The BEST Guide to POLAND
Unanswered  |  Archives [3] 
  
Account: Guest

Posts by SeanBM  

Joined: 10 Mar 2008 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 6 Jun 2017
Threads: Total: 34 / Live: 3 / Archived: 31
Posts: Total: 5781 / Live: 787 / Archived: 4994 		From: Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

Displayed posts: 790 / page 21 of 27
sort: Latest first   Oldest first   |
SeanBM   
4 Jan 2010
Genealogy / Jewish Roots of Poland [638]

The European civilisation, Polish included started from Roman civilisation.

The foundation of European culture was laid by the Greeks, strengthened by the Romans, stabilized by Christianity, reformed and modernised by the Fifteenth Century Renaissance and Reformation and globalized by the European Empires of the nineteenth and twentieth century.

Although I would argue that the Celtic culture was a huge civilisation all over most of Europe before the Romans were anything and pre-Celtic cultures.

Check New Grange (Wiki) built about 5000 years ago, before the pyramids in Egypt.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newgrange

Quite a late start. I wouldn't brag about that.

We are not going to wait for you :p
SeanBM   
1 Jan 2010
Law / What is NIP number? [15]

What is NIP number?

Ah, i thought this was some new pick up line.
Hey baby, what's your star sign, NIP number etc ;p
SeanBM   
20 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

a falcon is just a falcon.

I will also put photos of crows on here, although found in abundance all over Europe, I like the way they look, walk and act.

There are very many birds here, surely they do not become interesting only if they are rare?

I will continue to post about the animals here, be they common or not.

And thank you for the suet tip, I will try it :)
SeanBM   
20 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

:
it's a Great Spotted Woodpecker

I am starting to think you are correct, as it is too difficult to see a black line zigzagging from the shoulder halfway across the breast and back to the nape.

It has a white patch on its shoulder and does not have a white lower back but a black one.

Edit*
Yes, I am convinced, it must be a Great Spotted Woodpecker as opposed to a White-backed one as it's back is clearly not white :)
SeanBM   
20 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

I had looked at that because it is similar but I thought it wasn't for two reasons.
Firstly, it is not spotted but striped.
The White-backed Woodpecker

has plumage similar to the Great Spotted Woodpecker, but with white bars across the wings rather than spots, and a white lower back.

And secondly

It is distributed throughout Europe and northern Asia, and usually resident year-roundexcept in the colder parts of its range.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Spotted_Woodpecker

And it was minus 20 last night and minus 12 today and he was still knocking his head against the frozen tree.

I could be wrong as it does have a large white shoulder patch common to the Great Spotted Woodpecker but again it doesn't have a black line zigzagging from the shoulder halfway across the breast nor back to the nape, which is the distinguishing feature of the Great Spotted Woodpecker but it is very difficult to see on the photos.

Here are the last of the photos I have of him, they are terrible but hopefully they will give more information as to the identity of this headbanger.


  • IMG_6550_1.JPG

  • IMG_6555_3.JPG

  • IMG_6556_4.JPG
SeanBM   
19 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

I don't understand what kind of information you expected?

Either do I :)

I am a city boy from another country and I know little to nothing about about Polish wildlife, so any information is appreciated, thanks.

This is common "dzięcioł". Nothing special about this bird.

Perhaps some information on what particular species it is, there is always something interesting if you look deeply enough :)

I think this particular species is a male White-backed Woodpecker (Wiki)

It is the largest of the spotted woodpeckers at 24–26 cm long

And perhaps not so common either

It is a scarce bird, requiring large, mature woods with plenty of dead wood. Numbers have decreased in Nordic countries. In Sweden, its population decline has caused the Swedish government to enact protection for the species in the national Biodiversity Action Plan[1].

209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:JYB37h-7k48J:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ White-backed_Woodpecker+leucotos&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pl&client= firefox-a

I also just found this piece of information on our friend, also on this thread, the green woodpecker:

Woodpeckers have the longest tongues among birds. They use them to penetrate deep tree-hollows and long corridors of ant-hills.
When a green woodpecker sticks its tongue out, the tongue is 1,5 times as long as the bird's head and beak.

209.85.135.132/search?q=cache:vSvYjNyVzOEJ:birds.poland.pl/didyou /article,Woodpeckers_tongue,id,91302.htm+woodpecker+poland&cd=2&h l=en&ct=clnk&gl=pl&client=firefox-a

The first one is a sarna.

photos of "deer" you can see in this thread are more like "sarna".

Two for Sarna (pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarna), we'll go with that.
SeanBM   
19 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

I heard this wee fella banging away at the tree, which must have been tough as it was minus 12 today when I took this. So the woodpecker must be double hard to knock away at a frozen tree.

