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!

enjoying the winter

merry xmas birdies

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

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

how to destress the holidays

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?

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?

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

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

mini yogis tip of the week

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!

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

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!

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

oh my, this is divine ...

can you feel it melting your cerebral cortex?

lovin' Blacklake Farm

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 ...

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!