Winged dingen

Incubating Whiskered Treeswift: Day24

2011-02-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

feest vrijzinnig jeugd

2010-03-14T13:05:00.001-07:00

my little girl is growin' up ....

Do something good for nature

2009-12-03T14:20:00.001-08:00

Why not support a nature organization this season? yes, you can!!!!! Like the Nature Conservancy, for instance, which beats the system by buying valuable natural areas before they get developed - isn't that brilliant!

Sound of Music | Central Station Antwerp (Belgium)

2009-08-21T14:17:00.001-07:00

is this doesn't cheer you up, then I don't know what will .... it's as much fun to watch the expressions of the onlookers as the dancers!

fathers day

2009-06-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

What kind of dad gives up his day to go birding with the family --- why, stijnieman!!!!! We did make him champagne breakfast, with strawberries, spoonbread (Virginia tradition), eggs, bacon, toast - yummmmmmmmmm! And let him catch a nice bike ride ... but then we packed him up in the van and drove out to watch the barn owl and little owl babies get ringed at one of my Belgian friends' barns in Oost-Vlaanderen. Was soooooooooooooooooooooo neat to see these little furry fuzzballs!!!!!! They were adorable!

Comptine d'un autre ete : L'apres midi (Planet Earth Video)

2009-06-22T12:58:00.001-07:00

just heard this piece by Yann Tiersen, called Comptine D'un Autre Ete L'apres Midi - also on the soundtrack from Amelie. Heard it at the girls' piano recital, and we all fell in love with it immediately! Great to see it with this footage from planet earth -- another of the kids favorites! Alex wants to play this piece someday --- hopefully not too far off in the distant future ....

spring flowers

2009-05-03T14:14:00.000-07:00

Got to know some spring flowers this year .... like this purple hyacinth, for instance
and this wild garlic, which smells divine
here's slanke sleutelbloem, also known as wild primrose
and bos anemone, which is also "anemone" in English

from underneath the anemone is even prettier, but you must rise early for this treat

earthday birthday

2009-04-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

We celebrated EARTH day today! Made food webs, talked about how we're all connected in this beautiful thing called LIFE ...

Made an earthday cake and blew out the candles!
Learned why insects are important ..... #1 - so birds can eat them, of course!
How did you celebrate?

Belgian dunes

2009-04-22T13:10:00.001-07:00

During easter break, we visited de Panne near the French border (Westhoek natuurreservaat), and got a much-needed dose of nature. Thanks to these donkeys and other grazers, the kids were happily entertained while hiking about!

Scattered around the dunes were green oases (although not looking so "green" here), filled w migrants like whitethroat, blackcap, chiffchaff, willow warbler, grasshopper warbler, stonechat, crested lark.
The kids just wanted to play on the beach, but our planned detour through the dunescape to search for grazers (wild ponies for Phoebe) delayed us 1.5 h reaching the beach, but as you can see, the kids didn't suffer too much.
Bont zandoogje is the Flemish name for this vlinder ---- and they were everywhere. Not a rarity by any means, but definitely a beauty.
Alex was so happy to rescue this toad on the road and deliver it to safety, near the Nachtegaal (Nightingale) visitor center. We heard so many nightingales!!!!! But saw not a one ....
The willow warblers grow like weeds here, but they wouldn't behave and give me a decent foto. Always hiding a beak or a tail ..... guess i need more patience.
Duindoorn, which translates to dune thorn, but again i should look up the proper English name, was spectacular in bloom, and overgrew the trails at Oosthoekduin natuurreservaat, creating the most picturesque views.
love this shot of father and son ...
The kestrel was hard at work, and so fun to watch. We waited and waited for him to make a kill and were thoroughly entertained by his aerial dynamics.
The dunes, sands shifting, winds blowing .... nothing lasts for long here ... which only adds to the charm and beauty.

Playing For Change: Song Around the World

2009-02-11T14:49:00.001-08:00

an inspiring message for all my dear friends in this world ....... peace to you all :-)

Silly mandalas

2009-02-11T10:51:00.000-08:00

After watching this video with the kids on Mandala making, I was happily surprised to wake the next morning to find these beautiful mandalas made by the kids for my birthday!!!! They filled hula hoops with things they found around the house, and look what amazing creations they made! Can you tell who made what?

mandala birthday cards for mum!

2009-02-11T02:43:00.001-08:00

Voeren en Beloeren

2009-02-10T13:36:00.000-08:00

A bullfinch couple entertained us this weekend, which is always a rare and delicious treat. But this weekend was the Flemish equivalent of Audubon's Great Backyard Bird Count, and so we were doubly pleased to include such a beauty to OUR list! The males are striking, but this female I found particularly attractive, esp. when perched in the holly bush. Doesn't she look like a mini killer whale?

We had a record finish this year, with 25 species and 67 birds total, including a Tawny owl (Bosuil) that hooted and howled Friday night AND Saturday morning!!!!!! Stijn and the kids heard it too, which is as rare as hearing thunder in Belgium.

Survey results ......

2 blue Tit (Pimpelmees)

5 great Tit (Koolmees)

2 coal Tit (Zwarte mees)

1 marsh Tit (Glansklop)

2 long-tailed Tit (Staartmees)

2 crested Tit (Kuifmees)

2 nuthatch (Boomklever)

1 robin (Roodborst)

4 dunnock (Heggemus)

8 greenfinch (Groenling)

2 chaffinch (Vink)

2 blackbird (Merel)

1 g. spotted woodpecker

(Grote Bonte Specht)

4 brambling (Keep)

1 hawfinch (Appelvink)

2 bullfinch (Goudvink)

1 ring-necked Parakeet

(Halsbandparkiet)

2 collared dove

(Turkse Tortel)

14 wood dove (Houtduif)

2 magpie (Ekster)

2 crow (Kraai)

1 goldcrest (Goudhaan)

2 jay (Gaai)

1 starling (Spreeuw)

1 tawny Owl (Bosuil)

peace

2009-02-10T13:31:00.000-08:00

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. Mahatma Gandhi

Peace does not dwell in outward things but in the soul. Fenelon

Peace rules the day where reason rules the mind. Collins

Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace. Buddha

remembering grandma ....

2009-01-30T13:02:00.000-08:00

Since we couldn't be in Virginia for Grandma Phoebe's funeral yesterday, we decided to have our own little party here at home ..... and what better way to remember her than by lighting some fireworks! Oh, how Grandma LOVED fireworks!
She loved making breakfast and having a looooooooooooooooooooooong talk at the breakfast table ... so we made salmon cakes, fried apples, spoonbread and eggs, a few of the traditional Virginian staples. In grandma's words, it was "delicious, delectable and divine".
We lit candles ... we shared our memories ... we laughed ... we said a little prayer.
pictures of grandma, her favorite flowers - yellow roses, Fredericksburg, old letters from grandma, a dictionary she gave us, Degas dancers dancing ... she was on her way to Cambodia to dance when Granddaddy proposed! grandma, WE LOVE YOU!

The Goodies - Kitten Kong (Part 1 of 3)

2009-01-25T13:51:00.001-08:00

I remember watching The Goodies when we lived in England, and now it's so fun to sit with my own kids and watch them laugh hysterically. Very silly, but fun humor. The Goodies are a trio of British comedians (Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie), who created, wrote, and starred in a surreal British television comedy series during the 1970s and early 1980s combining sketches and situation comedy. Enjoy!!!!!

world's biggest bird watch

2009-01-25T12:45:00.000-08:00

This weekend we spent hours counting birds for RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). Just because we don't have a British postcode, it doesn't mean we can't participate! The birds flying over the channel don't read postal codes! It's possible that birds overwintering in our garden could end up breeding in Britain, like this beautiful hawfinch (appelvink), for instance. Or the bullfinch couple (goudvink) that's been taking advantage of our easy pickins' all winter .....

PLUS, the kids LOVE it, and they bond with mummy for an hour while drinking a cuppa tea, which makes the whole experience doubly worthwhile. We always see some interesting animal behaviors too ..... take for instance, the goldcrest that's taken to feeding on our suet cakes and peanut-butter pine cones!

drums rolling, the weekend tally is ...... first British bird name (then Dutch):

2 blackbird (merel)

2 bullfinch (goudvink)

3 blue tit (pimpelmees)

4 brambling (keep)

4 chaffinch (vink)

2 coal tit (zwarte mees)

1 collared dove (turkse tortel)

2 crow (kraai)

4 dunnock (heggenmus)

2 goldcrest (goudhaan)

3 great tit (koolmees)

12 greenfinch (groenling)!!!!!!!

1 hawfinch (appelvink)

1 jay (gaai)

1 long-tailed tit (staartmees)

1 magpie (ekster)

1 marsh tit (glanskop)

1 nuthatch (boomklever)

3 ringneck parakeet

(halsbandparkiet)

1 robin (roodborst)

4 wood pigeon (houtduif)

1 wren (winterkoning)

# species = 22

# individuals = 56

dreaded emails

2009-01-22T15:09:00.000-08:00

today i got an email from mom: grandma is gone

felt like a sword speared through my heart when i read it

did she really mean grandma is “gone”? for good? the one who lived so long you figured she'd keep on going, like the energizer bunny! On April 4, 2009, she would've been 103.

The one who wrote me so many letters that i cherished as i was growing up, the letters i saved because i thought they were so beautifully written, back in the days when correspondence was “popular”.

The one who’d sit with me for hours and ask me so many questions about what i was doing, where i was going, how i was doing. She made me feel cared for, really loved, totally cherished. Maybe it was because she was my godmother. Maybe it’s because she liked to think about things, and so do i, so we shared that lust for exploring ideas and revelled in it together.

