Irish dancing: NL Qualifying rounds for the Awards at the Irish open May 2009

The NL Qualifying rounds for the Awards at the Irish open May 2009 were held on Sunday the 15th of Feb. 2009 in Maasland the Netherlands. There was plenty of interest and a pleasant day was had by all. The dancing lasted 5 hours and Shelly (Richella Ni Dochartaigh, Registrar with CRN Ireland) was the Judge for the day.

Attached two photos taken by Louise Vriethoff, mother of Isabelle who danced several dances on the day.

One photo is of 3 of our children, L toR. Orlaith, , Eoghan, and Jim

The other photo is of the dancers of the Almere School, with Jarno the teacher in the grey suit.

Birding Monday Morning 16th Feb 2099

Date: 16/02/2009
Location: Kromslootpark, Almere

Warm and wet could describe the conditions at least underfoot, a starkcontrast to the past few mornings when the frozen unyielding ground borehard into the soles of my boots. The softer weather had brought the waterbirds to the fore. A skating coot darted from the reed beds as weapproached. Later on more coots were heard and mallard and Smew and tuftedduck, along with the considerable numbers of geese all made for a mixed morning. Notable was the spotting of the lone tree creeper and the pair of Goldcrests- busy feeding low down in the bushes. Where were all the finches then, after last weeks abundance of goldies and greenies, not a sign ofeither to be seen. All headed north in the hope of finding virgin groundfor the season ahead I suppose. An angry long tailed tit crossed our paths we crossed his. The blue tits were once again in full song, and the last of the meadow pipits, making use of the “unflooded” parts of the plain still as wary as ever not giving us any benefit of their doubt, keeping their distance as usual. It was a rather rushed run through the park due to some pressing family matters. There were probably some I missed, but nevertheless 19 bird types, and with the promise of more to come only round the corner. Will the smew stay round and breed? To be continued. Thanks toVivienne my wife for accompanying me this morning.
Blackbird,
blue tit,
great tit
Swan,
Carrion crow
Grey lag geese
Jay
LOng tailed tit
Meadow pipits
Song thrush
Starling
Wood pigeon
Wren
goldcrest
Tree creeper
Tufted duck
Smew
Coot
Mallard

Birding Sunday Morning 8 Feb 2009

Birding
Sunday Morning 8 Feb 2009
Place: Kromslootpark, Almere, Flevoland
With light transient snow showers trading places with radiant spells of sunshine, a still slippery underfoot urged caution as I scaled the wooden entrance bridge to the Kronslootpark. The familiar early season sound of great tits dominated as was expected. A pair of carrion crows deftly took to the air and landed in the first prairie to graze. Jays joked with each other in the higher treetops on the motorway side, whose speeding occupants competed with the few full-throated avian tenants. Blue tits and a flock of long tailed tits with their deceptive high-pitched notes and chirring almost blend into the background tapestry. Twittering goldfinches and the odd greenfinch herald a hope of Spring to come. Not a few Goldfinches either I must say but a flock of between 40 and 50 must be the highlight of the mornings observations. Merrily seeking out what ever there was to devour high in treetops of Alder trees from the cones, they relished each others company and the security it brings. 5 wrens were spotted, 4 up on last week’s meagre count. Starlings, a brace of mallard, over flying grey lag geese, woodpigeons bolting from perching posts as I approached, singing Dunnocks. The frozen waters limited the water birds, as was the case last week also. The flock of small brown grazing birds, identified as meadow pipits by Wim Calame was still present, shying away as usual. A lone Song Thrush, a Buzzard, Blackbirds showing some familiar mating and posturing behavior were also evident.

At least 17 different species were spotted.

Birding 1/Feb/2009

Birding
1/Feb/2009
Location: Kromslootpark, Almere.
Time: 08.30-09.45h
Freezing conditions, most water frozen, little bits not frozen in some sheltered positions. No ducks, coots, moorhens, geese, rails, herons, swans, divers, dabchicks to be seen.
Tits were the main fare of the day, with many active / singing great tits, blue tits, 2 groups of long tailed tits particularly vocal in the old reed beds, whilst the group spotted in the trees remained somewhat silent being as they were, more intent on feeding. 1 Marsh (glanskopmees) or Willow (Matkopmees) tit, the one that makes the 4 single notes in a row. Vogelwerkgroep Meijendel recording has the Willow tit recorded as making 3 single notes, however I have heard the same note except 4 times in a row. Still a bone of contention for me. One pair of Dunnocks (hedge sparrows) giving what was a somewhat off-putting alarm call, but on close visual inspection the identification of Dunnock was indisputable.
Several blackbirds, several jays, 3 pairs of carrion crows, 1 or 2 common starlings who were in the company of a small flock, (maybe 20) of Meadow tit like birds, but more the size of a rock pipit, very wary, eschewing my proximity, and without the aid of binoculars, I was unable to decipher any unique features, except to say that the underside of the tail was completely dark brown, and easy to spot as the birds did a half turn in the air as they alighted from the wide open ground where they were grazing. Question for Wim Calame. Is this some strange artic bunting??
Always nice to see and hear are the goldfinches several of which were heard in the distance and also pair very close by, glinting in the morning sun. Wrens were conspicuous by their absence.