Panda Sneeze Attack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD42I7rFEIM

greetings Aafke

Koala's can sneeze too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmKKLy3T0UI

greetings Aafke

No, Carol, I wouldn't dream of volunteering.  I really wouldn't be good enough to work with any of you experienced folk.  I have now learned my place.  No, I will stay quiet and out of the way.
Anne

Sorry, Shaky.  I should have realized how talented and hard working you are!  My error.  I will be quiet and ask no more questions.  Please forgive me for being curious!  I should have known better!!  Please keep up your really fine and hard work!!
Anne in T


Anne, you don't have to apologize or to to stay back. You did nothing wrong, you only asked a question. It's impossible to know everything that happens in this group.
When things are not clear, you can always ask about it and there will always be nice and friendly people who wil give you an answer.
greetings Aafke

[M]

M is for Montagu's Harrier

From Wikipedia:
The  Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier family.
Its name commemorates the British naturalist George Montagu.

We saw this beautiful bird, during a vacation in Denmark. We drove from the mainland to the island Rømø over a dam and this bird flew next to us. We could follow it for a long time. For a short time there were even two birds.
greetings Aafke

[M]

M is for Mute Swan


Finally, a bird that I have taken a photo of -- I have been waiting for half of the alphabet!!   

Anne in Toronto

Mute Swan sharpening its bill in preparation!

It was worth the waiting! Nice picture Anne.
greetings Aafke

[Nora]

Happy Birthday
 
   Nora    

Have a nice day

Are you still around here?

greetings Aafke

 

[L]

L is for Little Tern

The Little Tern breeds in colonies on gravel or shingle coasts and islands. Its thin sharp bill is yellow with a black tip and its legs are also yellow.

On the island of Texel, during the season they keep a piece of the beach specially  for the Little Terns. Unfortunally a lot of people still walk through that area even with dogs.
This is my best picture, but here is a good picture from the internet:

http://www.martinparrsnaturepics.com/USERIMAGES/070531%20little%20tern%20(Sterna%20albifrons)%209.jpg

greetings Aafke

[L]

L is for Lapwing

Thanks for sending the Lapwing Annette!!
The Lapwing is the most common wader of The Netherlands. There is a cultural-historical competition to finds the first Lapwing egg of the year. Not that I like that.
Here is a picture of a group of Lapwings and another picture of a big flying group of Lapwings.
greetings Aafke

[L]

L is for Long-eared Owl

From wikipedia:The Long-eared Owl is a medium sized owl. It hunts over open country by night. It is very long winged and glides slowly on stiff wings when hunting. Its food is mainly rodents, small mammals, and birds.


A few years ago we saw this owl in France during a vacation. When it was really dark, they appear. Two parents and 3 owlets and starts to fly. Because of the dark, it was hard to see them and even harder to take a picture of them, you only see a silhouette, don't laugh! When I look at these pictures,  I feel again the excitement from seeing them.

Some pictures from the internet:

http://www.google.com/images?q=long-eared+owl&hl=nl&lr=&safe=off&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=rBDtTKvuF4WSOrGk8aoB&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CDIQsAQwAA

greetings Aafke

[L]

L is for the Long-tailed Tit

The Long-tailed Tit is such a cute little bird.
Last spring I had a couple in one of the nestboxes. In March I saw one bird with a little fluffy feather.
After they left the nest, the family spend a lot of time in the trees behind my garden house.
I made this movie from the family. At first it is hard to see but there is one bird visable and under it there is a row of babies, when one of the parents come with some foot , you can see them move. There are a lot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iyVGXJkjyI

In this time of year they fly around in groups from 20 or 30 birds. It nice to first hear them and than see the little birds with the long tails.

greetings Aafke

[Sage]

 

Happy Birthday

  Sage  bguitar

Have a nice day

Greetings Aafke

[L]

For all new members, you can send your birds too.

Starting with the letter L tomorrow, Tuesday 23 and Wednedsay 24 November

The letter M, Thursday 25 and Friday 26 November

The letter N, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 November.

You are all doing a great job, it's really nice to see all these posts.

greetings Aafke

[K is for KAVER]

K is for KAVER: Kaver is the first falcon I ever saw and I immediately knew I was in LOVE. He is the one who got me hooked on Kodak Falcons. From that day on, I don't think I missed a day. He treated his lovely mate Mariah with great care. He was "Super Dad" to all of his many many kids. He stood by Mariah's side when she was injured, he fed her, helped feed the kids when she couldn't. Kaver is so special and will always be my QTP2T. When he left and never came back, he took a piece of my heart with him. I will never forget the joy that boy gave to me and others. I miss him dearly.

 

Thanks Donna, that was a very good start of the K!!
I was expecting that you would write about Kaver. 
greetings Aafke

[K]

K is for Kingfisher

from Wikipedia:
All Kingfishers have large heads, long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. Most species have bright plumage with little differences between the sexes.
Like other members of their order they nest in cavities, usually tunnels dug into the natural or artificial banks in the ground.

I saw a Kingfisher a few times, sometimes you see a very fast neon blue  thing   and that's a Kingfisher. One day I was very lucky to see one sitting still for a few minutes and I could take his picture.
greetings Aafke

[J]

Another Jay!!!  bguitar
J is for Jay

It's the European one.
They belong to the family of crows and they are bigger than your Blue Jays.
They also look different.
Last week I had one in my garden, he loved the peanuts.
greetigs Aafke