I will always remember sitting at the breakfast table at 1105 Princess Anne Street, eating plateful after plateful of grandma’s yummy eggs, salmon cakes, toast, bacon (going back for 2nds, even 3rds, was always appreciated) --- she always made yummy breakfasts, which went on and on and on and on and on .... because we’d eat and talk and eat and talk, and then keep talking and talking and talking and talking. This went on for hours ....... and hours ........

Most of all the time i spent with grandma i remember just talking. And looking at photographs, which she enjoyed so much. The thing that made grandma so special was that she came into “your world” ..... even though she might not know that much about what you were doing OR where you were living, she showed a sincere and genuine interest, and asked a 1,000,001 questions to show she wasn’t just sitting there. She always paid attention because she really wanted to know! She was truly curious about the world and the ways in which we live.

That explains why this day is so hard .... because I’ve lost a true friend. I’ve lost a friend that was generations away in age, miles away in distance, but yet remains so deeply lodged in my heart. A soul I could so deeply connect with, even though we never spent more than a few days together at any one time. Was it because ...... she listened ...... she inquired ...... she mused ...... she pondered ...... she cherished ...... she loved life?

I still remember how our conversations would go on and on and on ............... forever. They were like 10-course meals: delicious, delectable and divine. I still remember how Grandma loved to say those words.......oh, how she loved words ....... and oh, how she knew how to use them.

dear grandma Phoebe, i miss u already!

hoe oud is de Sint?

2008-12-05T13:15:00.001-08:00

... and HOW can he manage to do SO MUCH on his birthday?!!!!! First, he travels by steamboat all the way from Spain with a boatful of zwarte Pieten. Then he travels by horse around the lowlands (Holland + Belgium), visiting primary schools (we estimated ~ 10,000 in both countries). And finally, he visits each home and makes deliveries if the children have behaved "well enough". But what happens to the kids who don't behave?

... spy the critical element in this equation? leffe + radieuze = een blije Sint

whew - the kids passed again .... and were rewarded with an XL speculoos cookie, plus choco letters - lekker:)

later that night, as we listened to Sinterklas liedjes (songs), played games, and sang loudly (of course, so the Sint can hear us), there came a loud knock on the door .... bang, bang, bang. But when we opened the door, only a sack of cadeaus was to be found ---- and in it, a marble game for Thijs ..... a stuffed horse and horse-drawing book for Phoebe .... and a knitting set for Alex.

But again, mommy's desire to be stuffed in the sack and shipped back to Spain (w scope, binoculars, bird books) went unfulfilled. Guess I'll have to behave really, REALLY badly in 2009:)

thanksgiving

2008-12-05T12:47:00.001-08:00

yes, we did it again - we stuffed a turkey bird! Seems traditions are there for a reason ... they remind us of the comforts of home that we're accustomed to celebrating on a seasonal basis ... and on Thanksgiving day, nothing takes our family "home" more than stuffing a turkey and preparing MOUNTAINS of yummy food!

This 7.4 kg (18 lb) bird came from England --- plenty big enough for our dinner of 12, plus leftovers.

Lulu was treated to a nibble of cucumber here, a carrot there, and by the look on her face she was very grateful, indeed.

The kids toasted with a bottle of bubbly too (kidibuhl - which tastes a bit like sprite, but comes in a corked bottle) and sat down to a candlelight dinner.

We celebrated with our American friends Carolyn, Frank and their 3 kids, as well as our French-speaking friends Mario and Nadine, who are also avid bird lovers. But this time, we weren't studying the bird .... just enjoying it:) ... and being grateful we didn't overcook it!

grateful for BIRDS!

2008-11-27T15:51:00.000-08:00

grateful for my YOGINIS!

2008-11-27T15:47:00.000-08:00

happy thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T15:00:00.001-08:00

Wishing everyone a happy thanksgiving,
because there is so VERY MUCH to be thankful for, like .....

family to keep us strong
kids to keep us young
a partner for cuddling
a friend for sharing
peace
love
happinez
winter prik
terrasjeweer
tawny owls and yogaKIDS!

Yes We Can - Barack Obama Music Video

2008-11-05T14:19:00.001-08:00

WE did it, America! Yes, we can! Yes, we DID it! You've restored my hope, my connectivity - our global respectability. I am SO proud of my people at this moment ....

a birdy-full day

2008-10-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

The sun gods were smiling on Belgium today and delivered the MOST perfect of October days .... clear blue skies, 20+ celsius, and calm. We pick-nicked in the park and stopped to snap a few pics of birdies along the way --included a few here your birding pleasure ...

a few migrants .... known as Brandgans, or Barnacle geese

Nijlgans, or Egyptian geese with chickies!

sweet little kuifeend, or tufted duck

2 black swans?????? You don't even have to go to the zoo!

Fuut, or great crested grebe parent + 1 super COOL chick

Sitting quietly on the edge of the pond, a patient-waiting Ijsvogel, or Kingfisher

I never tire of their splendid irridescent green plumage - it's absolutely captivating!

Squint and you'll see the tiny fish in its beak ...

and what's hiding behind the Nijlgans? Why, a casarca! Or ruddy shellduck ----- another escapee, no doubt, but never mind. I'm grateful to witness this lovely goose anywhere, anytime:)

maggie be free

2008-10-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

After a week in rehab, we took maggie to the park and set her free. It was great to see her fly away when we opened the cage! Thijs was teary-eyed, but the rest of us were relieved and happy to see her back in her element. A few days later, she was spotted in another area of the park, so at least we knew she survived the first few days. We witnessed her being attacked by 2 magpies within 20 mins. of being released, so we worried a bit. Magpies can be quite aggressive, but obviously she's learning how to fend for herself. Been a great learning experience for the kids, and NOW they seem to see magpies EVERYWHERE!

maggie

2008-10-05T11:47:00.000-07:00

Maggie is the newest member to join the household. My friend Allison rescued her as she was being attacked by a cat, which you can see by the lack of head feathers. Together we're trying to rehabilitate her. I call it "her" without knowing the sex just because it looks like a girl to me, for some reason, but with my luck it's a boy. Doesn't matter, really, since we'll be releasing it in a few weeks (hopefully she'll be good to go!), and then she'll/he'll be back with mates in the wild. What a beautiful bird she is!

lulu's collecting habits

2008-10-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

Alex got a pet rat (LULU) this summer, and without a doubt she's been the most entertaining pet we've ever had. The second she's set "free", she begins collecting things. And these are just a few of the things we've come across lately when cleaning out her nest in the corner under a bunch of folded up curtain.
paper
and more paper
and more paper!
3 garlic bulbs
pin cushion, with needles in it
wine corks
marbles
more marbles
crayons
chewed off bits of leaves
two tea lights (little candles)
thijs's soccer shorts
alex's ballet top
1 pair of phoebe's underwear
assorted socks
a slice of apple
few cheese blocks

how to be an artist

2008-09-26T03:42:00.000-07:00

Stay loose
learn to watch snails
plant impossible gardens
invite someone dangerous to tea
make little signs that say "yes" and post them all over your house
make friends with freedom and uncertainty
look forward to dreams
cry during movies
swing as high as you can on a swingset by moonlight
cultivate moods
refuse to be responsible
do it for love
take lots of naps
give money away
do it now
the money will follow
believe in magic
laugh a lot
celebrate every gorgeous moment
take moonbaths
have wild imaginings
transformative dreams
and perfect calm
draw on the walls
read everyday
imagine yourself magic
giggle with children
listen to old people
open up
dive in
be free
bless yourself
drive away fear
play with everything
entertain your inner child
you are innocent
build a fort with blankets
get wet
hug trees (and smell them)
write love letters.

Sark 1990

Fly Away Home #1-- 10,000 Miles

2008-09-25T14:14:00.001-07:00

Just watched Fly Away Home with the kids, and would rank it as one of the most inspiring children's movies I've ever seen ... up there with Whale Rider!

This song by Mary Chapin Carpenter plays while Amy flies "her" geese home to their over-wintering site .... get the biggest lump in my throat every time i watch/listen.

Have you seen it? WHat are you waiting for????????

just get your box of tissues ... you're gonna need it!

Saturday night live skit on Palin/Clinton

2008-09-25T13:56:00.001-07:00

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/palin-hillary-open/656281/

If this doesn't bust your gut, I don't know what will.....

clik en enjoy!

ps. but beware -- you'll have to wait through a short advertisement, but the skit is worth the wait!

what's so funny about this picture ....

2008-07-27T14:12:00.000-07:00

laughs, giggles, ha ha's in foreground, but what's going on with that guy in the background? Could that be Stijn doing his classic version of the power nap? you-bet-cha!!!!

This is typical camping weather for the Netherlands - rain, rain, rain - but we FEESTED the night away in the "praat kaffee", with grilling and chilling, and water play in the playground adjacent. Can't let the weather dampen your spirits, now can we?

.... hmmmmmmm, and what's this strange metal thing doing bolted to a tree? Why, of course, it's a bike rack!!!! Isn't it obvious?

... the master of the power nap, up close and personal

Crocs have navigated the globe, and you can find this plastic footwear anywear these days. Thanks again, Marita, for an adventurous weekend camping in Holland. Hopefully we can return the favor again sometime soon!

Mason Bee Be Free!

2008-07-23T09:17:00.001-07:00

if this isn't the sweetest bug vid, then i don't know what is! Hope you enjoy it as much as i do ...

Before you know it, I'll be making bug lists like i'm making bird lists ---- ooops, too late!!!

leaf-cutter bees

2008-07-07T23:53:00.001-07:00

Another amazing creature is nesting in our backyard, and this time it's a leaf-cutter bee -- enjoy!!!!!!!!

sunday with the roofvogels

2008-06-29T14:01:00.000-07:00

Bird Friends of mine invited us over today to watch the ringing of barn owls that nested in their barn (ringing = banding in European lingo) by a Flemish Barn Owl protection group. Fortunately, there happened to also be a kestrel nest just 2 m from the barn owl nest (how lucky is that!!!!!), so we got to witness 3 kestrel young getting ringed as well. Stijn doesn't think they're cute, but I immediately fell in love with them!