Any information on this bird would be much appreciated. Sorry for the bad camera shots, in my defence it was minus 12 and this guy was way up the tree.


  • IMG_6552_1.JPG

  • IMG_6553_2.JPG

  • IMG_6554_3.JPG
SeanBM   
14 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

Track one..is a deer

The first one is a sarna.

Sarna is a

sefszc zx

I think it definitely looks like a deer, although I have no knowledge of which particular dear, which sex or how old it is.
These are questions I would like to find out, so if anyone could help me with that one it'd be great.

Track two i think is a badger

It is a pity with this one that I did not put something beside it because it was very big and wide and although I initially thought it was a badger too, I think it may be a very big dog because it has only four fingers.

Badger tracks have five fingers:

aedfafsfc

i think the last two are Polish forest elves....?

I think the last one is also a little dog.

I will get more tracks over the coming months.
They are very easy to see in the snow.
I will give an indication of size and of walking pattern, so as we may be better informed next time, as to which animal they may be.

Another thing that interests me, which I have very little idea about, are actual bird songs and distinguishing various birds by their song.
If anyone has any links to a website that plays the birdsong along with the name of the bird, I would be most grateful.
SeanBM   
14 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

What animals made these tracks?

This is my first attempt at posting tracks, perhaps next time I will put a coin or something beide the track to give you an indicator to the size and also I could photo the pattern of the tracks, to make this easier and better.

The last two photos are of the same tracks.


  • 1.JPG

  • 2.JPG

  • 3.JPG

  • 4.JPG
SeanBM   
6 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

It has good reviews.

I recently used a newer model, much better.
The two main problems with mine are, it doesn't 'zoom out' enough, so taking a photo indoors is awkward and the lens cap keeps falling off.

But the video, 'zoom in' and all the rest of the features like the programs that came free with it are all great and easy to use.
SeanBM   
6 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

Were you pretty close up or is it a decent zoom lens sean?

Canon S5 IS and the later models have a fantastic zoom on them.
Also that was taken through my dusty bedroom window and I was shaking too much but when I opened the window to support myself on it, the bird took off.

It is the same camera I use for the youtube videos.
SeanBM   
6 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

I think you might have solved it.

EUREKA!

The nesting hole is larger but similar to those of the other woodpeckers.It may be a few feet above the groundor at the top of a tall tree; Oaks, Beeches, Willows and fruit trees are the preferred nest trees in western and central Europe, and Aspens in the north.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Woodpecker#Breeding
Well it is certainly a good possibility :)

Perhaps its just a bird thats afraid of heights,,,its possible...?

It would certainly seen the species as a whole, would like to return to the ground alright :)
SeanBM   
6 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

Well it is the forest in the Beskidy mountains, which contain most, if not all, of the animals on this thread. It does look like a bird stuck its rear end out of the hole though, rather than a weasel or something.

I also cant help thinking that the green woodpecker (wiki),
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Woodpecker
the one just a few posts up from this might have a part to play for two reasons

A). It's a woodpecker and can make this type of thing
B). It eats off the ground, kind of a more ground ant eating bird than any other I know.

But I might be just connecting the dots because I have just recently discovered that particular type of bird and what I would consider, strange habits.

Here is the fella again


  • IMG_6131_1.JPG

  • IMG_6135_1_1.JPG

  • IMG_6149_1.JPG

  • IMG_6170_1.JPG
SeanBM   
6 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

Good question, is there another animal which makes such holes?
Perhaps such an animal would not even have to make it but if the tree were rotten enough, it might have been able to 'push' it's way in?

But you can get lost if you think I am going to stick my hand in to check for rot hahahaha
SeanBM   
6 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

I have seen long-tailed Weasel (Wiki), Anguis fragilis (slow worms) Wiki, snakes and I would imagine there are definitely badgers.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weasel
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anguis_fragilis

Maybe one of these guys occupied the nest after gobbling up the builder?
SeanBM   
6 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

Here is what appears to be a tree nest hole.
As I said before I am a city boy so I am going to make some assumptions and please let me know if I did not get it right.

What strikes me as odd about this nest is how far down the tree it is.
I thought that the whole point about tree nest holes was to make it difficult for predators to get at your young.
I assume it's a nest because of what looks to me, like excrement coming down from the hole.
Perhaps even the original builder of the hole is no longer the occupant but it looks like it was used for some time given the amount of excrement.

Any ideas about the possible occupants would be most appreciated.

