A Quiet Guardian of the Forest

On our walk through the forest near an old, forgotten building, my wife suddenly looked up — and there he was. A Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus, or Ruigpootuil in Dutch), resting quietly on the edge of the roof, half asleep but faintly aware of the world. Every now and then, one bright yellow eye would peek open, catching a shimmer of the noon light.

The oak trees around him were dressed in their autumn palette — green fading into yellow and deep orange-brown. In that setting, his mottled plumage blended perfectly with the wood and leaves, a masterclass in camouflage. Boreal owls are rare in the Netherlands, typically nesting in old woodpecker holes in mature coniferous or mixed forests. Occasionally, one finds refuge in an old structure like this — proof of how wildlife adapts when natural habitats change.

Photographed first with the Canon 7D Mark II and Sigma 100–400mm (effectively ~600mm thanks to the crop sensor), and then with the Canon 5DsR and the same lens. The 5DsR reveals even more detail when zoomed in, but for social media, the 7D’s reach gives it a beautiful balance of sharpness and framing.

A quiet encounter, a patient gaze — and a reminder that even in silence, the forest watches back.

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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

Wings Over Water — Zoutelande’s Coastal Birdlife

What do you see when you’re at the sea? Some see waves and endless sky. I see movement, feathers, and stories. At Zoutelande, seabirds are more than background scenery — they are coastal sentinels, perfectly adapted to a life between land and sea.

I photographed a mix of species: adult gulls perched on wave breakers, keeping a watchful eye on the tide, and a juvenile Larus cachinnans (Pontische Meeuw or Caspian Gull) resting quietly on a boardwalk, still growing into its adult plumage. These gulls are skilled opportunists — coastal recyclers playing a vital role in the ecosystem.

Among them, a special guest: Haematopus longirostris, the Australian Pied Oystercatcher. A striking species with a powerful bill and strong personality, often mistaken for a local — but likely a rare visitor or misidentification (since they don't normally appear in Europe). Either way, a reminder of the magic of migration and the surprises nature offers.

Shot with my Canon 5D Mark III and the Sigma 100–400mm lens, these images capture the texture of the coast: salt on the wind, waves on the shore, and wings in the sky.

Where there are birds, there is life — and always something worth protecting.

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#zoutelande #birdphotography #seabirds #pontischemeeuw #laruscachinnans #oystercatcher #haematopuslongirostris #canonwildlife #sigma100400 #wildlifelens #coastallife #dutchcoast #vogelfotografie #birdlovers #coastalbirds #natuurfotografie #naturejournalism #birdwatching #oceanwildlife #shorebirds #ornithology #nederlandnature #featheredfriends #birdsoftheworld #gulls #wildlifeinsight #ecologyawareness #conservationphotography #maikeldebakker #eurobirds #lensbasedstories

> Farbenpracht in Aktion – ein Bienenfresser mit Beute im Schnabel. Aufgenommen mit der Canon R7 und 800mm Brennweite.
#BirdsInFocus #CanonWildlife





#Bienenfresser

#BirdPhotography

#Vogelfotografie

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#NaturePhotography



#CanonR7

#CanonPhotography

#800mm

#Telephoto

#MirrorlessPhotography




#Pixelfed

#PixelfedPets

#FediPhotography

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#AnimalsOfPixelfed