zaterdag 10 december 2016

Mallorca!

Some weeks ago, we were happy to find out that Mallorca is not the touristic place we had in mind. It’s for the greater part an agricultural and rugged island on which it is an adventure to stroll around and to do some wild- and birdwatching. We saw many birds of prey, purple Gallinules (the big feet one in black and white ;-) and eurasian Hoopoes (6th picture). 
To come across the rare and beautiful violet dropwing dragonfly, was the biggest surprise of it all.
Apart from the beauty of nature, the villages are ancient and charming and the weather is pleasant, even at the beginning of november.
I guess some spring we want to see more of this mostly untouched island!











   

vrijdag 14 oktober 2016

Trip to South Carolina, California and Vancouver Island!

Because we have two children living in America (Charleston SC and San Francisco CA), we have a very good reason to cross the Atlantic every now and again. 
Apart form that, we found out that the early autumn period on Vancouver Island, is the perfect time to do some black bear spotting (meeting!).
So we planned and made a complex but magnificent trip, which completely answered our expectations.
We saw and experienced: Killer whales, salmon, black bear, amazing landscapes, bald eagles, wineries, exotic birds, butterflies and dragonflies, crawfish and anole lizards (eating dragonflies!).

Back home again in Holland, we enjoy the sweet memories and images ;-) 
Half Dome, Yosemity CA

Himantopus Himantopus (Black Winged Stilt) Silicon Valley CA  

Rosewall Creek, Vancouver Island

Argia Vivida (Bright Blue Damselfly) CA

Papilio Palamedes (Palamedes Swallowtail) SC

Cyanocitta Stelleri (Steller's Jay) Vancouver Island

Yosemity Valley CA

Ursus Americanus (Black Bear) BC

Orcinus Orca (Killer Whale) Pacific Ocean

Elk Falls, Vancouver Island

Agraulis Vanillae (Gulf Fritillary) SC

Anolis Carolinensis (Arboreal Anole Lizard) SC

Crawfish, Campbell River, Vancouver Island

Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island

zaterdag 25 juni 2016

Méditerranean France

At the end of May, when our own garden is a beautiful sight, it's also a perfect time to stroll around in the nature reserves of Southern France. We visited the Luberon, the Camargue and the Narbonnaise en Méditerranée. All three worthwhile: blooming flowers in abundance, saltlakes and -mountains, thousands of flamingos and bee-eaters taking care of their off-spring.
Apart from all this beauty we were gladly surprised to discover species we had never seen before (Coccajus and European Roller) and southern variations of butterflies and dragonflies.

And by the end of the day there's always a nice restaurant, a tasty dish and a good glass of wine (or sangria in my case :-) in a friendly village.
The French countryside, a hospitable and Romanesque holiday destination!



Flamingo in the Camargue


Poppies in full bloom


Bush Cricket


Dried earth structure


Cactus (Opuntia) in bloom



Emerald Lizard



European Roller

Ascalaphus Coccajus!


The Narbonnaise Méditerranée


Xylocopa violacea

Salt mountains near Cruisson


Composite flowers


Western Clubtail with prey



Roussillon