Forest boss

For almost 2 weeks our country was in the grip of snow and ice, but today is the last day that winter persists (sofar). Usually the transition to thaw goes along with snowfall (followed by rain). Wildlife will be glad that temperatures start to rise and that the ice and snow will disappear soon.
But I was out in the field the entire day to take full advantage of the scarce winter conditions, that make the environment so beautiful. After a morning session with Bullfinches (Pyrrhula pyrrhula/Goudvink) that did not want to pose in front of the camera, I went to a forest hut. Timing really worked out well now. On my arrival it just started to snow and this Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius/Gaai), a.k.a. as the big boss of this feeding station, showed up frequently.  I like this setting with blurry snowflakes all around the bird, and the reflection of light from below (i.e. from the snow cover on the forest floor). I opt for ISO-800 and a large aperture to increase shutter time, attempting to freeze the falling snow.

* Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 500mm/f4.0; ISO-800, f5, 1/500s; tripod.

Beautiful Bewick

I like Bewick’s Swans (Cygnus bewickii/Kleine Zwaan); for me they symbolize serenity and purity. It was a fortunate afternoon; the light was beautifully dimmed and bluish, and a large group (± 200) was not far out on the field (usually they forage in the middle of a huge grassland). May be because the snow cover was thinner on this edge of the field, I don’t know. Anyway, I could park the car on a small and icy blind road and they did not bother at all. Even better, I could get out of the car on the other site and make low POV photos with my telephoto lens on the ground. Luckily my car is high enough on its wheels to shoot underneath it.

* Canon EOS 7D, 500mm/f4.0; ISO-400, f5.6, 1/1250s; +0.7 stop; beanbag.
* Canon EOS 7D, 500mm/f4.0; ISO-400, f5.6, 1/1250s; +0.7 stop; beanbag.

Jack Snipe

What to do on a Sunday with snow, freezing rain and the traffic alert set on code orange? Indeed, searching for Jack Snipes (Lymnocryptes minimus/Bokjes)! And of course after the photo session drive home carefully! Winter, I love it.

* Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 300mm/f4.0; ISO-800, f5.6, 1/60s; -0.3 stop; tripod.

Ice circles

You can find so many beautiful thing close to home. Like this mystery of ice circles. Nobody know how they came here, they are just there.

* Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 17-40mm/f4 @ 20mm; ISO-200, f16, 1/50s; +1 stop; from tripod.

Happy New Year!

Dear readers and followers of this blog. I wish you all a happy, healthy, and inspiring 2013. A good start for me with a small group (3 ♂♂ and 1♀) of Red-crested Pochards (Netta rufina/Krooneend) posing in front of me in the last light of this short second day of the year.

* Canon EOS 7D, 500mm/f4.0 and 1.4×; ISO-400, f5.6, 1/640s; +1 stop; tripod.
* Canon EOS 7D, 500mm/f4.0 and 1.4×; ISO-400, f6.3, 1/200s; tripod.