bird


2023 annual review 1
Sandy Seal 2023 kicked off with biting some sand. As a powdered seal fills my frame, I realize that this animal was apparently at the back of the line when paws, ears and tails were handed out. It looks like some sort of hairy larva, decorated with these huge eyes […]

Bye 2023, Hello 2024!


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Suddenly, while I was innocently enjoying a calm spring evening, this cheerful whistler almost pushed its blue breast into my face. The hint was clear, even I didn’t need ObsIdentify for that! A bluethroat....

Birder For a Day


Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis IJsvogel fish landing
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)   Did you know…… The kingfisher is able to switch between monocular vision (eyes used separately) and binocular vision (eyes used together). It uses monocular vision in air  and binocular vision in water. It’s underwater vision might not be razor sharp, but certainly good enough for […]

PhotoFriday 6: Common Kingfisher



barn swallow, brood, Hirundo rustica, juvenile, nestling
The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)   Did you know…… For a long time, swallows were believed to hibernate in holes in the ground or underwater, withdrawn in some kind of torpid state. Nowadays we know they migrate to warmer countries during wintertime.

Photofriday 4: Barn Swallow


Mute Swan Cygnus olor male showing off sunset pink water 1
The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)   Did you know…… Mute swans often mate for life as a monogamous couple. They even raise the cygnets as a pair. Mute swans often use the same nest each year, restoring it if neceassairy.

PhotoFriday 3: Mute Swan


Roeselien Shop Fine Art 2
 1. If it Walks Like a Goose And it Talks Like a Goose…. As soon as this Army of Cuteness arrives, the most fanatical birder goes “awwwwwwww”. Bold loitering spontaneously share their sandwiches, a homeless worriedly counts whether they are as many as yesterday.   2. Interview by Bored Panda […]

38. Photography Bestof 2014



Baby Gosling 2
I’ve always loved the saying: ‘If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.’ Because nothing can argue with that, can it? Elaborating on this idea, one could argue, that if it walks like a goose and it talks like a goose…it […]

29. If it Walks like a Goose and it Talks ...


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Laatst betrapte ik mezelf erop dat het volgende zinnetje uit m’n toetsenbord rolde: “Te zien aan het ontbreken van de geelwitte ‘haken’ op de handpennen, lijkt dit een juveniele vogel te zijn. En de staart met brede eindband lijkt die van een mannelijke vogel… Waarschijnlijk dus een eerstejaars man” WTF?!  […]

84. (Pest)Vogelen voor Dummies


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Grote kans dat velen van jullie – net als ik – grootgebracht zijn met de waarschuwing dat zwanen héél gevaarlijk kunnen zijn. Voor zwanen met jongen moest je helemaal oppassen, want: “Zwanen zijn zo sterk…ze kunnen zelfs je arm kunnen breken…” Om heel eerlijk te zijn maakte dit ‘dreigement’ voor […]

60. Not so Ugly Ducklings



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I could write a whole new story about goslings and their endless cuteness, but this time I refer to my former blog about little ducklings. Just replace the word duckling with the word goslings and you’ll know exactly what my feelings are towards this little furry balls on legs…;)

10. Too cute to Blog: Goslings


Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Mallard duckling baby cute overload 9
I’ve got (at least) two so called weak spots: One is a bizarre attraction towards all that shines. I’m an easy victim for vendors selling way too expensive, but beautifully twinkling fake bracelets and I easily spend my last money on hideous kitsch junk in the Christmas section of Walmarts. […]

9. Too cute to Blog: Ducklings


Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus Pestvogel 1
In Dutch Waxwings are called Pestvogels, which means something like ‘Nagging Birds’. I often wondered why they got this strange name. Well…I found out the hard way! Waxwing invade my country every now and then. They appear in large numbers and -being just a little shy- they make a great […]

7. Waxwings Playing Hard to Get