A Morning in Layers

Yesterday’s morning light was something else — the kind of light that shifts the entire mood of a landscape. I started early, camera in hand, watching as the first rays of sun broke through the horizon at the Loonse en Drunense Duinen. The Canon 5DsR with the Sigma 24–70 Art captured that dance between storm clouds and sunlight — a fiery sky meeting cold, dark clouds above a golden line of dunes.

Later that morning, a flash of movement caught my eye. Perched high in a tree, a Lanius excubitor — the Great Grey Shrike (Klapekster in Dutch) — scanned the landscape. A master of patience and precision, this bird is both predator and poet of the heathlands. Just as I focused, it launched into flight, wings twisting into the sunlight — a single frame of balance between control and freedom, taken with the 5D Mark IV and the Sigma 100–400.

Before heading home, I found a small Mycena mushroom rising from a bed of moss, surrounded by acorn caps and fallen leaves. Humble, delicate — yet part of the same story. The sun, the bird, the fungus — each a layer in nature’s quiet symphony.

#ByMaikeldeBakker #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #MacroPhotography #LandscapePhotography #CanonPhotography #SigmaArtLens #5DsR #5DMarkIV #DutchNature #LoonseEnDrunenseDuinen #GreatGreyShrike #LaniusExcubitor #Klapekster #Mycena #FungusAmongUs #MushroomPhotography #AutumnVibes #ForestMood #MorningLight #NatureStorytelling #ScientificPhotography #EcologyInFocus #FieldObservation #NaturalHistory #Heathlands #SunriseGlow #SkyDrama #BirdInFlight #AvianBeauty #MacroMagic #MossAndMushroom #ForestFloor #NatureDetails #CanonLover #Sigma100400 #Sigma2470Art #PhotographyJourney #DutchWildlife #ByMaikelPhotography

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.

#BorealOwl #Ruigpootuil #AegoliusFunereus #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography #OwlPhotography #BirdPhotography #DutchNature #CanonPhotography #Canon7DMarkII #Canon5DsR #Sigma100400 #ForestLife #AutumnColors #Surea #NoordBrabant #BirdsOfEurope #OwlsOfTheWorld #ForestMagic #NatureStory #MacroAndMore #WildlifeStories #NatureLovers #EcologyInFocus #AnimalCamouflage #ConservationThroughPhotography #NaturalHabitat #PhotographyDetails #QuietMoments #BirdingNetherlands #AvianBeauty #WoodlandCreatures #ScientificPhotography #StoryBehindTheShot #AutumnVibes #CanonWildlife #EyesOfTheForest #DutchWildlife #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #ByMaikelPhotography

A quick morning snack for a starling.

Just a few days ago, I went for a small hike south of the Loonse & Drunense Duinen — a less-traveled area where nature still follows its own rhythm. Unlike busy forests that fall quiet when people arrive, here everything just… continues. That’s where I found this starling, perched high in a tree painted with the warm reds and golds of autumn, against a bright blue sky.

I grabbed my Canon 5D Mark IV with the Sigma 100–400mm, testing different compositions — and reminding myself (too late) to use my polariser for that extra sky contrast! Back home, this image stood out. The balance of colour was striking — the starling’s dark, iridescent feathers shimmering with hints of green and purple against that vivid backdrop. But what really made the shot special was the small detail: the moment the bird snatched a passing insect midair.

Starlings are quick and clever hunters; their eyes are adapted to detect the smallest movements even in bright light. No wonder they thrive in both cities and wildlands alike. To me, this photo captures that blend of elegance and instinct — nature’s little drama, frozen in a fraction of a second.

#Starling #BirdPhotography #NatureMoments #WildlifePhotography #Canon5DMarkIV #Sigma100400 #AutumnColors #DutchNature #LoonseEnDrunenseDuinen #BirdWatching #NaturePhotography #WildlifeLovers #IridescentFeathers #CanonPhotography #SigmaLens #MacroTelephoto #NatureStory #ByMaikelPhotography #BirdLover #MomentInNature #EcoPhotography #PhotographyArt #CloseToNature #InTheWild #MorningLight #InsectHunt #WildlifeInFocus #BirdsOfTheNetherlands #FieldPhotography #PhotoStory #ConservationPhotography #AutumnVibes #ColorContrast #OutdoorAdventure #NaturalBeauty #CanonEurope #WildlifeMoments #AnimalBehavior #PhotoOfTheDay #NatureWonder #DutchWildlife

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

A Quiet Reward – A Long Walk and a Long-Tailed Friend

Yesterday was a remarkable day out in the field — 15 kilometers through the forests and heathlands, 12 kilos on my back, chasing light, sound, and stillness. The birdlife was active but elusive. A falcon flew over me twice in the pre-dawn dimness, barely two meters above — breathtaking, but far too fast for a photo.

