Next level @ 600mm
I’m in love, and I finally did it! For two years I’ve been eyeing 600mm lenses to get closer to the animals. I never had the money. My trusty old Sigma 150-500mm was now a good 15 years old, and you could really only use it up to 450mm because it got blurry towards the end. On my Z6, it was a bottleneck in terms of focus speed. The new weapon in my arsenal is the Nikon Z 180-600mm, designed for the Z system, and what a difference! It zooms lightning fast, is razor-sharp at 600mm, and has a ton of other cool features – a lot has happened in the last 15 years.
I went for my first test yesterday and pinned my hopes on the old cemetery. There are usually lots of birds there, and maybe a few squirrels playing in the snow. I wasn’t disappointed; at times, four or five animals were hopping around me. This shot wasn’t taken in the snow, but it shows what the new lens is capable of. I’m blown away.
Kingfisher once more!
I hadn’t expected the weather to hold up today. All the apps were showing clouds and cold. The latter was definitely true, and it was a real slippery ride to Heusenstamm by bike – especially the last stretch to the mill ruin, which was a sheet of ice. My new, “small” travel tripod from K&F (a clone of the Rolei Lion Rock) was with me – my Christmas present to myself. 😉
When I arrived, three colleagues were already sitting on the bench waiting for the kingfisher. He came, I took some photos, and I was particularly pleased with a shot where I’d captured him perfectly in flight, only to realize I’d left the SD card in the computer. The Nikon buffers the last few pictures, but if you switch the camera off after shooting, like I did, everything’s gone… that’s how it was today. Punishment was necessary, so I stayed for another hour while the other colleagues all headed inside to warm up, and sure enough, the female kingfisher came by again (it had been the male earlier). So here are a few pictures from today, which almost cost me my toes. Despite thick socks and waterproof, padded rubber boots, you get cold standing in the stream waiting until you reach the pools. At least the tripod saved me the long pauses and waiting, and it fits on the top tube of my bike. All’s well that ends well, though I’m still cold. 😉
My equipment, both technical and digital, is at its limit at these distances. My next lens has a 100mm longer focal length, and a teleconverter is on my shopping list.
Ice, ice, birdy!
After dragging my tired butt out too late to the kingfisher party yesterday—New Year’s Day, you know— I couldn’t stay home today with the crisp wind, frozen snow, and occasional bright sunshine. The birds must have felt the same way, because there were so many of them, all posing for my camera. Even yesterday’s little friend was there, and while my fingers and toes were freezing, he managed to get a good amount of food from the water and, in his typical fashion, beat it against the nearest branch. But first, here are a few pictures of his aerial acrobatics.
More focal length, a better field of view (he always dives into the water behind the tree), and more light… I hope he’s still around in the spring and that I manage to treat myself to the new lens and a teleconverter. Topaz saved the day again.
Hello, little fellow.
A short walk with the family to get some fresh air. I had just put the camera away when Marie saw the little guy sitting here by the side of the path.
Christmas Nutria.
The day before yesterday, I was lucky enough to meet this cute little fellow. Not very shy, but incredibly clean, he groomed himself extensively and wasn’t bothered by my presence. This tameness probably led to them ending up on dinner tables quite often in the past – especially in the USA and East Germany, where nutria and muskrat were apparently frequently on the menu. I’m not sure I could handle that, but you hear everywhere that they’re multiplying too rapidly and destroying riverbanks. These pictures are a comic strip:
Merry Christmas!
White beauty.
I’m always delighted when I encounter “everyday” animals and can capture their beauty, which most people no longer even notice. For most, it’s true: seen too often and no longer perceived. That’s what I love about photography—it makes me look closely again and begin to marvel, like a small child, at all that nature can create… do you, too?
This swan was very curious and came right up to me and started “talking” (bagging for food?) love these intense moments when you don’t have to hide and rather be in contact with such a beautiful creature.
