#Crow and #Pheasant having some friendly banter together in #DeSchammer. The crow hopped around the pheasant a few times but they seemed to be acting friendly to each other and foraging together. 🪶 #Birds #birdphotography #DutchNature #Leusden #Pheasant #Phasianus #colchicus #crow #Corvus #corone
#DutchNature
Some mornings reward patience.
During a quiet walk across the Regte Heide near Goirle/Tilburg in the Netherlands, close to the ancient burial mounds that have watched over this landscape for thousands of years, I settled down near a patch of blackberry brambles. The sun was behind me and I sat quietly in the shade, listening rather than searching.
Birdsong filled the heathland. Geese called overhead, herons moved in the distance, and the usual chorus of finches and tits surrounded the morning. Yet two songs stood out—ones I couldn’t quite place. So I opened the Merlin bird app. Two names appeared: Yellowhammer – Emberiza citrinella (Geelgors) and European Stonechat – Saxicola rubicola (Roodborsttapuit).
Now I had to wait.
Nearly an hour passed before the first flash of yellow appeared deep inside the thorny brambles: the Yellowhammer, perched low and partially hidden. Beautiful, but difficult to photograph through the maze of branches.
Then, suddenly, a small shape landed just above it.
The European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola), perfectly visible and briefly posing as the centerpiece of the scene, while the Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) remained tucked in the lower right of the bush. Two species, sharing the same patch of bramble for a brief moment.
Moments like this remind me that wildlife photography often rewards stillness more than movement.
Captured handheld with my Canon 5D Mark IV and Sigma 100–400mm, fully zoomed at f/6.4, 1/1000 sec, ISO 500.
#WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #NaturePhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #EuropeanStonechat #SaxicolaRubicola #Yellowhammer #EmberizaCitrinella #Roodborsttapuit #Geelgors #BirdsOfEurope #DutchNature #RegteHeide #NatureNetherlands #BirdLovers #NatureObservation #WildlifeMoment #NatureStory #FieldObservation #BirdBehavior #Heathland #Brambles #BlackberryBush #NatureWalk #Canon5DMarkIV #Sigma100400 #HandheldPhotography #PatienceInNature #WildlifeEncounter #BirdSpotting #NatureDetails #WonderingLens
During a quiet walk across the Regte Heide near Goirle/Tilburg in the Netherlands, close to the ancient burial mounds that have watched over this landscape for thousands of years, I settled down near a patch of blackberry brambles. The sun was behind me and I sat quietly in the shade, listening rather than searching.
Birdsong filled the heathland. Geese called overhead, herons moved in the distance, and the usual chorus of finches and tits surrounded the morning. Yet two songs stood out—ones I couldn’t quite place. So I opened the Merlin bird app. Two names appeared: Yellowhammer – Emberiza citrinella (Geelgors) and European Stonechat – Saxicola rubicola (Roodborsttapuit).
Now I had to wait.
Nearly an hour passed before the first flash of yellow appeared deep inside the thorny brambles: the Yellowhammer, perched low and partially hidden. Beautiful, but difficult to photograph through the maze of branches.
Then, suddenly, a small shape landed just above it.
The European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola), perfectly visible and briefly posing as the centerpiece of the scene, while the Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) remained tucked in the lower right of the bush. Two species, sharing the same patch of bramble for a brief moment.
Moments like this remind me that wildlife photography often rewards stillness more than movement.
Captured handheld with my Canon 5D Mark IV and Sigma 100–400mm, fully zoomed at f/6.4, 1/1000 sec, ISO 500.
#WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #NaturePhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #EuropeanStonechat #SaxicolaRubicola #Yellowhammer #EmberizaCitrinella #Roodborsttapuit #Geelgors #BirdsOfEurope #DutchNature #RegteHeide #NatureNetherlands #BirdLovers #NatureObservation #WildlifeMoment #NatureStory #FieldObservation #BirdBehavior #Heathland #Brambles #BlackberryBush #NatureWalk #Canon5DMarkIV #Sigma100400 #HandheldPhotography #PatienceInNature #WildlifeEncounter #BirdSpotting #NatureDetails #WonderingLens
Looking up from the sunrise, my attention was pulled away by something unexpected… a jet streaking overhead. And just beyond that fleeting trace of human ingenuity, there it was — the other constant in our sky. The Moon.
