yes, I had two ringneck parakeets in the garden today. They say there are about 1000 breeding couples in the Brussels area!

Souvenir of a zoo park that stood on the spot of Mini-Europe, 25 years ago, and kept some free flying parakeets on the premises.

Really? What species? We had the same thing with Rainbow Lorikeets in Perth. A private aviary collection got released before the war or something, and now there's huge flocks of them everywhere! One of my fave birds, by the way.

Ketchup probably prefers them under puff pastry.

No, but I must have a Surinamese recipe for popokai soepoe (parrot soup) somewhere...

[<img src="../images/emoticons/bbutbut.gif">]

I had parrot soup once, but it kept repeating on me!

Camilla, I think the species is Psittacula krameri.

Well we had an interesting visitor today! <img src="../images/emoticons/ybigrin.gif"> I was sitting in the apartment with a cup of tea, reading a nice trashy magazine my friend brought me from Australia, when I heard a kind of "THUMPscritterscritterscritter" sound at the window. So I looked up, to see a pair of very natty tufted ears and some bright eyes outside the glass - there was a squirrel peeking in at me!! It had come to investigate the contents of the bird feeder we hung up outside. Cheeky little thing <img src="../images/emoticons/ytongue.gif">

It had a bit of a look at me, obviously decided I was not as fascinating as the bag of peanuts, and with a dismissive flick of its luxurious tail it was off to the feeder instead. We sneaked closer to the window to look and watched it for a couple of seconds - it raided the last of the peanuts then went away again! LOL. And I thought they'd all nicked off to the South of France for the winter <img src="../images/emoticons/ytongue.gif">

Squirrels don't migrate Camilla, they're even bad hibernators. Though they go to sleep when the temperatures drop, they do have to wake up now and then during the winter in order to feed. I suppose it's not cold enough for them to get into hibernation yet.

Strange weather, there isn't even snow on the ski slopes in the Alps yet!

(Jealous,jealous,jealous....)
I visited a friend today in Denderhoutem who claims his beautiful garden (with pond) is regularly visited by a kingfisher, even now in winter.

Bah! Humbug <img src="../images/emoticons/ytongue.gif">
We got visited by two enormously fat pigeons this morning. I couldn't help thinking, as I watched them picking food out of the lawn, "I wonder if Ketchup has a recipe for pigeon?" <img src="../images/emoticons/ytongue.gif">

Of course I have

It's been a busy week in my neighborhood. A bald eagle who flew right along side our car for a minute going 35 mph; a beautiful coyote who ran right past me just a few yards from me; and a fascinating and also beautiful kingfisher on a branch of the biggest oak tree, surveying the creek and hoping to find something. I've GOT to carry my camera with me on my walks.

Wow, Raquel, that sounds beautiful <img src="../images/emoticons/ybigrin.gif">

I felt very lucky! And yesterday we had a snowstorm and everything looks breathtakingly beautiful, pure and unadulterated. I don't know what animals come out in snowstorms, but will keep my eyes open!

snow owls, snow foxes, snow rabbits, snow men (to be confirmed).
Dont mention it, its all part of the service.

And, obviously, dizzy Irishmen. Welcome back! (I think)

so Raquel, are you glad to be back ? whats good about being back and whats bad ?

Any major longings ? (apart from me obviously ;-)

Aha!! It's the Zuidelijke Bonte Dizz!

yeah, in winter display