Small, blue, slow arrow
Today I went hiking with my Shaolin clique, and we marched along the Spessart route in Mernes in cold but sunny weather. As is often the case when you’re out with other people, and especially dogs, the animals usually disappear before you even see them. That was the case here too… or so I thought, until—as so often happens—a kingfisher was sitting quite relaxed by the stream called the Jossa, just before we reached the end of the hike. The dogs saw it at the same time, and so it flew off, but only to circle around and then settle back in its old spot as soon as we had walked a few meters further. I couldn’t get too close, and it scurried somewhat clumsily a little further each time. Was it also so cold that it hardly made any attempt to fly away from me, or was it hunger? At the small bridge, it briefly plunged into the water to grab a bite. Made my day!
…and as always: those who pack away their camera too early at the end of the trip often miss out on the best parts.
Kitchen sink monsters
I poured the rest of my hot tea water down the sink, and half a minute later, this monster climbed out of the overflow. Since she was already there, she had to pose for a few photos – on the way out, she spent the time resting on an apple (I didn’t have anything else handy), then climbed onto my large telephoto lens again. Nosferatu, is that you?
An hour and a half with the osprey
It turned out that I had some free time this Sunday and was near the Surfsee again. My new friend was there too! In total, I saw him come and fly back with a fish four times – I was never in the right place. Once, he splashed into the water less than 25 meters from me, completely surprising me because I was busy with the cormorants. After an hour and a half, I walked to Höllsee to have a look around, but there are significantly fewer places here from which you can overlook the lake – the osprey didn’t show up there either. From a distance, however, I saw him making his next round over the surfing lake, exactly where I had been waiting. Bad luck! But I did get a few nice shots, and I have an idea why he hunts in certain places. If I’m right, next time I’ll be right where he splashes into the water.
…where the eagles fly.
Yesterday I had three hours until my next appointment and was out and about in Seckbach. First, I cycled to the Seckbacher Ried (river marsh) and discovered that the nature conservation agency here uses large fences, preventing you from getting close to the water – a good thing, but bad for the photographer’s life. Compared to my last visit a good 10 years ago, Huthpark had also become completely tame. The lawn was mowed, and there was a lot going on in this weather. I would only see animals from a distance here, so I continued on to the Enkheimer Ried (river marsh), but everything important here is hidden behind high fences. A glance at the sat nav showed me that I wasn’t far from Maintal. I had already considered a trip to the Surfsee (surfing lake) in the morning, but dismissed the idea: too far, I thought, but the sat nav said it was only 15 minutes away. When I got there, the barbecue area was a hive of activity. Families, small children, and a few boys blasting heavy hip hop beats across the lake. I mentally made a big pass at wildlife photography for the day and looked for an empty bench at the other end of the lake to stretch my tired bones. I had barely sat down when a large shadow flew over me. I had never seen a bird with such a wingspan in our region before, but the pictures by @Paolo Ceccarelli immediately came to mind. Could it be? An osprey? Hell yes! I quickly grabbed my camera and took a picture. The shots of the fish being caught were too far away and too blurry – excitement is not good when taking photos – but he flew two more circles with his prey before a couple of young kites tried to steal the fish from him. These creatures fly in broad daylight and not a soul can be bothered by anything. In one picture you can see the boys partying in the background. Made my day!
Launch!
Heat wave… phew. Nevertheless, I had to get out and met up with a friend for an hour by the Main. The reservoirs on the Fechenheim side are always busy with winged visitors, and it was a nice lesson that if you ignore them, the animals will go about their daily business and aren’t bothered by our presence. This heron came by, fished a bit, and only when I deliberately started photographing it did it take off. Too much intention… they sense it.
Beauty!
Birds of prey, like most predators in general, are simply beautiful to behold. My guess is thatour primal instincts are at play here, and their power, speed, and the associated presence simply appeal to you and simultaneously say: Hey! Don’t mess with me. Calling seagulls majestic might be going too far, but graceful is a pretty good description. Add in the perfect evening light you get pictures like this. And yes, she stole our fries. 😉
Bathing day!
