Yes my first GGO!

One hour later or so, just a few km from this coast. Yes my first Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa/ Laplanduil), the most sexiest bird on Earth. And I discovered it myself!

* Canon EOS 7D, 500mm/f4.0; ISO-400, f5.6, 1/500s; tripod

White-out

This photo is taken from the north-eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, near Oulu, Finland. “White-out”, “Space-scape”, or “50 Shades of Gray”; pick the title that suits you.
I have never been in such an empty, extreme simple landscape. I enjoyed it very much (clears-out your head, makes all your worries small and insignificant). The 2 tiny speckles (barely visible) just right from the middle, close to the horizon, are cars on an ice road.

* Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 17-40mm/f4 @ 17mm; ISO-400, f16, 1/160s; +0.7 stop; 2 stop ND soft gradient filter; hand held.

Beach killer

Amazing moments on the beach of Terschelling. This 2nd winter ♀ Feregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus/Slechtvalk), the fastest species on Earth, was not shy and very approachable by car (you must have a special permit to drive on the beach!). She specializes on Common Gulls (Larus canus/Stormmeeuw). We witnessed 3 attacks, the last one was successful. After the catch, we were invited at her dinner table, on the condition that we would scare off the Carrion Crows (Corvus corone/Zwarte Kraai) and Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus/Grote Mantelmeeuw). It turned out to be a kind of mix between vulgar binge and an anatomy lesson.
Arie Ouwerkerk many thanks for your hospitality, Jaap Vink many thanks for the driving!

* Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 500mm/f4.0; ISO-400, f6.3, 1/400s; +0.3 stop; beanbag.

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.