After two weeks away, the journey back home felt almost longer than the trip itself. Unpacking, laundry, sorting things out… you probably know that feeling when vacation ends and “real life” piles up faster than your suitcase ever did. By the end of the day, I was ready for another vacation (not seriously, but you get me 😅).

And then, in the middle of the post-trip chaos, a small reminder of home arrived. A lovely little robin hopped into the garden as if to say, “Welcome back, where have you been?” For me, it felt like a quiet celebration: back to familiar surroundings, back to feeding the birds, back to the rhythms of daily life.

Robins have a special place in many cultures. In folklore, they’re often seen as messengers of hope, new beginnings, and sometimes even as guardians watching over us. Scientifically, they’re just as fascinating: their red breast is a territorial signal, and they’re among the few birds that will sing all year round — even through winter, when most others fall silent. That’s perhaps why they’ve long been seen as little bringers of cheer.

This robin, perched patiently, reminded me that home has its own kind of magic — sometimes quieter than a new destination, but just as worth noticing.

Canon 5D Mark IV + Sigma 100–400mm.

#Robin #GardenBirds #BirdPhotography #NaturePhotography #BirdWatching #BackHome #GardenWildlife #BirdLovers #CanonPhotography #SigmaLens #Canon5DMarkIV #FeatheredFriend #SmallWonders #BirdsOfEurope #DutchWildlife #BackyardBirding #AvianBeauty #Songbird #NatureLovers #BirdsInFocus #WildlifePhotography #AnimalPhotography #GardenMagic #DailyNature #HomeAgain #ResilientNature #BirdOfTheDay #BirdNerd #BirdLover #BirdObsessed #BirdWatchingDaily #BirdPhotographyWorldwide #NatureIsHome #SimpleJoys #RedBreastRobin #BirdingMoments #CloseToNature #BirdPortrait #BirdsAreAwesome #WonderInDetails #ByMaikelPhotography

Part Four – Birds of the Kampina

Arriving in the Kampina before sunrise, the blue hour bathed the landscape in soft tones. My first encounter was with the Wood Lark (Lullula arborea, boomleeuwerik), its melodic song carrying across the quiet heath. A short while later, the cheerful Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus, pimpelmees) appeared, flitting among the branches with bursts of energy.

A new sighting for me came in the form of the White Wagtail (Motacilla alba, witte kwikstaart), its sleek black, white, and grey plumage standing out against the morning grass as it bobbed its tail in that characteristic rhythm.

Then, in the golden morning light, a magnificent Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia, lepelaar*) soared overhead—its long neck and spoon-shaped bill unmistakable as it glided silently across the sky.

The Eurasian Blue Tit returned in later moments, sometimes pausing to watch me, sometimes diving from the tree canopy with wings spread wide, briefly illuminated by the rising sun—a small flash of living color against the still-waking world.

These mornings remind me why I rise so early. Each species, familiar or new, carries its own story, and together they form the living heartbeat of the Kampina. From the whisper of wings to the bright calls through the mist, it’s a place that rewards patience, presence, and curiosity.

Canon 7D Mark II + Sigma 100–400mm | 5:00–10:00, early morning

#BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography #BirdWatching #Kampina #WoodLark #Boomleeuwerik #LullulaArborea #BlueTit #EurasianBlueTit #Pimpelmees #CyanistesCaeruleus #WhiteWagtail #WitteKwikstaart #MotacillaAlba #EurasianSpoonbill #Lepelaar #PlataleaLeucorodia #BirdsInFlight #MorningLight #GoldenHour #NatureLovers #BirdNerd #BirdsOfEurope #Ornithology #FieldNotes #NatureWalks #MistyMorning #CanonWildlife #Sigma100400 #EarlyBird #BirdWatchingDaily #FeatheredFriends #AvianBeauty #BirdPerfection #BirdBrilliance #NatureInspiration #PhotographyLife

Every morning begins with a song — not from a clock, but from a feathered soul perched against the sunrise.
How lucky we are to wake up to such music.
📷 frank.cruz

#BirdPhotography #MorningSong #FeatheredFriends #NatureIsArt #GoldenHour #WildlifeMoments #BirdwatchingDaily