There were 5 barn owl chicks, and Phoebe was thrilled to be able to hold one of them for a few moments. They were very docile and easy going, and she loved every minute of it.

Alex enjoyed a moment with a barn owl chick as well, which she loved. The kids have been watching "Dr. Doolittle" and all wish they could talk to animals, especially after this special session!

Here you see a younger chick and its older sibling which was born some days earlier - what a dramatic difference in size!

The female was soooooooooooooooo pretty to see, and luckily she remained in the nest box so we could get a close look at her. Now that's icing on the cake!

how many chicks have you seen in your garden?

2008-06-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

This spring I've seen loads of chicks in our garden, thanks to our well-stocked feeder that attracts them from far and wide. Somedays they devour the food in < style="font-weight:bold;">chick count? Not spectacular, but not bad either ...

5 blue tits
5 great tits
2 marsh tits
3 green finch
2 great spotted woodpecker
1 robin
1 hedge sparrow that won't stop chirping!
4 goldcrest

scorpion fly

2008-06-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

nobody guessed, but thought you'd enjoy knowing about this cool SCORPION FLY (family Panorpidae, order Mecoptera). The MALE shown here has enlarged genitalia that resemble a scorpion's stinger, but MY fotos from a few posts back were of a female, which lacks this prominent feature. They've been very active in our garden the last few weeks and a joy to behold! Undoubtedly one of my favorite kinds of flies!

Carl the Carrion Beetle

2008-06-27T13:31:00.000-07:00

While brushing my teeth this evening, I spotted a CARRION BEETLE nonchalantly walking across our hallway!!!!! It's Nicrophorus investigator, which translates to "i thrive on eating DEAD animals!"

It also goes by the name Sexton beetle (English) or Doodgraver (Dutch) - meaning "dead digger". This particular beetle was infested with tons of tiny, reddish-colored Gamasid mites, which apparently are harmless to the beetle, but look kinda creepy to the unknowing.

After putting it into one of our plastic insect houses, Phoebe's first question was, "what can we feed it?" I can already see she's hoping to keep it as a pet, but that would entail finding dead animals. At least that's cheaper than a trip to the pet shop to buy food. Oh no, is Stijn's Dutch frugality rubbing off on me?

I'm thinking .... Hmmmmmmmm ...... this could be my new angle for coaxing them into walking in the woods! We could design a scavenger hunt (ha ha ha, no pun intended) to see who can find the most animal carcasses ... but i wonder how fresh they have to be.

Just this evening, Phoebe talked about how she missed Dudley, the dung beetle, and how we provided a happy home for him for 6 months - funny what kids remember...

One thing's for sure, when they reminisce about their youth, they're more likely to remember the creepy crawlies we found than the home-baked cookies!

disaster strikes!

2008-06-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

ohhhhhhhhhhhh, you won't believe the FRUSTRATION, the DEPRESSION, when I discovered my beehouses had been raided! By WHAT, I have no clue, but clearly SOMETHING had mounted the bee house, broken through the earthen plug, and feasted heartily on the pollen and beebabies so carefully tucked inside. I found the evidence one morning, so i think this happened during the night, but i'm not 100% sure.

Above you can see that several pieces of bamboo had been manipulated for closer inspection by the beast, and I even found 1 piece of bamboo lying on the ground underneath the bee house.

And here you can see that one bamboo piece (top, right) was "munched" on and split into pieces as the critter devoured the very last of the bee babies in this house. This occurred during the SECOND RAID! Yes, the critter made a repeat visit! Not only does this critter have a mouthpart that can excavate earth and split wood, but it also has a good memory, along with the ability to climb patio posts, scale patio walls (or fly). Hmmmmmm...... this could be a tough mystery to solve.

As you may recall from a previous post, we built 2 new bee houses, and both have since been used by solitary bees. However, the bee nest shown here didn't last long, unfortunately. First you see it (above, lower left) ....... and then you don't (below) :/

To make matters worse, a blackbird nest was ALSO raided the very same week. There were several chicks in the nest - although i never counted because i was waiting for them to get bigger - and these 2 eggs that never hatched. I found the magpie feather a few days later, so don't necessarily want to put the blame on them, but I wouldn't put it past them as they're aggressive nest predators. The upside is that I saw the female actively building a new nest the following day.

So .... if anyone has ideas for WHAT animal could have done this, I'm all ears. Beech martens live in Belgium, and are known to eat insects and raid bird nests:( Woodpeckers are also a possibility ... but they eat like kings at my well-stocked birdfeeders, so you'd think they'd show a little more respect. Maybe one of the juveniles got out of hand or gave into peer pressure. Whatever it was, it will not get the LAST bee nest as I'm protecting the final bee house - by bringing it in our house! Oh boy, wait til Stijn gets home and finds a bee nest next to his bed:)

what great historical event happened yesterday?

2008-06-07T14:03:00.001-07:00

a few hints ..... with these fotos taken last month when we were there visiting ...

Arromanches ... where huge slabs of concrete remain that were once used to transport tanks and military vehicles ashore

Here we're standing next to one of those concrete slabs - and they're HUGE! One can only appreciate the scale and magnitude of this operation when you visit these sites and see what the allies were up against.

This is the cemetery at Omaha beach, where 9,000 American soldiers are buried. Every headstone carries its own story .... whether it's a soldier that died on the day of the invasion, the day before the war ended, or somewhere inbetween.

a pillbox at Pointes du' Hoc .... where Rudder's Rangers scaled the cliffs, against all odds, and eventually took control. Now there's a colony of Mew gulls nesting on those very same cliffs ... and barn swallows nesting in the bunkers.

Obviously the kids missed a lot of the details, but they absorbed a great deal of history during our stay in Normandy, and they will never forget the breadth and expansiveness of the beaches, which seemed to go on and on endlessly, and where the allies fought and died so courageously.

a home for solitary bees

2008-06-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

What a happy day it is to see solitary bees using our beehouse. We don't get so many solitary bees where we live -- sad to say -- so when one begins nest-building, it generates a LOT of excitement and awe.

It's so fun to watch them "hole up" their nest with bits of earth, working fastidiously until the job's complete. It can take a day+ depending on the size of the hole.

Thijs loves building things, so thought we'd try our hand at building beehouses! With a piece of wood, some goggles, ear protection, and a drill, we were all set.

Drilled different sized holes, each about 2.5 cm long, into this bit of wood, but the question remained: would the bees LIKE it?

and the answer is ..... YES! Within a week, a bee had chosen one little hole and filled it completely with earth, giving us great confidence that YES, WE CAN (all of us!) make a home for nature:) Why not give it a try!

what on earth...

2008-06-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

... is this insect?

With wings of gold

A long, slender abdomen with bright RED tip

And a ridiculously long beak!

Isn't he beauty-FULL:)

more spring visitors

2008-06-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

I found this poor swift on the road while biking home from my Dutch lesson late Thursday evening. Must've run into a window or car because it lost one of its eyes, which doesn't bode well. Visited the rehab center the following day - at least they'll see that he's well cared for, and if he's not releasable, they'll hopefully use him for education. So much to learn from these amazing creatures!

Week prior we tried caring for this runt blue tit. Parents weren't feeding it, either because they were so busy feeding the other 5 baby blue tits -- or maybe they sensed this little guy just didn't have what it takes to survive -- he looked pretty pathetic when i took him in. At any rate, I fed him from 10:00 -6:30 pm (every 15 mins!!!!!), until I went to my Dutch class. He was doing fine when i left, but when I returned that evening he'd passed on.

Several weeks ago, this alpine water salamander (Triturus alpestris) showed up in our pond! And what a great surprise it was!!!!!!

He has the most beautiful orange underbelly, with pretty spots along the side. So far he's continuing to hang out, most likely dining on insect larvae (hopefully lots of mosquito larvae!!!!) and whatever he can find, but I'm a little surprised he's staying so long, since it's not a BIG pond (2 m x 1 m x 40 cm)! But maybe the lack of predators sold him on this real estate .... or was it the romantic tikki torches and flaming red rhododendron?

Universe-ity

2008-05-16T15:09:00.001-07:00

This is a lifetime motto of mine -- so nice to finally see it in print -- and so happy to share it with you.

17 February

"The entire universe is a university. EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY is a professor to us. We constantly learn from everybody and everything. We learn even more through pain than through pleasure. Whether we want it or not, the world will give us the experiences we need and make us grow."

by Sri Swami Satchidananda
The Golden Present: Daily Inspirational Readings

2 more little friends

2008-05-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

Ever since the kids have begun asking for pets, the critters have come knocking on our door, so to speak. This week we had 2 new visitors .... a frog and a bird. The frog (een bruine kikker?) spent a day exploring the fishpond in our backyard, and then went on its merry way. "Perfect", I thought, "the kids get to enjoy the little fellow without getting too attached." But then came our next guest ...

Three days ago a greenfinch took a non-lethal smack on our window, and luckily I was on hand for a rescue. It wasn't able to fly and would've been easy prey for a neighborhood cat, so I quick brought it inside and made it a happy home in no time. Still had a bird cage from when we tried (unsuccessfully) to save a juvenile house martin 2 years ago. And here you see the little fellow, which i thought was a female but am now wondering if it's a juvenile since the breast is quite streaked.

