Yesterday, Hungary, checked some nest boxes. This one had an old Great Tit nest, a Wryneck egg, a Rose Chafer and dried droppings.

Got a new mouse pad... yes, I know

Nasal bristles? Now that's a topic! Well, I know that many woodpeckers have serious ones, but never noticed they were so impressive on Hooded Crows till I snapped this one today.

Maybe of interest, just published, a note: Reverse mounting by Grey-headed Woodpecker | British Birds: britishbirds.co.uk/node/23075

The longhorn beetle Morimus funereus. Look at the antennae on that. Today, Vértes Hills, Hungary

It's hot, too hot, the forests are mostly silent, especially on the woodpecker front. But many beetles are out in adult form. Here's a cracker, the Alpine Longhorn (Rosalia alpina).

Wryneck, 2nd second brood of the year. July, Hungary. Not a replacement brood but a 2nd one, as they often do. Almost always using two different cavities.

Woodpeckers get blamed for all sorts of crimes like cabin damage, tree damage, and now this...

Juvenile Syrian Woodpecker about to be released after being ringed/banded. Note the red on the chest which is, I believe, why it is called Blutspecht (Blood Woodpecker) in German. Only juveniles have this.

The Wood Warbler, a lovely little woodland dweller that sometimes turns up on a fine Hungarian white wine...

I checked a few of our Wryneck boxes for any 2nd broods. This one had a very neat hornet's nest. That's quite common at this time of year.

Excellent and accurate... as usual😀

Advice needed: which is the best free app for Android to calculate altitude? I tried some, most not very accurate and/or riddled with ads. Thanks.

Birds are becoming more common on Hungarian wine labels... I am going to need another shelf very soon

Ok feather freaks... what is this? and from which species? From Hungary

I've been grouping my collection into families...

Social media, if you use properly (try to avoid religion, politics, family, even sport) it's more than useful. But in the end the place to be "active" is in the "field". Here, September in Hungary, too hot, hard work, quiet but still worthwhile to visit the forest. Always.