Splash! All animals groom themselves, and so do seagulls. I somehow always assumed that the daily hunt for fish provided enough water (and salt) to keep my body clean, but this seagull was bathing in a small creek by the breakwater. Sure! Ducks, geese, and other birds do it too, so why not seagulls? Another lesson learned…
Hunting Season
They’re called Seeschwalben in Germany (terns) – which translates to see swallows, and rightly so, because just like the swallows on land, they’re lightning fast. They boldly dive vertically into the water to catch small fish. Unfortunately, I wasn’t close enough to take clear pictures and desperately wished I had a longer focal length. After the debacle on La Palma, I’ve become more cautious with seawater and cameras. Perhaps the terns will hunt closer to the shore again…
Snack Attack
They say that animals that use tools are quite intelligent, and watching this seagull here, it’s definitely found a clever way to crack mussels: dragging its prey about 15 meters into the air and then dropping it. Even though it all happened on the beach and the mussels only hit the sand, it was successful. I’ve observed similar behavior in ravens with walnuts. Well then, enjoy…
Rose chafer
It tried to fly past, but it got stuck on me, so I had to get it in front of my lens. It didn’t stay particularly still, but you get a glimpse.
hypno toad
Rodgau is truly a zoo. On the way to my car dealership last week (by car with my bike in the trunk, then back by bike and back again in the evening), I found this toad sitting on the path. I wasn’t sure if it was still alive, because it wasn’t moving at all. However, by the evening, it had disappeared. Either a bird of prey had snatched it or it had made it to the other side of the road. A natterjack, if I’m not mistaken. It’s a good thing we’re not small insects and these creatures aren’t as big as a house. I’d be scared.
gold fly
Gold can fly – yes, and it looks exciting too, the gold fly. As you can see, I haven’t yet mastered freehand stacking, so there are a few strange blurry spots where they shouldn’t be, but the result is presentable. Next time, take a closer look when one of these flutters around you. They are interesting creatures, as the good Jean Henry Fabre discovered and documented.
Mr. Grumpy
Sometimes a grumpy attitude isn’t such a bad idea. This heron didn’t really care if I sat 20m away and kept getting closer. Others would have left long ago, but look at the look in his eyes. No worries… just annoyed by those stupid big two-legged creatures that can’t fly. First he hunted and then plucked its feathers. These pictures will be in another post at some point.
I messed up the shot of the catches – it’s just so hard to get the right moment. The trick would be to just point and shoot long beforehand, but that’s not really satisfying and drains the battery and fills up the memory card. I need to practice more and treat myself to a small tripod, because your arms go numb after you spend 45 minutes snapping pictures behind a little bird like that. Thanks to Tai Chi mode, I ended up only 5-6m away from him.
Young Stars
We usually go to the Allgäu region, but this time my old friends from high school class only went to the Odenwald. We were tired of the long journey for the three-night stay. Upon arrival in Schefflenz, I saw many birds, and there was plenty to discover in the garden belonging to our house. During my first walk around, I discovered the nesting hole of this starling family. With every approach, they communicate loudly: the parents caw, and the little one even adds its two cents. Taking photos at this spot was a bit of a challenge, as the light was almost nonexistent, and ISO 51k is no fun. But we did manage to get a few nice shots, and hey, I thought my kids had a lot of mouths. 😉
Black woody Jr.
My suspicion, based on the frequency of my recent black woodpecker sightings—from zero to one per week—was that the large hole in the tree where it was hanging and calling loudly last time was probably important. On Friday, I took up position, and after Josh called me back to the stag beetle. On my return I found the young sitting at the hole, looking for food. I was anything but quiet, and walkers with dogs kept passing by, which is probably why they wasn’t any feeding. After 20 minutes, I left.
Not only was the woodpecker hungry, but on top of that, the 5 kg that my camera weighs aren’t easy to hold handheld for long. Next step: Buy a travel tripod and attach it to my bike somehow. A comfortable camping seat and some camouflage would also be helpful. We’ll see if it’s still there next week—until then, unfortunately, it’s “no time” again
Wagtail on the prowl
You often see them wandering along paths, streams, or mown lawns, quickly grabbing anything edible. This one was playing hide-and-seek with me and the dandelion. In one of the photos, you can clearly see how it assesses the flying insect. Next time, I’ll take an action shot, if I can get my new Nikon to focus on the animal rather than on every blade of grass.
Happy Birthday Squink!
Just as I called my sister to wish her a happy birthday, Squink Jr. showed up and started digging into the bird food. Luckily, there are hands-free devices, so both worked: congratulating and taking photos = photulating or congratuclicking… take your pick! 😀 If that isn’t a sign, Claudi’s favorite animal is the squirrel – the board game company she founded the year before last proves it 😉
Happy birthday, Claudi… these are for you!