With no obvious signs of trauma, and no evidence of broken wings, I decided we'd try to rehabilitate it ourselves. Inserted 2 shallow dishes in the cage, one with seed I've seen them eating at the feeders and the other with water. Within a day we heard/saw the little fellow eating the seeds, which is great fun to watch as they skillfully manipulate the seed husk with their tongue and manage to spit it out without spitting out the seed. But this morning, his feathers were "puffed up" like he was cold, and by afternoon he was tucking his head under his wing like he was tired, both signs that he was suffering from illness. Sure enough, by nightfall he'd fallen into a sleep he'd never awaken from.

They'll be sad to lose their little friend (and me TOO!), who we watched and studied and got to know quite well in such a short time. In retrospect, I suppose I should've taken him to a rehab. center, where he would've received antibiotics and better care. But then again, the kids would've missed out on the whole experience -- and the joy of learning -- and the pain of failure that goes along with it.

the meikever LIVES!

2008-05-09T11:59:00.001-07:00

... watch as this decapitated june beetle wiggles its mandibles and legs hours after i found it lying on a sidewalk near my favorite tea shop. You never know what amazing things you'll see in the course of a day - enjoy!

swallows falling from the sky

2008-04-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

... the latest
... and most depressing news in the bird world
.... get ready to shed some tears
..... but get right back in your CAR!

Swallows dying by the thousands
09/04/2008 21:04 - (SA)

as posted on News24.com

Johannesburg - Tens of thousands of swallows have died in Limpopo province a week before they were due to migrate to Europe, said BirdLife SA on Wednesday.

Executive director Gerhard Verdoorn said the vast climate changes during March, from the extremely hot to the bitterly cold, played a major role in the death of the swallows.

About three weeks ago, cold air from Angola passed over Namibia and Botswana and entered the South African Lowveld. Temperatures plummeted from 21° to 9°.

"Because of this, the birds could not feed properly as it was too wet and too rainy for them to get the food. They became hypothermic (low body temperatures) and hypoglycaemic (low blood-sugar levels)," said Verdoorn.

Farmers and people in the area became alarmed as they thought the birds were being poisoned.

"The tens of thousands of birds were falling down everywhere and just dying," he said.

The birds were supposed to migrate on March 23, the day of the equinox, but disaster struck around March 17 when temperatures dropped rapidly.

"The bulk of birds that did manage to survive started their migration on March 28," said Verdoorn.

No short-term solutions

The mass death of birds started in about 2000 in the Bushveld and Free State.

"Over the past couple of years it has become a more-frequent occurrence and it is not only the swallows that are being affected but several other species of birds."

Verdoorn said there were no short-term solutions to the problem as no one could change the weather.

"The weather changes occurring are vast. February was regarded as being the wet month and March the drier one, but now the situation has changed.

"A long-term solution to the problem would be to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, by using less energy, burning less petrol thereby reducing carbon-dioxide emissions which can have changes on climate change," said Verdoorn.

waking up on the marshes of El Rocio

2008-03-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

What i loooooooooooooovvvvveeed about Spain was watching the sunrise and "waking up" with the marsh. Coto Donana is so birdy, and to feel the pulse of life here is an experience of a lifetime. Loads of cattle egrets, the lone squacco heron(LUV that name) looked on each am from the very same post, like an old man not ready to get out of bed ... the Cetti's warbler announcing the dawn with explosive singing - anything but timid - quite the opposite of the penduline tit - that avoided being seen or heard, which made a glimpse of it all the more precious. Amaiiiiiii, don't you LOVE that sunset? I DID die and go to heaven when i saw it .... and i've never come back to life since, thankfully.

The town of El Rocio, steeped in religious tradition, rests adjacent to the spectacular marshes of El Rocio, where we discovered the richness of bird life - with spotted crake, holy ibis, and so many other awesome finds - amidst an abundance of sweet songsters - every day was a symphony just waiting to be savored.

... and what have we here? Three macho Spaanse caballeros drinking a little champagne and enjoying being in the center of the universe. Makes you wonder how commonplace is this behavior ... and does it influence their success in life? Are men that are MORE bold .... MORE successful at spreading their genes?

During the weekends ... there were horse, horses, horses everywhere. The Spanish love their horses and use them as a means of getting to town and back. The sandy roads must feel better on their hoofs. But I can only imagine how hard the HOT, DRY summers are on these beautiful equines ... how many of them will perish from the stress?

Seville was beautiful, especially because we had spectacular views of LITTLE KESTRELS that nested in the monstrosity of the cathedral. Looked more like a city to me, with layers upon layers of construction that must've taken eons to design and build. Couldn't tell where it began and where it stopped -was breathtaking, but overbearing in my opinion.

First, we explored Coto Donana safari-style, which gave great views of the pristine coastline, expansive dunes and marsh complexes. Saw more birds than expected this way (due to patient driver that stopped for birds more often than expected), with Audouin's gull and glossy ibis being new lifers for me. Wild boar and deer were quite abundant, which was another happy surprise.

A pit stop during the safari tour to search for Spanish Imperial Eagle! No doubt an impressive sight, but most of us were not to behold it during this trip in spite of multiple attempts to find them. A few lucky ones did catch a glimpse at Acebuche! But we did see 150 species of birds during our 8 days of birding in southwestern Spain. And I got 16 new WP birds (West Palearctic) ... Audouin's gull, Goshawk, Glossy Ibis, Pallid Swift, Squacco Heron, Penduline Tit, Spotted Crake, Black-crowned Night Heron, Spanish Sparrow, Black-winged Kite, Red-knobbed Coot, Little Bittern, Holy Ibis, Dartford Warbler, Black-eared Wheatear, and Common Scoter.

Acebron gave great views of virgin cork forest, which reminded me so much of the gnarly live oak forests of the southeastern United States, and for good reason -- CORK trees are in the same genus - QUERCUS!!!!! Felt at home on the sinuous trails, and also watching the black-crowned night herons on the marshes, but without the ALLIGATORS that you'd see in Florida.

Experienced the most challenging roads between Villamanrique and the visitors center at Jose Antonio Valverde - there were humongous potholes! And happy to say we navigated them smoothly! Had splendid views of black-winged kites hovering in the air, plus kestrels mating (yee-ha!), Spanish sparrow, and an albino corn bunting:)

Gilbert exemplified our mantra for the week: Eat, Pray, BIRD! Gil IS the fanatical type of birder that literally lives, breathes, "eats" birds 24-7. With him around, there's little time for R&R, but then in a place like Coto Donana, who can "rest & relax" when there's so much to SEE!

... enjoying the sun after a visit to la Huelva to see replicas of the vessels that Christopher Columbus used to discover the New World - the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.

... enjoying a few drinks and live music in Seville

... Jos and Josette took the liberty to enjoy the music more than the rest of us, but maybe we enjoyed watching them even more.

... at Ribetehelos, we had excellent views of the Dartford warbler, a precious little bird. What a great trip this was, not just for the birds, but also for the comraderie and the relationships forged during this adventure ... may they last a lifetime.

The beautiful birds of Coto Donana

2008-03-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

the majestic Blauwe ekster, or Iberian wagtail

Distelvink, or Goldfinch - the name doesn't do justice to its splendid colors

Purpurkoet, or Purple swamp-hen - check out those gorgeous red legs

Zwarte ibis, or Glossy Ibis - winner of the most spectacular plummage contest!

Not another Ooievaar!!!! Largest nesting colony of White storks in Europe found here.

photos courtesy of Rene Conings

... and the amazing beetles

2008-03-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

photos courtesy of Rene Conings

... and the beautiful green things

2008-03-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

photos courtesy of Esther Buysmans

off again ... to Coto Donana

2008-03-07T13:31:00.000-08:00

This time tomorrow I'll be sleeping a stone's throw away from one of Europe's premier birding destinations ... and the only way this is possible is because 15 years ago I made without a doubt the best decision in my life to marry this cute Dutchman named Stijn.

I don't write enough about him, and his more-than-positive attributes -- he deserves a dissertation! That he will let me walk out the door tomorrow, knowing that our washing machine is broken, and one of our kids is sick, and having to deal with it ALL ON HIS OWN! (no nannies, omas to help out) speaks volumes about his character and resolve ...

i LOVE you Stijn!

I'll bring you the yummiest Spanish cheese ...

see you in a week:)

TWO

2008-03-06T14:47:00.001-08:00

Just the two of us - just Laura and myself - met for 2 full days (+3 part time) of fun and exploring in and around Decatur, GA (that's USA) - which has a small-town atmosphere and a dreaminess about it that suited us just fine.

Part of that explore involved a visit to the High Museum in Atlanta for an exhibit on the women of Alfred (or Albert, i'm so bad w names!) Stieglitz, with Georgia O'Keefe being highlighted. Was so interesting and loads of fun, but an arctic blast froze us to the bone!

Every night was a culinary adventure, and this night at TWO Urban Licks in Midtown brought the tastiest seared tuna and pistachio ice cream cookie dessert - yumm for the tumm

The bevies were worth exploring too -- and this Duck Rabbit brew at the Java Monkey was mind-expanding -- sipped as we leafed through a field guide, recounting tales of Laura's bird sightings in the jungles of Belize!

This wall-size painting (by artist Tom ???? so bad w names again) in TWO was so so so cool, and for me at least, screamed of the opportunities just waiting for the taking. All those birds just waiting to be seen ...

So much beauty in this life ... if only we make the time, and are fortunate enough to experience it.

yogakids!

2008-03-06T14:21:00.000-08:00

... we learned

... we laughed

... we played

... we made friends

... we connected

where does the time go ...

2008-03-06T13:48:00.000-08:00

It's been a whirlwind of activity in our little neck of the woods this past month ...

Stijn's had work trips to India, US, UK -- w upcoming trip to China just around the corner

Family travelled to Switzerland to visit Oma and Opa, which was SUPER fun!

