Gone fishing

Grey heron waiting for the breakfast to come by...

Tenderness

Coots are often very aggressive in their behavior, but here they take some time to show their emotional side

Backlit white stork

The sun rose quickly in the sky so when this stork started posing in front of the camera you hade to to the best you could using the light as it was. In this case, it meant experimenting with different exposure settings on the backlit scene.

Backlit white stork

The sun rose quickly in the sky so when this stork started posing in front of the camera you hade to to the best you could using the light as it was. In this case, it meant experimenting with different exposure settings on the backlit scene.

Backlit white stork

The sun rose quickly in the sky so when this stork started posing in front of the camera you hade to to the best you could using the light as it was. In this case, it meant experimenting with different exposure settings on the backlit scene.

Backlit white stork

The sun rose quickly in the sky so when this stork started posing in front of the camera you hade to to the best you could using the light as it was. In this case, it meant experimenting with different exposure settings on the backlit scene.

Backlit white stork

The sun rose quickly in the sky so when this stork started posing in front of the camera you hade to to the best you could using the light as it was. In this case, it meant experimenting with different exposure settings on the backlit scene.

Backlit white stork

The sun rose quickly in the sky so when this stork started posing in front of the camera you hade to to the best you could using the light as it was. In this case, it meant experimenting with different exposure settings on the backlit scene.

Backlit white stork

The sun rose quickly in the sky so when this stork started posing in front of the camera you hade to to the best you could using the light as it was. In this case, it meant experimenting with different exposure settings on the backlit scene.

Cattle egret

Already an hour after sunrise the light is hard and the pictures easily gets flat. Not least white birds are difficult to shoot under such light conditions. Here the herons were lined up with the sun behind them, which gave some new possibilities with the backlight during the shooting.

Little egret

After breakfeast a mixed flock of little and cattle egrets has decided to take siesta in a place where they have a good overview of the surroundings. This is a little egret who has begun to preen himself without realizing that there is a photographer in the floating hide nearby.

Little egret

After breakfeast a mixed flock of little and cattle egrets has decided to take siesta in a place where they have a good overview of the surroundings. This is a little egret who has begun to preen himself without realizing that there is a photographer in the floating hide nearby.

Cattle egret

With a flooting hide it was possible to get close to many birds as they were feeding by the pond. A flock of little- and cattle egrets kept me busy for quite some time as I could approach them to the close focusing distance of the lens. They stood on the north side of the dam so it was a great opportunity to practice backlight photography.

Cattle egret

With a flooting hide it was possible to get close to many birds as they were feeding by the pond. A flock of little- and cattle egrets kept me busy for quite some time as I could approach them to the close focusing distance of the lens. They stood on the north side of the dam so it was a great opportunity to practice backlight photography.

Cattle egret

With a flooting hide it was possible to get close to many birds as they were feeding by the pond. A flock of little- and cattle egrets kept me busy for quite some time as I could approach them to the close focusing distance of the lens. They stood on the north side of the dam so it was a great opportunity to practice backlight photography.

Cattle egret

With a flooting hide it was possible to get close to many birds as they were feeding by the pond. A flock of little- and cattle egrets kept me busy for quite some time as I could approach them to the close focusing distance of the lens. They stood on the north side of the dam so it was a great opportunity to practice backlight photography.

Cattle egret

With a flooting hide it was possible to get close to many birds as they were feeding by the pond. A flock of little- and cattle egrets kept me busy for quite some time as I could approach them to the close focusing distance of the lens. They stood on the north side of the dam so it was a great opportunity to practice backlight photography.

Cattle egret

With a flooting hide it was possible to get close to many birds as they were feeding by the pond. A flock of little- and cattle egrets kept me busy for quite some time as I could approach them to the close focusing distance of the lens. They stood on the north side of the dam so it was a great opportunity to practice backlight photography.

Little egret

One of several little egrets photographed from the floating hide. It was a great opportunity to experiment with different camera settings to test the results with this backlit motif. Personally, I think the more underexposed images became the most interesting interesting.

Hunting duty

Little egret hunting.

Hunting duty

Little egret hunting.

Eurasian Spoonbill

At the far end of the pond there were about ten spoonbills as the sun come up. Since there was no space for maneuvering the hide so I had to settle for backlit photos.

Eurasian Spoonbill

At the far end of the pond there were about ten spoonbills as the sun come up. Since there was no space for maneuvering the hide so I had to settle for backlit photos.

Uncomfortable feeding

Even though the kid was almost grown, it was still begging for food from the parents. Given the size and shape of the beak, it must have been anything but a nice experience for the grown bird!

Preening spoonbill

Spoonbill taking care of its plumage in the morning sun.

Preening spoonbill

Spoonbill taking care of its plumage in the morning sun.

Morning stroll

The gray heron strolls around in the sunrise to find a good place to fish.

Eurasian spoonbill

Young spoonbill in warm morning light.

Eurasian spoonbill

Young spoonbill in warm morning light.

White stork

The white storks would rather stay on slopes a bit from the water than resting next to the shore.

White stork

The white storks would rather stay on slopes a bit from the water than resting next to the shore.

Calm waters

The coots are often the most aggressive birds in a lake. Here, however, everything is calm.

Coot

Coots are often seen chasing other birds but sometimes they can be photographed in calm settings like this.

Coot

Coots are often seen chasing other birds but sometimes they can be photographed in calm settings like this.

Cattle egret

Cattle egret with salamander

Waiting for vultures

Though the food was intended to attract vultures the first bird on the scene was this white stork. Not only was the stork eating but it was also defending the food from the vultures when they arrived, but it did not seem to mind kites landing and feasting.

Waiting for vultures

Though the food was intended to attract vultures the first bird on the scene was this white stork. Not only was the stork eating but it was also defending the food from the vultures when they arrived, but it did not seem to mind kites landing and feasting.

Success!

It's over quickly when the little egret fishes, often you just catch a splash. With twelve frames per second, the camera has caught the fish on its way up from the water before it disappears into the heron's stomach.

Target in sight!

The little egret makes a leap to get its prey where it want it.

Preening

After preening its feathers the little egret shakes off loose bits and pieces.

Portrait of a little egret

A close-up of a little egret. With the floating hide it was easy to get close to the herons as long as you did not make any sudden moves.

Posing

The little egret poses willingly in front of the camera in its home environment.

In the morning mist

The cold late summer morning resulted in a thick morning mist turning everything to a milky white soup. The grey heron patiently waited for the sun to the disperse the mist

Colorful grey heron

As the morning mist was replaced by a thin haze, the rising sun colored the reflections in the water with rich autumn colors.

Backlit little egret stretching after preening.

One of several little egrets photographed from the floating hide. It was a great opportunity to experiment with different camera settings to test the results with this backlit motif. Personally, I think the more underexposed images became the most interesting interesting.

Coot heading out into open waters

The morning mist has not yet dissipated when the coot swims out from the reedbed and into open water.