…and I wish the windows had been cleaned.
Pelle
Since I’m currently lacking the time to a) really get to grips with my new camera and b) go outside, here’s an older photo from the Frankfurt Zoo. The pelicans there are truly a highlight. Like the Three Stooges, they jostle each other, slap each other, whine and swear, and then eventually sit peacefully next to each other. Strangely, Lightroom has been changing the creation dates of my photos lately, but it must have been a good two years ago since this one was taken. If you were in the train carriage at my exhibition, you’ll already know it.
Frogger
Lake frogs! You can listen to a crazy frog concert just behind the fire station in Hainhausen, provided you’re calm enough to linger on the bank for a moment. If you move, all you can hear is splashing. Sure, storks and herons are hunting. But if you survive those 15 minutes, the choir starts croaking again, and the frogs even hop towards you. Unfortunately, the sun was on the wrong side… this would be a photo spot for the morning, but then you have to drop the kids off and go to work. Quark! (Means Nonsense! In German)
Adeba
Hainhausen again, and even the same day. There’s a lot going on here! Master Adeba, just like the herons, finds plenty to eat here, and there’s even a nest post just behind the fire station that’s occupied. Let’s see if I can get the chicks in my lens. It’s striking that this one is even marked.
Catch!
Hainhausen is currently my favorite spot when it comes to wildlife. This almost 500m of reed forest and flooded ridges is a dream for many animal species. There are some very beautiful spots for photographers, but also a lot of thickets that block access but thus provide peace for the animals.
My heart leapt when I reunited with the supposedly lost kingfisher – unfortunately, so deep in the bushes, with no clear view. Instead, the herons appeared and strolled around the flooded gardens, helping themselves to the lavishly laid out feeding table.
A longer focal length would be helpful… but when isn’t it? 😉
Getting artistic
From time to time, I get the urge to wield my digital brush a little harder than is appropriate for a pure nature photographer. A cormorant on a stick against a blue sky? Okay… we’ve seen that before, so let’s see if we can make it a bit more dramatic.
Yesterday’s afternoon was dedicated to cycling and photography (thanks, Nadine!), and I was able to test out my new beauty a bit. I’m halfway satisfied with the results: the focus is a bit off, but that could also have been due to the backlight. I didn’t use tracking or all that AI stuff in the reeds. There’s something about the images that I don’t like compared to the D7200’s output. The images look sharper and more artificial than with the old camera, which I actually quite like, but when I zoom in to 100%, they look like they were captured using an algorithm. There aren’t the typical JPG artifacts (I shoot in RAW), but something is different. Lightroom also seems to be a lot faster with the new images than with the old ones, even though the resolution is the same. Is something missing from the dataset? Maybe this is just whining at a high level and I’m looking at it too narrowly, but feeling is feeling.
Caterpilars, Spiders and pictures that shouldn’t even exist
My macro lens shouldn’t actually work on the FTZ either—at least, that was the previous owner’s reason for selling it. Well, I think I can live with it if it works like that. 😉 I haven’t really had time to take the camera for a long walk since Friday. I took it with me twice for events, but it stayed in my bag because other things took over the day. (One time, I didn’t even have a memory card with me, due to the fact that the Z6 II accepts one SD and one CF card. With the old one, I had two SD cards, and I never had to worry about leaving one of them in the computer… so now it’s CF again, for whatever reason.)
The pictures here were taken on my balcony table and in Jürgen’s garden. The caterpillar stayed still long enough for the stacking to work. I focused on the head and then simply “moved” over the subject with the shutter held down. If I understood correctly, the camera even has a function for shifting the focus. Oh, there is so much to discover, and I’m already looking forward to my next free afternoon and a longer trip into nature… but it will probably be a few more days.
Tits nest
As I mentioned in my last post, I now know where the woodpecker lives and the tits nest – both in the same spot, by the way, and it’s less than a minute away from Josh’s school – very convenient! The postman finally arrived today and brought the Z6 ii and the FTZ right on time at 4 p.m. I quickly unpacked and was lucky because the battery was charged. So I quickly screwed on my large Sigma, which Sigma itself says doesn’t work with the FTZ, and lo and behold… IT WORKS! So, straight into my backpack and off to the woods. Here are the first pictures, which were still saved as JPGs on the card because I hadn’t set anything large.
