Kingfisher

A little while ago I decided to visit another hide, not that far from home, in order to make new photos of the Common Kingfisher (IJsvogel). It's a public hide, free to come and go whenever you want, known for the visiting Kingfishers. The weather was cloudy and I was hoping for the sun breaking through the clouds. There were already  2 other photographers present, waiting for the Kingfishers. The few hours I spend at the hide a Kingfisher was visiting every 25 to 30 minutes on average. Twice the bird caught a fish in front of the hide. Due to the cloudy weather the background and coulours weren't what I expected. Nevertheless it was a nice experience.

 

Woodpecker-time

Summer is gone now... but last week we still had a few dry and sunny days.
While in the hide I noticed there was more activity, more birds drinking and bathing. After spending a few hours in the hide I was happy with the result. Finally I had a Green woodpecker (Groene specht) visiting. As long as I know it was only the second time it came to the hide (first time on trailcam). Also Great spotted woodpecker (Grote bonte specht) came over a few times.
Other visitors that day: Great tit (Koolmees), Blue tit (Pimpelmees), Chaffinch (Vink), Blackbird (Merel), Song thrush (Zanglijster), Robin (Roodborst), Short-toed treecreeper (Boomkruiper) and Eurasian Jay (Gaai). Northern goshawk (Havik) and Sparrowhawk (Sperwer) are also still visiting every few days.
More new photos here on my website.

Green woodpecker

Green woodpecker

Green woodpecker

female Great spotted woodpecker

Blue tit

Short but nice visit

The last couple of days it was really quiet at the hide but I still had the feeling that I had to go there and be patient. Goshawk keeps visiting every few days so I had to be very lucky. I got rewarded, not with a Goshawk but with a short visit of a female Sparrowhawk (Sperwer). The visit was short, the bird was shy. I could only make 3 photos before she flew off, scared by the noise of the camera-clicks. Nevertheless I was happy with the first Sparrowhawk visit while in the hide. Also had a Roe deer (Ree) drinking at night.
The visiting Goshawk (Havik) is the one who was in juvenile plumage last winter and spring, the one with the ring on the right leg. He now is changing to adult plumage and keeps on visiting.
A few more photos of the Sparrowhawk you can see here.

 Sparrowhawk

 ringed Goshawk

 Roe deer

Great end of the summer !

New species are still appearing at the hide. Last time I was there after 15 minutes a  Eurasian nuthatch (Boomklever) made a quick visit to drink at the pool. Other visitors were Great Tit (Koolmees), Blue Tit (Pimpelmees) and Eurasian Jay (Gaai). Not a busy afternoon but I was hoping for the Goshawk since it was already 8 days since the last visit of one of the  2 Goshawks. Both the adult and the 2nd summer juvenile were regular visitors lately. My patience paid off ! Suddenly a juvenile Goshawk (Havik) landed in front of the hide, only 1 meter away, sitting at the edge of the pool. Then he jumped in the pool to drink at only 1,5 to 2 meters from the hide. What an experience, so close ! After a few minutes he flew up to sit on a branch in a tree for a few moments before taking off. Nice to know: this was another Goshawk than the 2 visiting before. I left the hide in a happy mood. Afterwards I was a little dissapointed when I saw on the trailcam a Sparrowhawk (Sperwer) visited the hide only 20 minutes after I left.
More photos of the Goshawk by clicking here !

juvenile Goshawk

juvenile Goshawk

Eurasian nuthatch

Eurasian jay

New visitors...

The last 2 weeks some new species were spotted at the hide by myself or the trailcam.
For the first time I had Willow warbler (Fitis) and Pied flycatcher (Bonte vliegenvanger) while sitting in the hide. On trailcam I had a female Sparrowhawk (Sperwer) and Green woodpecker (Groene specht). Besides the common species 2 different Goshawks (Havik), Short-toed treecreeper (Boomkruiper) and Tawny owls (Bosuil) are still coming over to visit.

 Willow warbler (Fitis)

Short-toed treecreeper (Boomkruiper)

 

juvenile Great spotted woodpecker (Grote bonte specht)

Blue tit (Pimpelmees)

 

female Sparrowhawk (Sperwer) on trailcam

Green woodpecker (Groene specht) on trailcam

 

Rainy summer

This summer hasn't been a real summer, meaning a lot of rainy and colder days. Mayby this is one of the reasons the hide doesn't give in the summer what I expected. Being busy with work and family holidays, together with the weather, made that I didn't spend a lot of time in the hide. The visitors that came over were nice, but they didn't visit frequently enough to spend time in the hide. Visitors lately spotted by the trailcam were adult Goshawk (Havik), 2 Tawny owls (Bosuil), Red squirrel (Eekhoorn), Red fox (Vos), Hedgehog (Egel), Great spotted woodpecker (GB Specht) and Blackbird (Merel). The Red fox is another one then the one visiting before. To me it's looks like a juvenile.
In the near future I might have to leave the forest where my hide is situated because it probably will be used fot other things. I'm looking for a new location... !
Some photos of the last few weeks:

 2 Tawny owls

drinking juvenile Red fox

adult Goshawk

adult Goshawk

adult Goshawk

adult Goshawk

The trailcam did it !

Lately I didn't have the opportunity to spend time in the hide. The only observations I have are these from the trailcam. After seeing the results of the last few weeks I surely have to make some time to sit in the hide. Goshawk (Havik) is becoming a regular visitor at the pool the last 1 to 2 weeks. Mainly the same juvenile bird that was also visiting in the winter but also once an adult one. Other interesting visitors were Common Buzzard (Buizerd), first time in summer, and still regular the Tawny Owl (Bosuil) during the night.
Regarding the smaller there are no new species. Numbers are rather low, mayby because of the cat that is hanging around the hide lately.

juvenile Goshawk

adult Goshawk

adult Goshawk

juvenile Goshawk 

 Common Buzzard