P1050490 scaled

All animals

ByGaby

One of my favourite pastimes is watching all the life in and around our home. The pond especially has proven to be a true oasis in this dry land. In no time at all, we’ve welcomed several frog species, a European green toad, and hundreds of birds (including 200 sparrows, wagtail, yellow wagtail, goldfinch, crested lark, blackbird, linnet). The swallows are clearly interested in our outdoor kitchen as a nesting spot, and if there were no fence, we suspect the deer and fox would also venture closer. And of course, the pond offers excellent cooling for Mazy when the outdoor temperature is too high for a border collie.

Larger birds like the stork and the buzzard, which also fly over our field, are not welcome: Mazy has a clear boundary when it comes to acceptable bird size. Pigeons are tolerated when it’s too hot to run fast.

Notable observations: although we see many tits in the trees, they don’t seem to come to the pond to drink. The redstart and the hoopoe don’t seem to either. Are they still getting enough moisture from their food?

To identify all this natural beauty, ChatGPT is really handy: who still needs identification guides or keys?

P1050291
P1050305
P1050329
P1050346
P1050426
P1050437
P1050446
P1050468 1
P1050457
P1050310
P1050490
P1050501 1

Similar Posts

  • Cycling around Balatonalmádi

    ByGert

    On Easter Saturday, we cycled from Balatonfűzfő along Lake Balaton to Balatonalmádi. The tour, with an elevation gain of around 500 metres, requires good physical condition due to the challenging slopes. We climbed the Csere-hegy and Somlyó-hegy observation towers via good cycle paths, enjoyed the nature and rest stops, and returned to the start via a restaurant and a steam locomotive.

  • To be or not to airbnb

    ByGaby

    A year ago, we moved with an open mind (‘we’ll see’) and converted our upper floor into a two-room apartment for friends and family. We decided to rent it out as well, not to make a living from tourism, but to welcome guests seeking peace, nature and simplicity. After registration (with inspection and 1 star) and listing on Airbnb, among others, the first guests arrived.

  • Cycling tour around eastern Balaton

    ByGert

    We went on a three-day cycling tour along Lake Balaton, with an extra loop through the Bakony region to cover sufficient distance. We started in Berhida and cycled via Eplény along quiet country roads to the north coast. Via Balatonfüred and the coast of the Tihany peninsula, we crossed over to the south shore at Szántód. On the third day, we temporarily left the shore, cycled over cliffs and forest roads, and ended up back in Berhida. We encountered unpaved or impassable sections, sometimes overgrown paths, and busy stretches without cycle paths; but everywhere we enjoyed views, tranquillity, and flexibility.

  • Understanding stones

    ByGaby

    In Hungary, the stones are often buried under the surface and are only visible when the fields are ploughed. However, we note that the stones disappear because the soil ‘eats’ them. We think the frozen soil under the stones melts, causing them to sink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *