Tag: farm

And That Was 2025!

Our farm-refuge year ended in October! We missed out on visiting in November and December. We are definitely, certainly going to make more time to visit in 2026! There is so much to see and do at the farm-refuge!

NEW BIRD FOR THE FARM BIRD LIST

We saw a Common Kingfisher. Tonji first spotted it when it landed by the swimming pool. Very nice to have a new migrant visitor! Maybe if we had fish in our ponds we would attract more of them.

This is the iPhone phot taken by the swimming pool. We now have 113 birds in the Farm Bird List!

The next day it was at the Water Lily Pond and I took more photos with my camera.

Common Kingfisher

Migrants

Our other migrant visitors were Gray-faced Buzzards and Brown Shrikes.

Gray-faced Buzzard
Brown Shrike

Locals

I never get tired of seeing and photographing these three resident birds, Red Junglefowl, Philippine Bulbul, and White-eared Brown Dove.

Red Junglefowl
Philippine Bulbul
White-eared Brown Dove

I am wondering if there are more of them now at the farm-refuge. It used to be We seem to be seeing them more frequently! It’s possible that there are more of them or they are showing up closer to the cottage or they aren’t hiding as much as before or all of the above.

The Red Junglefowl are hanging out in the horse paddock area. I saw them several times in the same area.

three Red Junglefowl

Looking forward to 2026

I hope we get to visit the farm-refuge more in 2026, have more projects, and see new birds!

Bauhinia flowers
Philippine Ducks

June 2025 – Weird Hybrid Duck!

There is a weird hybrid duck hanging out with the Philippine Ducks. We first saw it in the Big Pond swimming . When the Philippine Ducks flew to the Water Lily Pond, it went with them. When they flew back to the Big Pond, it was still with them! It seems determined to hang out with the Philippine Ducks!

It’s much bigger than the Philippine Ducks

The lotus in the Big Pond are even bigger now.

I went around with my camera and binoculars to look for birds to photograph. It’s no surprise that the best spots are:

The front of the cottage – we spend the most time hanging out in the veranda, so it’s strategically planted with trees and bushes for the birds!

The Big Pond – the areas around the pond are also attractive to the birds. There are probably a lot bugs and I imagine that the plants and trees nearby are growing extra well.

female Philippine Magpie Robin near the Big Pond

The Picnic Area – this area has a flat grassy area with a few trees in the middle, a path with trees on the side, and the Water Lily pond. The open grass part makes it easier to spot birds.

PInk-necked Green Pigeon in the picnic area

Side note

I sewed this blouse to wear at the refuge!

my Sashiko blouse!

I’d Like Some More of That, Please

In January we had our first big(ish) group of people over. We were ten! Eleven even, including the baby. There was to be a simple Sunday family lunch, then an afternoon of lounging around and catching up. Continue reading “I’d Like Some More of That, Please”