto Täpsi

Photo Sven Začek, www.zacekfoto.ee

Translation Liis

Beaver    Kobras or piiber       Castor fiber

On the banks of inland waters traces of beaver activities are well visible; our largest rodents still have their mating period, and the otherwise wary creatures move around even in daytime. Their gestation period lasts three and a half months.