Courtenay spent a week in Atlanta, GA w best-friend Laura and for yogakids training, which was SUPER DUPER fun:)

Laura journeyed to Belize for first-ever press trip and saw dancing manakins!

My Dad's been sailing for 8 weeks in the Caribbean, and my Mom will be meeting him in Grenada, but not without her binoculars:)

Saw exhibits on Okeefe (Atl) and daVinci (Brussels) - both superb - but how opposite can you get?

Courtenay's teaching yoga to kids!!!

Courtenay's teaching yoga to kids!!!

can you tell i'm just a little excited?

Courtenay's teaching yoga to kids!!!

winter break in Switzerland

2008-03-06T13:44:00.000-08:00

Voeren en Beloeren

2008-02-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

translates literally to "feed and peek"... at your backyard birds, that is. This Belgian bird count was the equivalent of the British Big Garden Birdwatch and the Audubon Society's Great Backyard Bird Count. The kids were primed since we'd counted the weekend prior,and as you can see they had a great time --- counting birds AND painting their feeders. To get a "peek" at our numbers, just scroll to the bottom. We saw 22 species and 57 individuals.

7 pimpelmees - blue tit
1 kuifmees - crested tit
5 staartmees - long-tailed tit
5 koolmees - great tit
2 zwarte mees - coal tit
2 glanskop - marsh tit
2 keep - brambling
1 sijs - siskin
1 grote bonte specht - great spotted woodpecker
3 heggemus - dunnock
2 vink - chaffinch
7 groenling - greenfinch
1 roodborst - robin
2 merel - blackbird
1 gaai - jay
4 ekster - magpie
2 turkse tortel - collared dove
2 houtduif - wood dove
3 boomklever - nuthatch
1 zwarte kraai - crow
2 halsbandparkiet - ring-necked parakeet
1 goudhaan - goldcrest

Andrea Bocelli ... from the heart

2008-01-31T15:34:00.001-08:00

love his voice, his emotion - this guy is LOVE encapsulated!

guess what i ordered for my birthday?

2008-01-31T14:30:00.000-08:00

BIG garden birdwatch

2008-01-28T14:00:00.000-08:00

This Sunday we counted birds as part of RSPB's BIG garden birdwatch, and had a great time. Alex asked today if i posted the results - both to RSPB and this blog, so here they are -- all 19 species and 50 individuals. Count time was about 1.5 hours. Hoping song thrush, wren, crested tit and goldcrest show up next week for the Flemish bird count!

8 pimplemees - blue tit
4 koolmees - great tit
1 zwarte mees - coal tit
2 glanskop - marsh tit
4 staartmees - long-tailed tit
2 boomklever - nuthatch
1 roodborst - robin
3 heggemus - dunnock
6 groenling - greenfinch
2 vink - chaffinch
2 merel - blackbird
1 grote bonte specht - great spotted woodpecker
1 sijs - siskin
2 keep - brambling
2 halsbandparkiet - ring-necked parakeet
4 houtduif - wood pigeon
1 ekster - magpie
2 kraai - crow
2 gaai - jay

a day with Courbet

2008-01-27T15:51:00.001-08:00

a few good holes

2008-01-23T13:36:00.000-08:00

for Sand Martins and Kingfishers to nest in is what's missing in the Flemish landscape, but now there is JUST THAT thanks to a project initiated by COWB. It's great to see the nest wall and to think of the birds that will nest there in years to come. Would be great to witness the local effect on these species, but will we (our family, that is) be around long enough to see it happen? That's the question of the day ...

time to count backyard birds!

2008-01-22T13:12:00.000-08:00

This weekend is the Big Garden Birdwatch, a project initiated in the UK in 1979 to get a handle on what's happening with backyard birds. Last year about 400,000 people watched birds in 236,000 gardens and counted a whopping 6 million birds! Scientists have been able to use these data to look for trends in bird populations. Since 1979, House Sparrows and Starlings have both declined over 50% while Great Tits and Chaffinchs have increased over 30%. The project's a winner all-around - getting citizens involved in science + generating useful data.

We'll be watching our feeders this weekend and doing a practice count, since I don't know yet if the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) is interested in what birds are in OUR backyard. The Flemish equivalent will be held Feb. 2-3, and by then the kids will be primed and ready to go. We'll be keeping a close eye on "Betty", our Blue Tit - and all her friends!

a birdy weekend

2008-01-21T14:01:00.001-08:00

One of our favorite places to spend a day is at COWB (Commission Ornithologique Watermaal Bosfoort). This weekend they organized a workshop on the importance of feeding birds, especially in the wintertime, although you can hardly call what we have here in Belgium "Winter" since it rarely drops below 0 celsius. Nevertheless, we feed our birdies LOTS of food because we LOVE em so much - and all year around too - and we LOVE to support groups like this.

Thijs was thrilled to build his feeder all by himself. Now he wants his own shop (in the basement) so he can build feeders to sell around the neighborhood. He also wants to work in a dinosaur museum and be a vet that takes care of birds. Well, at least he doesn't lack ambition!
The girls played a boardgame that involved answering bird-related questions and moving a rubber ducky around on a board - was very cute. I think they surprised themselves (but not me) by how much they knew. They were thrilled to win a bird poster! The game leader was so animated and fun to listen to as he popped off questions in French and Dutch.

Leave it to Thijs to spot a playground anywhere!

老媽子之歌

2008-01-17T14:11:00.001-08:00

how universal - this is so hilarious! enjoy!

hmmmmm ....

2008-01-13T12:54:00.000-08:00

"You can never plan the future by the past."

Edmund Burke

a walk with Isolde and Linde

2008-01-13T12:40:00.000-08:00

the big 4-0!

2008-01-11T08:41:00.000-08:00

This is for Laura - my dear friend who's turning 40 in 3 days!

If you feel down, just remember that some things get better with age, like wisdom and beauty. As with these tulips, the petals may shrivel over time, but what really matters MOST only gets more revealed!

For the flower, it's easy to see, but only you can decide what's most important for you. Yet another challenge for the middle ages ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA from your birdy friends across the ocean and around the world!

so what birds have i seen in the Old World?

2008-01-08T13:26:00.000-08:00

Since I left my paying job, my husband always asks, "so, what did you do today?" The unpaid job I take the most pride in these days has been educating myself about birds and their conservation in the Old World. The effort is paying off since after 2 y + 5 m, I've learned a great deal about birds in Europe, and also where to bird, and equally important, WHO to bird with (like w my friends in the Oost-Brabant Vogelwerkgroep and COWB). I keep a list of birds I've seen, along w where I've seen them since you never know when this info might prove valuable! I'm not as good about recording numbers seen -- there's always room for improvement.

Posting my list here for the fun of it - w species in phylogenetic order. Plus, I thought it would help motivate me since I feel like I'm already falling short of my goal of 100 new species a year (note: my "year" begins mid-August, when we arrived in the Old World, not January 1 - yeah, bummer). The learning curve is beginning to level off and now the real work begins! More time in the field, more time checking lists on yahoo news groups, more time reading blogs and trip reports (i LOVE Charlie's bird blog!). Will i ever find time for a paying job?