For comparison, here’s a picture from two days ago taken with my old D7200. In defense of the old hardware: Since the water damage, I’ve only been using a fixed 1/1000s exposure time… so it’s clear that the tit is a bit out of focus in flight.
But still, it’s as expected. The Z6 is a huge leap forward. The tilting display alone lets me squint for an approaching bird with one eye and check with the other if I’m still in focus. And, by the way, the burst mode feels like shooting an Uzi – it just rattles and rattles. I think the pictures speak for themselves. I’m happily excited!
Slow worm
Since my D7200 never fully returned to life after its dip in the waves, but getting out and taking photos has become a way of life that determines my health and well-being, I’ve taken the big step and fulfilled a secret wish. Nikon Z6 ii… I have no money now, and I hesitated for a long time, with voices in my head scolding me, saying that it wasn’t a step too far and far too expensive. The angel on the other side tells me that it’s the step forward I should take anyway, and that the up to 120 frames per second that this beast can achieve is also a relief in everyday life. With less time to devote to all this, the chances of producing fewer rejects increase. Anyway… I’m poor, excited, and happy, and I hope the postman comes soon and my lenses work with the adapter 😉
Last Sunday evening, I was in the woods again. After discovering a woodpecker hole in a tree at Josh’s school festival at lunchtime, I was drawn back there. After a while, the woodpeckers flew in and out, and on my further trip, I encountered a pair of titmice, which also had their nesting hole in a hollow branch fork. Later, I saw a black woodpecker, but it left too quickly; but they’re big! On the way home, I almost ran over this beauty, as it was lying somewhat stiffly in the middle of the path, barely moving. What a day. I felt buoyed and told myself that this abundance of wonderful encounters was a sign that the purchase was the right decision.
After the shoot, I gently asked Schleiche to leave the path because there were lots of cyclists and pedestrians passing by. The frontal portrait may seem a bit odd, as it’s a stack of two handheld images, which didn’t work very well, and there are additional frames missing between the two. My Macko lens simply has a super-shallow depth of field. I’m curious to see if I can do better with the new camera and 120 fps.
Fun fact: a slow worm is not a snake! It is a lizard without legs….
Ring-necked Parakeets
I wanted to introduce these lovely friends. We met them behind Düsseldorf Central Station, right in the industrial area, halfway to the hotel. Not the least bit shy, they weren’t bothered by my presence—quite the opposite; it almost seemed as if they were offering me a snack. Unfortunately, it was late, and we were traveling with children and suitcases, otherwise I would have stayed for another photo opportunity. Oh yes, you only see things like this when you’re strolling around on foot or by bike, so walk more and keep your eyes open, because the world is colorful and beautiful out there.
Lizardking
My Nikon has been in the oven since the day before yesterday because the humidity is simply too high and it’s still acting up – last resort! Every few hours, I turn it down to 55 degrees, rinse the buttons, dials, and contacts with isoprop, and then let it roast. Sun and wind would certainly do it better, but that would mean sitting here with the camera and making sure it doesn’t get caught in another rain shower instead of enjoying La Palma. Current status: It turns on, triggers, but I can’t adjust anything – the entire right side is dead, and the settings are now fixed: Shutter priority 1/1000 and AutoISO. You can still take photos with it, but you have to make compromises and do a lot of post-processing. The AUTO mode probably still works, but taking pictures of animals with it is a gamble.
Here’s my second attempt with the lizards – the first was shot with an iPhone zoom, and it was really painful and resulted in a mess of pixel mash, even if it might not have been noticeable on social media. This monster, a good 15 cm long, was old and experienced and just as curious about me as I was about him. Reminds me of an old bartender who looks at you askance and asks, “What do you want?”, right?
Island of falcons
When we first landed on La Palma 16 years ago, a neighbor greeted us with, “Welcome to the island of the falcons, Falk” And he was right. This is the island of the canary kestrels. The barancos offer plenty of space for food and nesting holes, the winds are ideal for catching prey with minimal effort, and so there are falcons around every corner.
