flycatchers update

The flycatchers young are almost ready...
I hear the young screaming inside the nestbox very loud now.
Everyday I think this will be the last day...but not so yet.
Then I see one of the parents go inside with a caterpillar,
that means they're still in...
I wish I could have a peek inside the box.
would be such a wonderful sight, all this young flycatchers, how many...etc.

Thinking about having a cam inside.
but don't know yet the ins-and-outs how to do this.

So waiting and hoping I will spot the moment of flight.

blue-green beetle

Yesterday while going out with one of my friends F,
picknicking outside along a streaming water,
I saw when we wanted to go again, this little tiny greenish-blue beetle.
I was astonished by its beautiful colors.
Though it was already dead, I took it home to find out who he is.(was)
It is a Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil...
or groene bladsnuitkever (Phyllobius pomaceus).

Beautiful iridescent metalic colors...
he eats(ate) leaves of all kind of trees...so probably explaining his name.

crocus seeds

Yesterday I collected the seeds from the crocus before the grass was mown.
Everywhere little seeds are sticking out of the ground on little tiny stalks.
This variety of crocus blossems earlier in spring than the normal crocus, see photo
it is more fragile
and it makes seeds!
So not only the bulb grows... this variety also multiplies double by the seeds.

Before they are mown and thrown away with the grass..
I collect them and sow them some time later.

Years later, you find them everywhere, on the wildest places, because they sow themselves as well.
I love it! every year again&again.

blackbirds are out!

I heard some loud tweek-tweek in the garden,
as the sound of a babybird.
So I went out for inspection at the birdsnest.
To my surprise no bird anymore in the nest!

When I looked closer,
suddenly a young bird flew away,
who had not been sitting in the nest, but close by hidden in the ivy.

Both father and motherbird were alarmed...
screaming, tweeting very loud and making me very clear I had to go out of the way !
Later I saw another babybird sitting in the ivy, close to the nest.
I only shot a rather unsharp photo.
anyway thats better than no bird.

red

The red is out.
After tree days half peeking out of the bud.
He finally broke out.

Its always a glorious sight having one sparkling red dot, between of the greens, purples, whites and blues.

growing some more

The little blackbirds are now having feathers and fluff
& great beaks...

female redstart

Then to my surprise she was there as well!
the female redstart...
where would they have their nest?

common redstart

Yesterday evening, I was so surprised...when opening the garagedoor...
seeing a very unusual bird sitting on the fence.
First I could not believe my eyes..seeing a bird I have never seen here in my garden.

Last year I went to a place to make photos of this bird,(click link)
because is such a beautiful lovely bird.
The Redstart or Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Gekraagde roodstaart
Then I could only catch the female...
now it was the male in full glory.
I could capture him from all sides!
such a surprise!

beetles meal

Today its a menu of beetles for the young birds.
(How many can he fix in his beak I wonder?)

to be seen both from sideview and frontview.
for good determination.

breaking open

A poppy is planning to break open today.
some other buds are waiting for their turn too.

hedge hog

It was already late, when I looked outside,
and saw a hedge hog crunching on Bibi and Tommy's food
which I had placed outside because they like being outside, as the days are warmer.
This hedgehog has found it again...and really enjoyed his unexpected treat

todays food

The parents are flying off and on.
Everytime with loads of caterpillars...or whatever it is.
A small impression of todays meals.

It fascinates me again much they can find.
Where do they find them so many!
(if you click on the photo you can almost count them or determine what specie)

bigger

The babybirds are still growing.
loads of caterpillars are shoveled in the little beaks by the parents.

Now you can clearly see the featherpins have coming out.
also the beaks have grown much bigger.

yellow deadnettle

Actually its a weed...growing in my garden.
though on some places I let them grow,
if they don't bother to much or take over other plants.

Solomon's-seal

Polygonatum multiflorum (Solomon's-seal, David's-harp, Ladder-to-heaven),
(Salomonszegel).
I did not know this plant has so many lovely names.
Its growing in my garden hidden away under some shrubs.
You have to lift the leaves, in order to see the little flowers.

fast growing

The little ones are doing very well...
getting so many crawly creepy things from both parents,
the birds grow extremely fast.
this time it is lots of caterpillars...where do they find so many!

It always amazes me...seeing them grow so very fast.