1. Roodkeelduiker - Red-throated Loon
2. Ijsduiker -Great Northern Loon
3. Kuifduiker - Horned Grebe
4. Geoorde Fuut -Black-necked Grebe
5. Dodaars -Little Grebe
6. Fuut - Great Crested Grebe
7. Roodhalsfuut -Red-necked Grebe
8. Aalscholver - Cormorant
9. Kuifaalscholver -Shag
10. Koereiger -Cattle egret
11. Kleine Zilverreiger - Little Heron
12. Grote Zilverreiger - Great Egret
13. Blauwe Reiger - Grey Heron
14. Purpurreiger - Purple Heron
15. Ooievaar - White Stork
16. Zwarte Ooievaar - Black Stork
17. Lepelaar -Spoonbill
18. Flamingo -Greater flamingo
19. Knobbelzwaan - Mute swan
20. Wilde Zwaan - Whooper swan
21. Kleine Zwaan - Bewick's swan
22. Kolgans - Greater White-fronted Goose
23. Kleine Rietgans - Pink-footed Goose
24. Grauwe Gans - Greylag Goose
25. Canadese Gans - Canada Goose
26. Brandgans - Barnacle Goose
27. Rotgans - Brent
28. Bergeend - Shelduck
29. Casarca - Ruddy Shelduck
30. Nijlgans - Egyptian Goose
31. Mandarijneend -Mandarin Duck
32. Rosse Fluiteend - Fulvous Whistling Duck
33. Wilde eend - Mallard
34. Krakeend - Gadwall
35. Pijlstaart - Pintail
36. Slobeend - Shoveler
37. Smient - Eurasian Wigeon
38. Wintertaling-Teal
39. Zomertaling -Garganey
40. Tafeleend - Pochard
41. Krooneend - Red-crested Pochard
42. Topper - Greater Scaup
43. Kuifeend - Tufted Duck
44. Eider - Common Eider
45. Grote Zee-eend - Common Scoter
46. Ijseend - Long-tailed Duck
47. Brilduiker - Common Goldeneye
48. Nonnetje - Smew
49. Grote Zaagbek -Common Merganser (Goosander)
50. Middelste Zaagbek -Red-breasted Merganser
51. Vale Gier - Griffon Vulture
52. Aasgier - Egyptian Vulture
53. Visarend - Osprey
54. Slangenarend - Short-toed Eagle
55. Dwergarend - Booted Eagle
56. Rode Wouw - Red Kite
57. Zwarte Wouw - Black Kite
58. Bruine Kiekendief - Marsh Harrier
59. Blauwe Kiekendief -Hen Harrier
60. Grauwe Kiekendief -Montagu's Harrier
61. Buizerd - Common Buzzard
62. Wespendief - Honey Buzzard
63. Sperwer - Sparrowhawk
64. Torenvalk - Kestrel
65. Kleine Torenvalk - Lesser Kestrel
66. Boomvalk -Hobby
67. Slechtvalk - Peregrine
68. Smelleken -Merlin
69. Rode patrijs - Red-legged Partridge
70. Patrijs - Grey Partridge
71. Fazant -Pheasant
72. Waterral - Water Rail
73. Waterhoen - Moorhen
74. Meerkoet - Coot
75. Purpurkoet - Purple Swamp Hen
76. Kraanvogel -Common Crane
77. Scholekster - Oystercatcher
78. Kluut -Pied Avocet
79. Steltkluut - Black-winged Stilt
80. Griel - Stone Curlew
81. Kleine Plevier - Little Ringed Plover
82. Bontbekplevier - Common Ringed Plover
83. Strandplevier - Kentish Plover
84. Zilverplevier - Grey Plover
85. Goudplevier - Golden Plover
86. Kievit - Northern Lapwing
87. Kanoet - Red Knot
88. Drieteenstrandloper - Sanderling
89. Paarse Strandloper - Purple Sandpiper
90. Steenloper - Ruddy Turnstone
91. Bonte Strandloper -Dunlin
92. Krombekstrandloper - Curlew Sandpiper
93. Temminck's Strandloper -Temminck's Sandpiper
94. Kleine Strandloper - Little Stint
95. Bosruiter - Wood Sandpiper
96. Witgat - Green Sandpiper
97. Oeverloper -Common Sandpiper
98. Tureluur - Redshank
99. Zwarte Ruiter - Spotted Redshank
100. Groenpootruiter - Greenshank
101. Grutto - Black-tailed Godwit
102. Rosse Grutto - Bar-tailed Godwit
103. Wulp - Curlew
104. Regenwulp - Whimbrel
105. Watersnip - Common Snipe
106. Kemphaan - Ruff
107. Kokmeeuw - Black-headed Gull
108. Stormmeeuw - Mew Gull
109. Zilvermeeuw - Herring Gull
110. Geelpootmeeuw - Yellow-legged Gull
111. Kleine Mantelmeeuw - Lesser Black-backed Gull
112. Grote Mantelmeeuw - Greater Black-backed Gull
113. Dwergmeeuw - Little Gull
114. Drieteenmeeuw - Kittwake
115. Dwergstern - Little Tern
116. Grote Stern - Sandwich Tern
117. Visdief - Common Tern
118. Zwarte Stern - Black Tern
119. Witwangstern - Whiskered Tern
120. Kleine Alk - Little Auk
121. Zeekoet - Guillemot
122. Rotsduif - Rock Dove
123. Holenduif - Stock Dove
124. Houtduif - Wood Pigeon
125. Turkse Tortel - Eurasian Collared Dove
126. Zomertortel - Turtle Dove
127. Koekoek - Common Cuckoo
128. Bosuil - Tawny Owl
129. Ransuil - Long-eared Owl
130. Kerkuil - Barn Owl
131. Steenuil - Little Owl
132. Gierzwaluw - Common Swift
133. Alpengierzwaluw - Alpine Swift
134. Hop - Hoopoe
135. Ijsvogel - Kingfisher
136. Bijeneter - Bee-eater
137. Scharrelaar - Roller
138. Halsbandparkiet - Ring-necked Parakeet
139. Zwarte Specht - Black Woodpecker
140. Groene Specht - Green Woodpecker
141. Grote Bonte Specht - Great Spotted Woodpecker
142. Kleine Bonte Specht - Little Spotted Woodpecker
143. Draaihals - Wryneck
144. Veldleeuwerik - Skylark
145. Kuifleeuwerik - Crested Lark
146. Boomleeuwerik - Woodlark
147. Kalanderleeuwerik - Calandra Lark
148. Oeverzwaluw - Sand Martin
149. Rotszwaluw - Crag Martin
150. Boerenzwaluw - Barn Swallow
151. Roodstuitzwaluw - Red-rumped Swallow
152. Huiszwaluw - House Martin
153. Oeverpieper - Rock Pipit
154. Graspieper - Meadow Pipit
155. Witte Kwikstaart - Pied Wagtail
156. Gele Kwikstaart - Yellow Wagtail
Gele Kwikstaart iberiae - Iberian Wagtail
157. Grote Gele Kwikstaart - Grey Wagtail
158. Winterkoning - Wren
159. Waterspreeuw - Dipper
160. Heggenmus - Dunnock or Accentor
161. Alpenheggenmus - Alpine Accentor
162. Roodborst - Robin
163. Nachtegaal - Nightingale
164. Blauwborst - Bluethroat
165. Gekraagde Roodstaart - Common Redstart
166. Zwarte Roodstaart - Black Redstart
167. Tapuit - Wheatear
168. Paapje - Whinchat
169. Roodborsttapuit - Stonechat
170. Blauwe Rotsluister - Blue Rock Thrush
171. Zanglijster - Song Thrush
172. Koperwiek - Redwing
173. Grote Lijster - Mistle Thrush
174. Kramsvogel - Fieldfare
175. Merel - Blackbird
176. Tuinfluiter - Garden Warbler
177. Zwartkop - Blackcap
178. Kleine Zwartkop - Sardinian Warbler
179. Grasmus - Whitethroat
180. Baardgrasmus - Subalpine Warbler
181. Graszanger - Fantail Warbler
182. Sprinkhaanzanger - Grasshopper Warbler
183. Cetti's Zanger - Cetti's Warbler
184. Kleine Karakiet - Reed Warbler
185. Bosrietzanger - Marsh Warbler
186. Grote Karakiet - Great Reed Warbler
187. Spotvogel - Icterine Warbler
188. Fitis - Willow Warbler
189. Fluiter - Wood Warbler
190. Tjiftjaf - Chiffchaff
191. Goudhaan - Goldcrest
192. Vuurgoudhaan - Firecrest
193. Grauwe Vliegenvanger - Spotted Flycatcher
194. Koolmees - Great Tit
195. Zwarte Mees - Coat Tit
196. Pimpelmees - Blue Tit
197. Kuifmees - Crested Tit
198. Matkop - Willow Tit
199. Glanskop - Marsh Tit
200. Staartmees - Long-tailed Tit
201. Boomklever - Nuthatch
202. Boomkruiper - Treecreeper
203. Roodkopklauwier - Woodchat Shrike
204. Klapekster - Great Grey Shrike
205. Blauwe Ekster - Iberian Magpie
206. Ekster - Magpie
207. Gaai - Jay
208. Notenkraker - Spotted Nutcracker
209. Kauw - Jackdaw
210. Alpenkraai - Chough
211. Alpenkauw - Alpine Chough
212. Roek - Rook
213. Zwarte Kraai- Carrion Crow
214. Raaf - Common Raven
215. Spreeuw - Starling
216. Zwarte Spreeuw - Spotless Starling
217. Wielewaal - Golden Oriole
218. Huismus - House Sparrow
219. Ringmus - Tree Sparrow
220. Vink - Chaffinch
221. Keep - Brambling
222. Kneu - Linnet
223. Frater - Twite
224. Putter - Goldfinch
225. Groenling - Greenfinch
226. Sijs - Siskin
227. Europese Kanarie - Serin
228. Goudvink - Bullfinch
229. Appelvink - Hawfinch
230. Rietgors - Reed Bunting
231. Sneeuwgors - Snow Bunting
232. Geelgors - Yellowhammer
233. Cirlgors - Cirl Bunting
234. Grauwe Gors - Corn Bunting
235. Grijze Gors - Rock Bunting

Pierfrancesco Micheloni

2008-01-07T14:37:00.000-08:00

Bird conservation is something i hold near and dear to my heart, and when I read an interesting article I can't help but want to share it. Who knows what like-minded people might be out there that would love hearing about it too.

For an inspiring story about an Italian birder and conservationist who has dedicated a tremendous amount of time and effort to protecting barn swallows overwintering in Africa, read on ...

I don't think you'll be dissappointed.

food for thought

2008-01-07T11:43:00.000-08:00

The happiest people don't have the best of everything.
They just make the best of everything that they have.

9 little long-tailed tits sitting on a ball ...

2008-01-07T09:56:00.001-08:00

1 fell off and broke his head
mama called the doctor and the doctor said
no more long-tailed tits sitting on a ball!

8 little long-tailed tits sitting on a ball ...

photo courtesy Diane Appels from the Mechels Rivierengebied yahoo group

finding the magic at Disney

2008-01-06T13:20:00.000-08:00

Took the kids to Disneyland in Paris this past week ...

Kids absolutely loved it, but was dragging my heels since I'm absolutely NOT a big fan of crowds, long lines, or non-stop music.

Or the commercialism of it all --- at every corner there's the temptation to consume (eat, drink, BUY!) -- and it seems like everybody's carrying a blue 15-year anniversary bag stuffed to the gills, meaning they just caved in and bought another something or other that they absolutely DO NOT NEED. Watching all of this left me feeling a bit ill, and wondering to myself ...

Isn't simply BEING at Disney enough?

Was enjoying mulling this question over, when an answer came SMASHING me in the face. And it didn't come from Disney at all, at least not this answer. It's not really surprising when you think about it ...

Phoebes and I were waiting in line for a ride, when I struck up a conversation with a British lady and her 4-year old daughter. Turns out she booked this trip to Disney just 3 days prior, because her 18-month old son had leukemia, and with his weekly blood test routine, they had to plan things last minute. And they wanted to make this trip to Disney because they didn't know how much longer he had to live.

Now, if you're the emotional sort, like myself ... you might want to stop right here. It is a sad story indeed, but it's also tremendously uplifting. And remindful of the power of the human spirit and the will to succeed against all odds. I will preface it by saying that this mom deserves a Medal of Honor for all she's been through!