The day before yesterday, I began the hour-and-a-half descent from the summit of San Antonio to the salt flats. On the way through the black earth, I found a nesting hole with a young falcon. Shortly after, a parent came and lured it out of the hole with a caught lizard. I would have liked to have spent more time there, but I had a path to climb to meet up with the family at the lighthouse, otherwise it would have been a loooong walk home. 😉
Little Ringed Plover
I’d probably seen it before, but never from such close range and in such calm. Usually, one would zoom past me and do a few pirouettes over the water before disappearing again. This one landed 15 meters away and was so relaxed that I was able to get a little closer. The lighting conditions were ideal… impressive.
The Show Business of Green Woodpeckers
How glad I am to have caught these two “dancing.” I was already questioning my state of mind, as I’ve been outside a lot this past week but hardly seen any animals. Finally, another encounter:
These two green woodpeckers were so preoccupied with themselves that they didn’t realize they were courting right in the middle of the footpath/cycle path. I had a good minute with them until—of course—a cyclist followed by an inline skater came along the path.
A beautiful dance, and I’m guessing the male is the one trying to impress the female (here with a yellow patch on her back) with cloned wing beats and a big head bob. I would have liked to have watched longer, but I’m so happy I was able to witness this ceremonyeven if I would have preferred a lower angle. But that would have required me to get off my bike, and by then they would have been gone.
A few minutes with the kestrel
Sometimes you impose things on yourself that, due to a chain of circumstances, lead to a total blockage. In my case: first sorting out the old photos and making room for new ones on the hard drive. That includes the pictures from my mobile, and there has been hardly any tidiness in the last three years, which is now quite a big mess. But, I have to move on and I have already been on two smaller photo excursions, but the website is dying and I don’t have the time to deal with it. Messed up PHP versions, distributed domains and broken SSL… all a load of crap. I decided to concentrate on the important thing: taking photos!
At first it was clear and cold and I absolutely had to get out of the door. A short ride to the Schultheisweiher and back – there was nothing exciting to see and it started to drizzle slightly. As so often, the lovely encounter came just as I had given up all hope. This young kestrel lady flew past me and sat down on the right-of-way sign right next to the Mainpark, at the top of the road. I climbed up the dyke and could see how naively it perched right on the side of the road and the cars whizzed past it just a few centimeters away. Hunger makes you fearless, I guess.
Last years swan song
Further browsing through my image database brings a lot more to light. This young swan was just as curious about me as I was about him and let me get close… last spring. Speaking of which: Dany’s Dream Collection called. They want their poster swan back! 😉
Marsh tit, I think
According to Wikipedia, it is difficult to distinguish from the barn tit and the great tit, but since it appeared in the forest and Google also thinks it is a marsh tit, I’ll leave it at that; ornithologists are welcome to correct me.
Small, just as nimble as you would expect from a tit, this one was very quick to stuff its beak full and whizz away like an arrow. Bon appetite…
Yawn!
Today the weather was really great, but everyday life didn’t give me any time to take photos. So I’m rummaging through the pictures of the year and sorting them out before the 2024 folder goes to the NAS. This cheetah from Burgers Zoo in Arnhem captures my state quite well. Since cheetahs don’t scream, he yawns, so goodnight then.
Nuthatch battlegrounds
So that’s how it works! Simply crush a few nuts and spread a few oat flakes on top and place the whole thing, preferably by a large lake in the forest, and the whole flock of birds will come. Unfortunately, this feeding place on the Oberschweinsstiege is in the shade. In the depths of winter, the lighting conditions here are not particularly good. There were still a few good pictures. Unfortunately, it was too dark for the quick actions, but you can see that this is about the nut… and suddenly the English name makes sense.
And yes, birds do hug trees as you can see on the last shot. ;D
Merry X-Mas and happy new year.
It really is a very special gift and a joy for me to have met this little guy here. It was on my agenda for a long time: a good picture of the kingfisher. It was a dream, a goal and for a long time I didn’t know how and where I could find it and capture it in pixels. Finally, it worked and it was the photographic and emotional highlight of my work to date. I would like to share this joy with you out there and wish you a peaceful, wonderful holiday, a happy new year and lots of great moments in the next year.
