🇳🇱 Goedenacht, slaap zacht.
🇳🇱 Goedenacht, slaap zacht. #Lepelaar #ErgensInEenWeiland
🇩🇪 Gute Nacht und schöne Träume. #Löffler
🇬🇧 Good night, sleep tight. #Spoonbil
🇨🇿 Dobrou noc a hezké sny. #KolpíkBílý
#PlataleaLeucorodia

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

Lepelaars ringen - Boschplaat Terschelling 4-6-2025

https://exquisite.tube/w/gWWu2sur6eQpff96kM3b84

Het tweetal – Vogelplaatje

https://willemswebstek.blog/2025/07/05/het-tweetal-vogelplaatje/

#lepelaar #archief #vogelplaatje #willemswebstek

A Rare Encounter: Eurasian Spoonbill Over Kampina

While exploring the Kampina nature reserve near Oisterwijk, I was fortunate to witness a Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) soaring overhead. This elegant wader, distinguished by its white plumage and unique spoon-shaped bill, is a rare sight in this area, as they typically inhabit the swampy regions deep within the reserve. Capturing this moment with my Canon 7D Mark II and Sigma 100–400mm telephoto lens, the sunlight illuminated its outstretched wings against the clear blue sky, highlighting the intricate feather patterns.

Eurasian Spoonbills are native to Europe, Africa, and Asia, with the Dutch population primarily breeding on the Wadden Sea barrier islands. They prefer shallow wetlands with abundant aquatic life, feeding on fish, amphibians, and invertebrates. Their presence in inland areas like Kampina is less common, making this encounter particularly special.

Observing this majestic bird in flight underscores the rich biodiversity of Noord-Brabant's wetlands and the importance of preserving these habitats for future generations.

#EurasianSpoonbill #PlataleaLeucorodia #Lepelaar #BirdPhotography #Canon7DMarkII #Sigma100400mm #Kampina #Oisterwijk #NoordBrabant #NetherlandsNature #BirdWatching #WetlandBirds #AvianBeauty #NatureLovers #WildlifePhotography

Lepelaar – Vogelplaatje

Zeevang – Klemweg – In de polders zie je ook veel zoals in het natuurgebied ´Zeevang´ van Staatsbosbeheer waar een Lepelaar heerlijk wandelt in de weide.

Zeevang - Klemweg - In the polders you can also see a lot like in the nature reserve ´Zeevang´ of Staatsbosbeheer (Forestry Commission) where a Spoonbill walks wonderfully in the meadow.

https://willemswebstek.blog/2025/04/30/lepelaar-vogelplaatje/

#lepelaar #zeevang #staatsbosbeheer #vogelplaatje #willemswebstek

Even tekenen in Artis met een vriendin. De lepelaars vingen mooi het licht.
#drawing #spoonbill #lepelaar #tekening #artis