Her son was born with an adult form of leukemia, so rare that apparently he's the only one in the world with this type. Lumps the size of golf balls covered his body -- they kept calling it cellulitis. Time and again they discharged her sick son, even though he had low hemoglobin counts -- and recorded in their books, "mom's being difficult, been on the internet again". It took 23 consultations and 6 months to get the correct diagnosis - and in the past 12 months he's been through 6 rounds of chemo! Turns out it was a DERMATOLOGIST that biopsied one of the lumps and made the determination.

Tears are welling just thinking about it again ...

And the tears welled at Disney ... because after i heard her story, I began to imagine all the stories of kids that were being wheel-chaired around Disney (and there were lots of them) and also around the world. And for them, I think it probably is enough at Disney ...

to BE!

enjoying the winter

2007-12-22T12:58:00.000-08:00

merry xmas birdies

2007-12-21T13:09:00.001-08:00

With subzero temperatures, birds burn mega energy and need to eat ALL THE TIME, so help your garden birds by putting out BIRD food - peanuts, black-oil sunflower seeds, suet packed w fruits or seeds or mealworms - and don't forget fresh water!

glorious wings n things

2007-12-13T15:26:00.000-08:00

Photos courtesy of Werner Goussey (kranen) and Gilbert Rijmenans (zonsondergang)

how to destress the holidays

2007-12-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

1. GO BIRDING!!!! What could be better than discovering new hides and getting some fresh air? Sint Agatha Rode kijktoren in background -- just 20 mins away --- perfect place to take kids on a little explore, and escape from the hustle and bustle. Views from the tower are very nice indeed.

2. Add a new bird to your LIFE LIST -- instead of debt to your credit card. Bewick's Swans at Sint Agatha Rode (#232 on my WP list) - the 3 birds on the left - can't you see them! They didn't stick around long enough for me to show Stijn and the kids, but at least i have this pic to show they were there (earlier that week), even though you probably can't tell the Bewick's from the Mute's, which are the 2 swans dipping on the right.

3. Get DIRTY! Finally figured out HOW to get our kids outdoors - w good old-fashioned M-U-D! After 1 hour they were covered in mud and DELIRIOUS with joy. Yes, the mud DID go over Phoebe's boots and Alex's white pants DID come clean after several washings. They can't wait to go back!

4. Say oom. If getting OUT isn't an option (bad weather, no time, etc.) then go IN! There's nothing like some time with Rodney Yee, guru of power yoga, or just some slow, deep breathing in a full or 1/2 lotus, whichever you prefer. That's my little Buddha!

5. If all else fails, there's always Sleep.

komt de Sint dit jaar?

2007-12-05T14:34:00.000-08:00

The klompen sat by the fireplace w drawings, carrots, cookies and water. Would Sinterklaas and his zwarte Pieten bring treats this year?

Or would we wake to find a note, telling us the kids have been taken by steamboat back to Spain? This is the punishment for kids that misbehave, or so they're told.

Hmmm ... ever since mommy learned of this tradition, she's been wishing the Sint would take HER back to Spain so she could spend the year birdwatching! Could that explain why she's been naughty lately?

Woke to find a letter from the Sint along with chocolates. Apparently, most of the zwarte Pieten were sick w the stomach flu so they were low on help. They'd have to stop by later to drop off gifts, assuming the kids were still behaving well.

To pass the time, Phoebe decided to make more cookies and taste test a few.

After dinner - finally - the knock on the door - a box waiting outside -

filled w, among other things, a skateboard for Phoebe, poker chips for Thijs, and a diary for Alex.

But wait, where's mommy? Quick, check the stoomboot!

what's the latest on swifts?

2007-12-03T12:34:00.000-08:00

The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) has published some results of their swift study from last year.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-177038

If you know about swifts, you'll find it interesting. If you don't know about swifts, then it will raise your awareness. Either way, it's good stuff! Enjoy.

Urraca cazando murciélagos

2007-12-03T10:36:00.001-08:00

... as my 6 year-old Phoebe says, the magpies have to eat too!

mini yogis tip of the week

2007-12-03T04:47:00.000-08:00

Click here for a mini yogis tip of the week from Shana, which are messages designed to help teach yoga to kids. BUT most of the messages are general enough that you may find them helpful even if you don't do yoga.

For instance, this week's message is about teaching kids not to overreact by hitting or screaming. It's nothing new really, but sometimes just hearing how another adult handles the situation, in a positive and motivating way, can help us reconsider how we deal with our own children's/grandchildren's behavior (or misbehavior, as the case may be). At any rate, I hope it helps!

Namaste

WHAT on earth!

2007-11-30T13:43:00.000-08:00

Once I saw these little fluffy things in France, I began to see them more often back in Belgium (particularly on rose bushes). But I must admit, at first it wasn't obvious to me what it was. I never saw them in North America, or anywhere else for that matter. Have YOU?

those funny Frenchies

2007-11-29T14:59:00.000-08:00

Recently spent a week birdwatching in Champagne, FR with a Belgian bird club I joined a year and a 1/2 ago. Goal was to see Common cranes (Grus grus) that make a pitstop at Lac du Der Chantecoq, the largest of several reservoirs built to prevent Paris from flooding, on their journey to Spain. On a good day you can see 30,000 or more of these gigantic Gruiformes!

There's always more to see than just birds, which is good on days when the birding is light. Will leave you with just a few of our curious impressions...

Your eyes are not deceiving you. That's a refrigerator in a plowed field! The door is open, maybe so the cranes can fetch a drink after eating all that corn. Ever see anything like this? Any clues what it's for?

... or this unit, which was the second metallic vogelverschrikker? scarecrow? What would the hood of a car or truck w wheels attached be doing smack dab in the middle of a plowed field? Go figure. OH, I GOT IT! Maybe it's farm ART!!!

The city of Troyes was no less entertaining because of the lack of symmetry. Made you feel like you were Alice in Wonderland! Take this building, for instance, which looks like one my 5-year old Thijs could've built. Actually, I take that back - Thijs is so organized - he'd never forget his LEVELER! But thank God this building is not so LEVEL because that's what makes it so interesting, as with most Euro cities. Symmetry is not always important.

Even the cups were crooked ... hmmmm, and what else might this apply to?

But the sunsets were just as spectacular as you would hope and expect, especially with the never-ending lines of cranes, trumpeting and calling to and fro. If that's not a life-changing experience I don't know what is.

photos courtesy of Rene Conings

happy Thanks GIVING!

2007-11-22T14:52:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving has to be my favorite American holiday.

Today I enjoyed it more than ever, even though i missed out on the family tradition of cooking a massive turkey stuffed to its gills with delectable stuffing and swimming in a sea of sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce and divine gravy. Oh, and don't forget the pumpkin pies and the college football games that seem to go for days on end, and even tho I'm no football fan, it's the chill factor that's so inviting. I usually slept through most of the games, dozing in and out of REM while cheers erupted in the background ...

Started the day by thinking of all I'm grateful for ... always beginning with family and friends, and going from there - could've written a book! Stijn and I had a nice walk round the lake and a quick cuppa before he headed for the dentist and I to the markt for more sweet potatoes, celery and tin foil. Back home - cooking sweet potatoes - deciding it's too nice to slave over the kitchen - grabbing the camera, and what do i discover .... the moment I've been waiting for ...

The huiszwaluw nests!!!!! (huiszwaluw=Dutch for house martin (Delichon urbica))

What a day of GIVING! Felt like I was about to give birth again - those motherly instincts flooding back. We could have babies come spring!!! I was overcome by feelings of joy! I really felt sparks flying out of my head I was so happy.

But just look what it took to get those nests! CHECK OUT the size of this huge tractor. Should've heard her rumble. The lengths we go to for for our feathered friends ... but at least this effort was funded by the city of Tervuren, for which I'm eternally grateful. Took 2 hours to drive that MOTHER from Tienen (only 45 km away)!

First the overhang plank went up because historically the house martins nested on cliff ledges, and they're accustomed to overhangs of at least 30 cm. Was relieved when they hung that board, because they were having problems with sinking 2 of the screws deep enough. Then they hung the nest houses, 4 altogether, although only 1 is visible from this vantage point (kids bedroom window!). Deep belly breathing got me through ... at least my yoga's going to good use.

One worker seemed to be getting a little nervous, and by this time was making cell phone calls, maybe to tell his wife he'd be back a few minutes late, because some American birder in Tervuren had to custom-fit a look-alike cliff ledge, and it wasn't going all that smoothly. Each job would probably last <30 mins. but that wasn't the case here.

Last but not least was the little plank beneath the nest. And what do you suppose this is for? NO, no, no, not to catch chicks that might prematurely fledge, but to catch their feces before they land on your carport or foul your garden. Figured it never hurts to be tidy, so agreed to have these installed.

Success! Or relief! Either way you look at it, the result is 4 beautiful new homes for house martins when they return from Africa this spring.

What a great day this ThanksGIVING has been!

Wild Horses - Mazzy Star

2007-11-14T14:38:00.001-08:00

oh my, this is divine ...

can you feel it melting your cerebral cortex?

lovin' Blacklake Farm

2007-11-13T12:52:00.000-08:00

These were the faces that greeted us as we drove down the tiny hedgelined lane to Blacklake Farm in Devon, UK, which raises Ruby Red Devon cows and Dorset Down sheep. It's one of the things that attracted me to this organic farm, along with the simply beautiful countryside. Oh, and the Hay House - which is a converted barn that included the original dairy - that's where we stayed. It was divine.

