Week 13
A Great Tit
Just one of the birds we have around here! aka "koolmeesje"
pronounced "coal - mace - yer".
Gets a mention in this very busy week, because Janny's parents have been delighted with the number of birds that have been "visiting" their living room door. So much so that we put up 7 or 8 more nesting boxes. A couple from last year were in use already. I suppose I have never really paid attention at this time of year, but of course, they are all busy making nests just because it's Spring! (at last). Over the winter we hang out bags of seeds embedded in fat. We see all different varieties using them. I enjoy watching them, but have never taken the time to learn their English names.
Another common bird at our place is the Eurasian Blue Tit,
aka "pimpelmeesje". (pimple - mace - yer).
The Short-toed Treecreeper (boomkruiper)
The Eurasian Nuthatch (boomklever)
The Eurasian Wren (winterkoning)
The Great Spotted Woodpecker (bontespecht).
Good old Woodie Woodpecker - we hear this one a lot in the next door forest.
The House Sparrow (huismus)
lots of these!
There are many more just in our small patch, including "roofvogels" - birds of prey, a few territorial robin red breasts and swallows that like to nest in the garage!
Our nesting boxes have different shapes, different sized holes and different placement heights, in order to cater for as many as possible.
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Robin red-breast nesting box |
From my chair at the head (or bottom?) of the morning coffee table, I spotted some birds through the window, outside our day work area. I put this nesting box up straight away and by lunch time it was occupied! We'll set up a "wild" camera next week, to keep an eye on it.
And a few more for good measure!
The box below has a slot on the side instead of a hole at the front.... I think for the boomklever - to climb up the tree and then in through the slot.
Around the farm.....
Zoey has been digging for moles, little matter that she makes more damage than the moles!
More firewood!
Collected from a firewood place just down the road!
They're coming to cut down some more of our trees next week. The wood is already split and in bags - makes it much easier to stack away. 345 bags! (15 cubic metres). Should have enough now to see us into 2019....
Aghh, the boat!
A horrible photo; showing a crack in the new paintwork! Must have been moisture in or under the (heaps of) filler used at this point - the bow.
Even though it was Sunday, I rang the painter rather nervously.... but he said "yeah it's OK, I've seen it and will fix it shortly" - a Frisian "No Worries, Mate". So, big sigh of relief on my part - just have to wait now to put her in the water. My armchair sailing continues with reading the "Voyages of the Tiger Shark" - a boat owned by a Boating Magazine here in the Netherlands.
Ben in Moscow
I had already posted last week's This Week so Ben's photos came later.
He had been to a Museum of Pin Ball Machines! and walked outside to find himself in the middle of an (illegal) demonstration - in support of Novalny ( a political opponent of Putin).
I texted Ben to "Not get involved" - he said, " I'm already gone" ! Phew!.
He also had to go and find another hotel to stay in. Too noisy in the University dormitory!
The Molotov Capsule Hotel
Ben sent this link to an interesting story about Russia targeting kids by using Social Media - hoping "to stir feelings of loyalty towards the Fatherland".
https://themoscowtimes.com/news/kremlins-patriotic-education-targets-russias-schoolkids-online-57578
Ben was hoping to do one of his own university projects about this: "Social Media as a Propaganda Weapon" - but he contacted his teacher and they have already said it "has to be about something in the Netherlands".
At the University
Around Moscow
Black Hamburger
Snow in Moscow
Ben's University Pass (other side has the photo and details in Russian - not shown for privacy reasons - now who's getting paranoid?).
and in other news.....
Land down blunder: (Dutch) teen heading to Australia lands in Sydney, Nova Scotia
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/31/teen-accidentally-flies-to-sydney-nova-scotia-australia
Milan Schipper’s plan was to backpack through Australia, taking in its lush coastal landscapes and white sand beaches before heading to college.
But instead, the Dutch teenager found himself 10,000 miles away from Sydney, Australia – staring out at a snow-covered, frozen landscape – as he realised that he had accidentally booked a flight to Sydney, Nova Scotia, a municipality of 32,000 people on Canada’s east coast.
“I thought I was going to Australia, but that turned out a little different,” the 18-year-old told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday.
But instead, the Dutch teenager found himself 10,000 miles away from Sydney, Australia – staring out at a snow-covered, frozen landscape – as he realised that he had accidentally booked a flight to Sydney, Nova Scotia, a municipality of 32,000 people on Canada’s east coast.
“I thought I was going to Australia, but that turned out a little different,” the 18-year-old told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday.
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