Author Archives: admin

Reading List 14

Posted on January 1, 2021 by admin

A total of 46 books in the last six months; with the 55 last time, that makes a pleasing 101 for the year. In the spirit of the times, I made an effort to be a bit more diverse in … Continue reading →

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In Praise of the Treecreeper

Posted on December 31, 2020 by admin

One great advantage of the winter months is the disappearance of all those pesky leaves. As a result, treecreepers in particular seem to appear from nowhere. That doesn’t mean they’re necessarily obvious though; while they’re quite common, their resemblance to … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany, Nature, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Zamenis longissimus

Posted on December 26, 2020 by admin

Z is for Zamenis longissimus (“the longest tetchy one”), or Aesculapian snake. The scientific name is rather unfair, as it’s nonvenomous and quite pacific in its habits, and it was encouraged to live in the temples of Aesculapius in ancient … Continue reading →

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Yellowhammer

Posted on December 25, 2020 by admin

Y is for Yellowhammer. Wikipedia provides us with another gem: “The pine bunting and yellowhammer are so closely related that each responds to the other’s song. The male yellowhammer’s song is more attractive to females, and is one reason for … Continue reading →

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X-rated

Posted on December 24, 2020 by admin

X is for X-Rated Damselflies.

Posted in Advent, Nature, Slovakia | 3 Comments

White Stork

Posted on December 23, 2020 by admin

W is for White Stork. These two are understandably pleased to see one another.

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Vulture

Posted on December 22, 2020 by admin

V is for Vulture. This Turkey Vulture is helpfully displaying the characteristic feature of New World vultures: the lack of a septum between the nostrils.

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Upland Goose

Posted on December 21, 2020 by admin

U is for Upland Goose. As in some other species, according to Wikipedia, “Males attract females through a courtship display in which they whistle loudly, to which the female responds with softer cackles.”

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Tree Sparrow

Posted on December 20, 2020 by admin

T is for Tree Sparrow, second in our miniseries of underrated birds. A symphony in brown.

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Starling

Posted on December 19, 2020 by admin

S is for Starling, one of the most underrated birds. Individually gorgeous, and they murmurate!

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