I spotted geese, some fluttering tits leaping through treetops, and then… almost home. Just before reaching my Ioniq 5, tired and happy, I was gifted one last moment: a long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus, or staartmees in Dutch), feasting on berries just meters away.

I shifted into stealth mode, barely breathing, and quietly captured the scene with my Canon 7D Mark II and Sigma 100–400mm lens. This small bird, with its oversized tail and round body, is a social species, often seen in flocks — but today, I had a private audience.

To close the walk, a pararge aegeria (bont zandoogje) fluttered by, resting in a sunny patch. A bonus. A bow at the end of the forest’s performance.

#staartmees #aegithaloscaudatus #longtailedtit #birdencounter #canon7dmarkii #sigma100400 #bontzandoogje #parargeaegeria #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #naturewalk #dutchwildlife #natuurfotografie #forestlife #vogelsinbeeld #urbanwildlife #tilburgnatuur #earlymorningwalk #natuurmoment #birdwatchinglife #macroandmore #brabantnature #hiddenbeauty #heathlandbirds #nederlandsenatuur #closeencounters #stealthphotography #wildlifelovers #ontheroadback #naturemagic

The Familiar Face of Nature – Great Tits in the Park

This morning, I spent some quiet time in one of Tilburg’s city parks photographing a few Parus major — the great tit, or koolmees in Dutch. These charming little birds hold a special place in my heart. Every spring, a family of great tits nests in my own garden. Watching them raise their young year after year has become a rhythm I cherish deeply.

Today, I brought my Canon 5D Mark III and the Sigma 100–400mm lens. The birds were lively and alert, hopping between branches and calling to one another — always aware, always in motion. Sadly, a shift in the weather cut my visit short, but not before I captured a few peaceful moments.

Great tits are not only beautiful — with their yellow bellies and bold black stripes — but also remarkably adaptive. They’re one of Europe’s most studied songbirds, known for their intelligence and ability to thrive in both woodlands and urban settings.

Sometimes the most meaningful encounters aren’t with rare or exotic species, but with the ones that choose to live alongside us.

#greattit #koolmees #parusmajor #canon5dmarkiii #sigma100400 #birdphotography #urbanwildlife #citynature #tilburgnatuur #natuurfotografie #birdsofeurope #tuinvogels #commonbutbeautiful #birdlovers #birdwatching #backyardbirds #birdlife #dutchwildlife #vogelfotografie #natuurmoment #everydaynature #canonphotography #sigmawildlife #nederlandsenatuur #localwildlife

Castor fiber – The Quiet Engineer

Sometimes, nature rewards patience with a surprise. While walking through the serene Gedbootre Bos in Tilburg-Noord with my wife, hoping to spot the elusive kingfisher, we stumbled upon something even rarer: a beaver (Castor fiber).

Once extinct in the Netherlands, the beaver is slowly making a comeback thanks to conservation efforts. This gentle giant plays a vital role in shaping wetlands — building dams, creating habitats, and improving biodiversity. Its presence is a strong signal that nature is healing, even in urban edges like Tilburg.

I photographed this individual from the side of a large ditch using my Canon 7D Mark II and Sigma 100–400mm lens. Though the image may not be award-winning, the encounter certainly was. Moments like these remind me that it’s not always about the perfect shot — sometimes, it’s about witnessing something wild, alive, and rare.

#castorfiber #bever #beaver #urbanwildlife #naturephotography #wildlifemoments #canon7dmarkii #sigma100400 #tilburgnoord #gedbootrebos #natuurpunt #rewilding #wetlandrestoration #nederlandsenatuur #dutchwildlife #rareencounter #beaverwatching #conservationstories #animalencounter #natuurbeleving #biodiversitywins