Of course there is, but the website is updating software and I will not be able to post pictures untill the end of august…

A beautifull evening today, in the eye of the depression, no wind at all!
A distant Red-necked Phalarope was the highlight, but wader migration has clearly started. A quick check at Holwerd produced 100s of Dunlin and Knot.

No news about the Swallows; 2 juveniles are surviving. But today was the first time I saw the parents sleeping together, it is looking promising for a second clutch!

It is raining for 2 days now, not good for Swallows…

Yesterday evening 3juvs and the female;
Just now; only 2 juvs…;
Joined by the male for the first time, the female is sleeping on the fishing-rod toninght.

Sad and promising developments in the barn last days, I must conclude one of the juveniles died. Thursday was the last day I counted 4;
But as you can see on the picture, new nest material is being added and long horsetail? hairs are visible. I saw the female several times on the nest and last days the 3 remaining juvs are sometimes sleeping elsewhere, they may have been chased from the nest by the female.

I am hopefully concluding that they are preparing for a second clutch!!
 
 
Meanwhile I enjoyed the spectacular ending of the Tour with many "chass-patats", "geparkeerd staan", "jasjes uitdoen", "vierkant fietsen", "plakbidons" and "die zit nu om zijn moeder te roepen"

The cat also likes watching the Tour from the couch;
And passed my nautical exam yesterday!

RIP Amy & Oslo

Yesterday morning there were only 3 juveniles so I was a little worried that one might have become victim of natural selection. To my relief all 4 arrived tonight again! But there is not much action in the barn, they only fly in and go to sleep.

And some impressions of a great concert by the ultimate entertainer! (Do I need an excuse? Well, the tickets were extremely cheap internet-auction anyway!
 
 
 

Glimpsed them several times around the house but the family was gone for most of the day.
But in the evening they returned inside and I was happy to see that all 4 are surviving the most dangerous period of their lives. Some synchrone-wing-stretching, a last meal and it is time to sleep:-)
 
 
 
Icterine Warbler and several Spotted Flycatchers in the garden but did not try hard enough…
He is a free cat again!

 
Great excitement in the morning as one of the juveniles took off and flew outside, note the reaction of the others!

I heard it calling and found it sitting of the roof, with one of the parents in close company. Some more followed soon and it was very entertaining to see them cruising around the house and garden in their first real flight.

But one of them stayed inside, it looked really sad indeed and I started to worry as the family left and was nowhere to be seen for hours…
But they have returned again in the evening!

All fledged!
 

On day 20; good timing! The first left the nest in the morning and nr.2 and 3 followed in the afternoon. The parents encouraged by calling and flying through the barn and after some hesitation the juveniles followed. Fun! 
 
 
And then to the other side; 
 
 
And they still fit in the nest for the night!Tomorrow nr.4!

Almost ready for first flight! The cat is inside but a Hobby just raced through the garden…