Andrea Bocelli ... from the heart

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

guess what i ordered for my birthday?

BIG garden birdwatch

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

a few good holes

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!

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

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

how universal - this is so hilarious! enjoy!

hmmmmm ....

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

Edmund Burke

a walk with Isolde and Linde

the big 4-0!

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?

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

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

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 ...

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

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!