On a sunny day, the view from the nearby ridge is breath-taking. You can see Dartmoor to the west, and Exmoor to the north. And everywhere are miles upon endless miles of ancient, glorious hedges that provide food and sanctuary for so many birds and animals. One begins to appreciate the value of this wildlife habitat when you realize that in most parts of Europe it doesn't exist.

Take a deep breath and feast your eyes on this vision ... all the fix-ins for a relaxing teatime just waiting to happen ... even apples from the orchard. The British really know how to make you feel at home. I about died and went to heaven.

Kids enjoyed picking apples, but they loved feeding the chickens even more. Catherine and Nick have 3 kinds at the moment: the white ones are light Sussex, the dark brown ones are Cornish game hens, and the pretty light brown one is a buff Orpington. Rooster woke us at first, but after a few days we were early to bed, early to rise, and it didn't matter much after that. We were out and about in the fresh air all day long, and there were no computers/tvs to keep us up at night. Was such a relaxing break!

One hole, two holes, three holes, four ...

2007-11-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

Found this bit of wood suspended from a tree during a family walk recently. Ok, it's no guessing game this time.

I've seen the critters that take advantage of cavities like shown above (actually, there's more than one critter that will use these holes or what's inside them, but we'll have to save that for later). We have the critters living in our yard, and you probably do too!

I bought a structure sorta like this from the National Trust in England, and soon after it was being used. The neighbors expressed concern, but the kids were thrilled! And they had good reason to be, as you will learn when you figure out what the critter is!

walk your kid to school month

2007-10-26T16:01:00.001-07:00

Who would've thought "Walk your kid to school month" would coincide with so many beautiful things in nature. It seems every day we make our 10-minute march to school we see something new, like ...

this amazing fungi, the name of which i yearn to know

this beautiful web near our house

this huge spider that Thijs adores

this weenie guy (or guys! I think there are 2!) hiding out under a castle of web

a roost in the attic

2007-10-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

Awoke the other night to find a roost of Willises in our attic, all giggling and whooping and carrying on. I never knew IKEA fold-outs could sleep 5, but now I've got proof! Well, at least Dad appeared to get some sleep ... or was he was just pretending?

Kids loved having nana and grandaddy for a visit. We spent one afternoon touring the Afrika museum, where there was an exhibit on wood that included about 9 wooden elephants parading around the gardens. This big boy caught my eye (and yours?), so quickly used it as an excuse for a nice family foto. Glad my little boy didn't start playing with the "you know what", because with my luck he would've dismantled it, and then i'd have some BIG explaining to do with the museum folk!

Every night was card night. Kids really loved learning how to play poker and black jack, but we always ran out of play money for betting. By the time we'd get to Go Fish (favorite of Thijs), things would begin to deteriorate quickly as the girls would bore easily ... and before you knew it, cards would disappear under the table, or go flying over it ... and soon it'd be pure mayhem. Then you knew it was time for bed.

Made some nice walks in the woods ... and enjoyed having a moment with nana or grandaddy. At least Alex was taking advantage of the opportunity.

I think Mom and Dad timed their visit to coincide perfectly with the Halloween Wandeling (Belgian-style haunted walk in the woods) because they enjoyed it so much last year. Or was it the pumpkin jenever at the mid-point break? Well, this year we included a pumpkin carving party beforehand, which was enjoyed by all. Our group almost doubled with Alex's family joining. Her husband Mark is a decent man, even though he's pretending to butcher his daughter Caitlin. We managed to survive the evening with no casualtie. But I doubt Dad will want to repeat his pumpkin-head superman costume next year as he was getting alien stares from the Belgian kids. Don't they know a superhero when they see one?

agronomy 101

2007-10-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

Fields of yellow dominate the landscape in Vlaanderen this time of year, and they're quite breathtaking, especially if you're lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one during a 30 second spot of sunshine. Still meaning to ask a farmer, or a friend, what the plant is. But HEY, maybe you know!

Is it mustard (first guess)? Or rapeseed, which i've seen in Canada many years ago.

bird or blob?

2007-10-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

October 6-7 was international migratory bird count weekend - at least in Europe, that is! Lots of bird movement around this time, so you never know what you're going to find. During a morning outing, I came across this thing in a field near Leefdaal.

Were the farmers playing tricks on me? or do you think it flew (or ran) away as i approached?

what a bird!

2007-10-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

what a face ...

what a color...

what is it!

(photos courtesy Alexis Dall'Asta)

two little bugs, sitting in the street ...

2007-10-14T13:39:00.000-07:00

Hopefully this will pose more of a challenge ...

Who knows WHAT type of insects these are, and WHAT they were doing, or trying to do, before they got squished on the road?

Believe it or not, despite their name (hint hint!), they're supposedly one of the most delectable of insects! They go well in sauces, pates and even as a topping for pizza! But be forewarned, before you go throwing a dozen in the pot, most insects need to be cleaned and prepped. For recipes, just drop me an email.

guess where on Earth this came from II

2007-10-11T05:50:00.000-07:00

... okay, here's a confidence booster. Any ideas?

so happy i could cry

2007-10-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

We could have HOUSE MARTINS (huiszwaluwen in Dutch) nesting on our house next spring!

A biologist from Leuven came to visit this week, and said he'd have 4 artificial nest houses mounted on our house in November (like above, which is on a neighbor's house nearby). Two nests will be placed near our bedroom window, and two will be near the kid's window. Wonder who will get more sleep!

The martins return from Africa next spring, and we'll be luring them to our house with flags, whistles, whatever it takes. The webcam will be ready!

Dudley's A-okay

2007-10-10T09:31:00.000-07:00

Been over a month since Dudley came into our lives, and he's still as active as ever. From the beginning, I had him all wrong.

Maybe it's from watching documentaries, where you see dung beetles rolling perfectly round balls of dung, but I figured they crafted those round balls so they'd be easier to roll.

But Dudley set me straight. He showed me that he can take almost anything and get it where he wants it to go. If I could just train him to get my kids to school in the morning, that would be something, wouldn't it?

The other thing is that even though he's got nowhere to go, he still keeps rolling along.

Little things are very grand friends. A.A. Milne

A new winter coat: get it before you need it!

2007-10-02T01:36:00.000-07:00

... was the subject of an advertisement email I received from Land's End today.

For a mere $99.95, you could have the latest spiffy white coat! And one that you DON'T even NEED! Now that makes about zero sense ... but how many people succumbed?

Does this make you feel just a little bit uneasy? That our obsession to "keep up with the Jones's" is turning us into irrational human beings, who want things even though we don't even need them. How much longer can Mother Earth tolerate our abusive behavior? It reminds me of a bunch of spoiled kids not showing respect for their parents.

I need a walk ... and time alone with the birds. If we could only molt our own coat each year like they do!

Kalmthout heide

2007-10-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

Spent some time exploring a heathland in NE Belgium yesterday, known as Kalmthout, a place we'd been wanting to visit for over a year now. Fortunately, it was a beautiful, sunny day - a rare treat this far north - which also meant we weren't the ONLY ones hoping to steal away for a bit of peace and quiet. Seemed like most of southern Holland was there too! But no worries, with 1,000 hectares, there was lots of space to spread out and get "lost", so to speak.

The heather was in full bloom, and there was loads of it. Hence, the name heathland! Loved the way that cloud just hung in the sky.

Flocks of birds migrated in the distance, a sign that these nice, long days would soon come to an end ... and the whinchats, skylarks and tree pipits would be enjoying warmer climes if they had the good fortune to make it that far. No, there isn't a bird in this photo - in case you were wondering - i just liked the soft focus feel of it.

Kids were entertained by these big black grazers that were put there to maintain the heide, but they weren't so thrilled by the mosquitoes that were also attracted to these big, burly beests (omg, my spelling is really going downhill, isn't it?!). I mean beasts!

Fast forward 10 years, or less, and this will be Phoebes and a friend out for a little ride ...

Cornelia the Colorado potato beetle

2007-09-21T10:52:00.001-07:00

This morning I showed our potato beetle to oma and opa ... the same one we found in Switzerland 45 days ago while on vacation! Stijn and I were hiking the Etzel Kulm when this beetle crossed our path. Of course I couldn't resist picking her up! She's been with us ever since. She survived vacationing in southern France (that was rough!) and now living in Belgium. Guess she likes the taste of the Belgische spuds.

Reason I started this post was I thought she'd passed away. When I got the cage to show oma and opa, she didn't move an inch. Not even after poking and prodding. I thought that was the end of that, but was kinda sad because she's really CUTE! Was thinking of pinning her for the collection. Boy am I glad I didn't! Can you imagine the horror on the kids faces as they opened the box to see her legs wiggling around while stuck on a pin?

Now I'm wondering HOW LONG this beetle's gonna live! Been thinking about adding some soil because apparently they overwinter as adults underground. It's worth a try, don't you think?

Juvies all around

2007-09-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

... was taking a walk in the park today, when all of a sudden I heard a winterkoning, or Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) calling like a machine gun near the Vossemvijver. Decided I'd check this guy out, so I walked over to a thicket near the Spaanshuis, and squatted down to peer through the bushes. There in the middle perched a juvenile wren, at least that's what it looked like to me, calling its heart out. It just wouldn't quit. It kept calling and calling and calling, as if waiting for some parent to come along and do something, which probably meant feeding it.

At just about the same time, in the distance across the lake, came the crying wail of another juvenile, but this one wasn't a bird. It was a human infant. And it kept carrying on and on and on ... just like the wren chick ... they both wouldn't quit!

Both the wren and the baby ... needing, needing, needing ... when would they be satisfied?

It's not very different in these two different worlds, is it?

Then another cry, but this time by two Great Crested Grebe chicks. They wanted just one thing and they wouldn't stop crying til they got it ... FOOD!

Chicks crying all around ... nature's so full of life this time of year ... my ears are bursting!