Mole 2

This is Mole.

He lives near the pond, deep under the ground.
He mostly is at home, so that not many see him very often.
But today he is going out.
Going to do some shopping.
He put his striped scarf around his neck,
and his purple new shoes on his feet.

Mole 1

This is the house of Mole.

blackbird 3

Today I saw blackbirdfather roaming around again in my garden.
No mealworms yet, though it looked like he expected.

But no problem, a while later I heard him making joyful sounds.
beak full of...
what is it...?
looks like crawly worm and slimy snail or slug. that's the best I can make of it.
Looks kind of yucky to me...shiver, shiver.
but he has his own opinion.

blackbird 2

How many creepy crawling mealworms fit in a blackbirds beak?

drizzling

Its raining all day...for a week at least.
Or better said...it is drizzling.
no lovely bright shiny warm summerdays in June.

Small tiny raindrops falling continuously.
so that everything gets soaked.
One good thing about it.
All the plants in my garden are covered with beautiful shiny raindrops
making them shine fresh & lovely in a special way.

snailmail

Got snailmail in my mailbox all the way from Germany.

Lovely flowerstamps were glued on the enveloppe.
named Swordlily, and Goldmoon.

blackbird

On my way home I bought some mealworms.
Had not seen the birds very close the last time.
So that might be fun to see them again.
Not long after I had laid out some worms,
a blackbird had found them and instantly he grabbed
as much as he could take.
Some moments later mother blackbird arrived as well.
He had told her I guess,
both flying away the same direction...
having a treat for their young.

snail circles

This morning, I saw a snail had climbed all the way up to the birdbath.
It was raining, so he had not climbed all the way up for a drink.
there was on the ground lots of water too.

He was running around the birdbath going in circles.
as if he was running a snailrace with himself.

Common Redstart

For a couple of days I heard birds screaming, only did not see any.

Till today, as I was doing some gardening.
suddenly I saw screaming young birds,
First I thought they were young robins, but then I saw fatherbird going to one of his young.
Which made me ran inside to grabb my camera!
This was great!
A common redstart (Phoenicurus Phoenicures) (Gekraagde roodstaart) with young!
I rarely see that bird, only once in my garden, and now having fledgelings.
Whaaaw!
Beautiful orange-red firy bird, darkbrown wings, orange-red tail, black colored face.
white dot on the forehead...an amazing beautiful bird.
In my garden!.
After a while The young birds started flying arround.
It looked as if their tails were already some orange.

Such a treat!

poppy

I also sowed poppy's
I cannot wait till the lovely flowers appear.
though the buds are lovely as well, covered with purple spikes

Cornflowers

Beginning spring I decided to sow Cornflowers, (Centaurea cyanus) Korenbloem.
I love the intense blue,
and they remind me of the time in my youth having them everywhere in the cornfields along with the poppy's.

They are just ready to bloom.
Look at the buds, having peeking out, just the beginning of deep cobalt blue, surrounded by purples, matching with the exact perfect greens...

Most Dlightful flowers

It is time for the delphiniums(ridders) and roses to flower again.
The most delightful flowers of all times.

You can smell the fragrance of the roses from a distance.

berries

Beginning this year, I planted a Juneberry, (Amelanchier), Krentenboom.
I love the delicate white flowers in spring,
but the reason I wanted this tree was: berries...for the birds.
The birds love the reddish-purple fruit of the tree.

Now the berries are still green,
yet the blackbird and also other birds think it is time for inspection and a try-out.
I saw them eating already the green ones!

Grey flycatcher

For several days I see the flycatcher again in my garden.
This one is a grey flycatcher. (Grauwe vliegenvanger)
the Flycatcher I posted about, last month, is the Pied Flycatcher (Bonte vliegenvanger)
lets says he's part of the family...flycatchers.
Today I saw him and her, collecting nest material,
and flying to the roof of one of the birdhouses under the gutter.
I think this will be then their second nest this year.

I do hope they will continue building.
Such lovely birds

Heracleum

When I went to see the kestrels
I came along these huge flowerplants, just coming in bloom. Heracleum,(Herculaneum sphondylium), (Bereklauw)
Having these extreme huge big buds, looking impressive, ready to burst into flower

If you look clearly, lots of insects are hoovering on top of them.
The plant seems to be quite poisonous..so better not to pick them for your vase.

Kestrels 7

Today I visited the kestrels again.
Some were out...on the flight. the ones at home, waiting for father or mother with mouse
when they saw him coming...a glorious screaming started till he arrived

kestrels 6

And then the 4 of them in the window...

kestrels 5

Later they sat in one accord in the window.
Almost being sychronised, watching, exploring the sky around.

Such a delightful...beautiful amazing birds!
I fell in love with these beauties...

kestrels 4

Today I went again to the kestrels, to see how they were doing.
One of these days I expect them to leave, and I don't want to miss any opportunity.
When I arrived, two of the young birds were sitting on the house.
and later on I saw that they making short flights,
flighing up to a neighbour tree and coming back some 15 minutes later.


seeing them arriving in a kind of clumsy way,
not fully sure how to use the wings and where the exact point of landing finishes.

In between one of the parents brings in a happy mouseburger.

Kestrels 3

Lots of eyes peeking out of the nestbox of the kestrels.
They see everything, every fly or bird passing by.
So vivid alive.
They now are big enough to sit on the edge of the windows.

beautiful sight