Bussard
The first time I was in Hainhausen, I immediately spotted the kingfisher. While I was waiting for it and sitting on the Rodau, a buzzard came along with prey in its claws. It was flying so low and the river was not visible at that point that we were both really frightened when it burst through the branches just a meter in front of me. Luckily it didn’t lose its prey.
Last weekend I was looking for the kingfisher again – as you can see in the previous post – and guess who was there too.
Eisvogel
… which translates to “ice bird” in German — Kingfisher for your englisch natives!
Perfect weather – clear, cold and lots of sunlight and all appointments cancelled. I need more forest and more sun… as much as I can get. If it’s already cold but the lakes don’t have any ice yet, wouldn’t a visit to the kingfisher be a good idea? No sooner said than done!
I stood in the wet mud for the first hour and no kingfisher came – but the buzzard from last time, which I almost collided with, did. Does he hunt here too? Perfect squared^2. Just as I decided to move on, he appeared next to me. We played cat and mouse for a good hour and a half and I chased him around the little lakes. Thanks to my lame autofocus, which has been getting it wrong a lot lately, I missed two or three wonderful opportunities. More training, Falk… others can do it too!
A few good pictures were taken, even if they aren’t action shots. Let’s see if Santa Claus has a camouflage net for me.
Squirrel
Nutrias everywhere
They are becoming a nuisance in many places and last Sunday, when I was out in Hainburg hunting kingfishers (just for the photo), there was at least one nutria in every small pond. At first we thought (Thomas was with us) that it was always the same, but the differences were quickly identified. As the first one appeared at the old beaver den and also dived right in front of it, we had to ask the internet whether we were seeing a real beaver after all. In the end, it wasn’t a black nose, the ears stick out too far and the white whiskers plus the rat tail and yellow teeth showed that it was nutrias that were up to their mischief there.
Kingfisher, finally!
Unexpected things often happen! On Saturday I helped out in the museum again and was a bit disappointed because the weather was so nice. Yesterday it wasn’t so good, but going outside was on the agenda. Where to? Nadine remembered a nature reserve in Rodgau that we had visited in the spring – after reading an article in the Offenbach Post. Yes! That sounded good and it got even better:
Beavers have dammed the Rodau at this point, in the middle of Hainhausen, and flooded old gardens. This has created a landscape of lots of small lakes, separated by old fences remnants, drowned and fallen trees, all surrounded by mighty blackberry bushes, so that there is hardly any access to the water, unless you have wings or go swimming. As soon as we arrived I saw a kingfisher hunting and after a good hour of waiting and sneaking through the lost gardens I caught it. Finally a decent picture of the blue diamond! One thing is certain: I have to go back there as soon as time and weather permit.
The fog of beauty
Loenermark is a beautiful place. I love the Dutch heath and it is magical, especially in autumn. Yesterday evening the sun came out again after the clouds had hidden their play all day. I was too late! When I arrived at the marker, it had already disappeared behind the horizon and new clouds in the form of fog were rising from below. Fascinated and with John Carpenter’s “The Fog” theme in my head the whole time, I lost track of time. The walk back through the dark forest, without light, was “exciting”. Lazy as I am, I shot these pictures with my iPhone, only to be disappointed when I looked at them on the big screen. I should put my landscape lens back in!
wall lizards
Winter is approaching and autumn was quite wet and dark. When the sun comes out, all the animals like to come out again and recharge their batteries – especially the cold-blooded ones. At the restaurant, “zum Grünen See” (Green Lake), there was a whole flock of young wall lizards scurrying around under the veranda… young and relatively carefree. The adult lizard sat, well hidden, under the deck and peeped furtively at me while the kids played outside. They are considered an invasive species, as I just read… perhaps because they produce offspring so late in the year?
Coots
They actually eat almost everything you find in and around the lakes; they like mussels and “duck food”, but they often dive for plants on the bottom. They do a little jump so that they can dive under the water surface. Wonderful. But what happens when the food-seeker is already waiting above and wants to steal the prey? Yes, there is trouble. Since the chickens cannot take off vertically, they always have to walk over the water for a moment. In Germany they are called “Blässhuhn” (because of the white spot and beak – Blässe = pale) but it looks like Bless-Huhn would have suited them better. 😉