These photos were taken today:


  • 06_12_09_25_1.JPG

  • 06_12_09_22_4.JPG

  • 06_12_09_17_2.JPG

  • 06_12_09_23_3.JPG
SeanBM   
6 Dec 2009
News / Dalai Lama says: "POLAND HAS RETAINED ITS SPIRIT" [77]

How much would you willing to sacrifice to change bad foreign occupation to possibly even worse domestic regime? Your fortune, your life, fate of your family? What type of sacrifice would you recommend to people in Tibet?

What?
I assume you are aware of the "Free Tibet" campaign.
Or are you suggesting they are better off under China's regime?

Robert Mugabe, 'The Reign of Terror' (Robespierre)...

Rhodesia, Read (Wiki) about the Rhodesian Bush War, if you would like to know how Mugabe was created.
He is indeed a terrifying dictator.

But I hardly think China and Tibet are comparable to indigenous people ruling themselves as Mugabe or Robespierre, wouldn't you say?

How does the Dalai Lama know what the Polish spirit is anyway?

Didn't he meet Jan Pawel Drugi, an excellent representative of the Polish spirit.
SeanBM   
3 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

It's green woodpecker.

Thank you very much, that's perfect :)
Yes, beautiful colourful plumage.

The species is highly sedentary[3] and individuals rarely move more than around 500 m between breeding seasons.

(from the wiki link provided above)

So he is around here somewhere.

The main food of the Green Woodpecker is ants

Plenty of ants in the garden and my neighbour is sickling the grass for storage to feed his rabbits through out the coming winter.
So the ants must be easier to get to with the low grass.
SeanBM   
3 Dec 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

This is a curious creature.
It is this time of year that I see this bird, perhaps it migrates south for winter?
But it appears to be a woodpecker by it's markings, does anyone know if my assumption is correct?
This particular one was on the ground eating from the garden, I live near lots of forest.
I do not know if it always eats this way or this just supplements his diet?
Basically I haven't a clue about this bird, so if anyone can point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it.
I will try to take better photos of the wee fella in the future.


  • 1_2.JPG

  • 2_3.JPG

  • 3_4.JPG

  • 4_5.JPG
SeanBM   
22 Nov 2009
Love / How do Polish boys feel about foreign girls? [163]

I don't like asian looks.Balkan man here,

You are finally admitting you prefer Balkan men to Asian women.

There are few foreigners in Poland, so dating foreigners in Poland can't be very common.

Well it depends, how many girlfriends have you got SzwedwPolsce? ;)
SeanBM   
16 Nov 2009
Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]

yeah and they have the grid system, makes it much easier to navigate.

But WB does have a point Wildman, you're comparison to Ukrainian roads does not make the roads in Poland better.
But I understand we are creatures of comparison and Ukraine is next door.
WB just wants the Autobahn (it rocks!), I assume is his main argument here.
SeanBM   
12 Nov 2009
Travel / 5 days in Poland [19]

Hello Jocruy, and welcome to the Polish forums:
SeanBM   
9 Nov 2009
Love / My husband is Polish and I was wondering why he drinks all the time. [66]

Hello salsa,
And welcome to the Polish forums.

I think that in certain parts of the U.S. the idea of drinking is quite different from other parts of the world.

Give us figures, how many beers or bottles of vodka does he drink in a night, a typical week, a typical month?
and what is his mood when he drinks, happy, sad, stupid etc...?
SeanBM   
1 Nov 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

Where were the deer?

On the Chełm mountain in Myślenice (more or less in between Krakow and Zakopane) in the forest in the Beskidy mountain range.
I have deer running around the house here but they are faster than I am at getting my camera.

White tailed deer.

That is what I thought when I was searching the internet for it but I found this:

The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), also known as the Virginia deer, or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States (all but five of the states), Canada, Mexico, Central America, and in South America as far south as Peru. It has also been introduced to New Zealand and some countries in Europe, such as Finland and the Czech Republic.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_deer

And wasn't so sure.

I already posted a pic of the one that sits under my window , she is there most mornings , and rests there most of the day untill dusk when she goes in search of food....

All year?
Do you feed her in winter?
SeanBM   
1 Nov 2009
Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

I finally got a photo of a deer, she was good enough to pose for me.
I see quite a lot of deer here but this is the first time I have managed to take a photo.
Can anyone tell me what type of deer it is?


  • Marcin_30_10_09_72.jpg

  • Marcin_30_10_09_71.jpg

  • Marcin_30_10_09_73.jpg

  • Marcin_30_10_09_74.jpg
SeanBM   
24 Oct 2009
Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]

3) they can't pour a decent pint of Guinness.

Perhaps hate is not too strong, it is all about context...