Not just a distant object, but a part of our own story. Formed from a colossal impact billions of years ago, a piece of Earth itself cast outward and forever bound to us. Since then, it has shaped our planet in quiet but profound ways — stabilizing our axial tilt, driving the tides, and possibly even helping to create the conditions for life as we know it.
It’s strange to think that while we engineer machines to cross the skies, leaving temporary marks that fade within minutes, the Moon remains. Steady. Unmoving in its rhythm. A reminder of deep time compared to our brief presence.
Photographing it is always a balance. The Moon reflects intense sunlight, far brighter than the sky around it. To preserve its surface detail, I lowered my ISO to 250 and increased the shutter speed to 1/500, keeping the highlights from blowing out while still capturing the surrounding atmosphere — including that fleeting human signature crossing beneath it.
Two worlds in one frame. One ancient and enduring, the other momentary and evolving.
And somehow, both tell the story of us.
#Moon #Luna #Astrophotography #Space #NightSky #SkyWatching #EarthAndMoon #Celestial #Astronomy #SciencePhotography #NatureAndScience #SkyLovers #Universe #Cosmos #PlanetEarth #Humanity #Aviation #JetTrail #Contrail #LightAndShadow #Photography #Canon5DMarkIV #Sigma100400 #Telephoto #HandheldPhotography #OutdoorPhotography #NaturePhotography #SkyPhotography #ExploreTheSky #CuriousMind #ScienceIsBeautiful #OurPlaceInTheUniverse #Stargazing #SpaceAndTime #WanderingLens #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #DutchNature #Kampina #LookUp
Not just a distant object, but a part of our own story. Formed from a colossal impact billions of years ago, a piece of Earth itself cast outward and forever bound to us. Since then, it has shaped our planet in quiet but profound ways — stabilizing our axial tilt, driving the tides, and possibly even helping to create the conditions for life as we know it.
It’s strange to think that while we engineer machines to cross the skies, leaving temporary marks that fade within minutes, the Moon remains. Steady. Unmoving in its rhythm. A reminder of deep time compared to our brief presence.
Photographing it is always a balance. The Moon reflects intense sunlight, far brighter than the sky around it. To preserve its surface detail, I lowered my ISO to 250 and increased the shutter speed to 1/500, keeping the highlights from blowing out while still capturing the surrounding atmosphere — including that fleeting human signature crossing beneath it.
Two worlds in one frame. One ancient and enduring, the other momentary and evolving.
And somehow, both tell the story of us.
#Moon #Luna #Astrophotography #Space #NightSky #SkyWatching #EarthAndMoon #Celestial #Astronomy #SciencePhotography #NatureAndScience #SkyLovers #Universe #Cosmos #PlanetEarth #Humanity #Aviation #JetTrail #Contrail #LightAndShadow #Photography #Canon5DMarkIV #Sigma100400 #Telephoto #HandheldPhotography #OutdoorPhotography #NaturePhotography #SkyPhotography #ExploreTheSky #CuriousMind #ScienceIsBeautiful #OurPlaceInTheUniverse #Stargazing #SpaceAndTime #WanderingLens #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #DutchNature #Kampina #LookUp
As the sun slowly climbed higher, the mist began to settle. What once floated invisibly through the air became droplets — tiny beads of water forming along the delicate threads of spiderwebs.
And then the light found them.
Each droplet acted like a miniature lens, bending and reflecting the morning light. This is refraction at work: light changing direction as it passes through water, turning simple dew into a constellation of bright points. What is nearly invisible in shadow becomes suddenly radiant under the right angle of light.
For a brief moment, the forest revealed a hidden structure — geometry spun overnight, now outlined in light.
Same place, same camera, same settings. Just a little later in time… and an entirely different world.
#Kampina #DutchNature #NatureInTheNetherlands
#Spiderweb #DewDrops #MorningDew
#Refraction #LightPhysics #NatureScience
#MacroNature #NatureDetails #HiddenWorld
#MorningLight #SunriseMagic #MistyMorning
#NaturePhotography #OutdoorPhotography #WildlifeMoments
#NatureObservation #ScientificPhotography
#Canon5DMarkIV #Sigma100400 #HandheldPhotography
#NaturalLight #LightAndShadow
#EarthFocus #DiscoverNature #StayAndWander
#Pixelfed #PixelfedPhotography
#WonderingLens #ByMaikeldeBakker
#MoodyNature #ForestDetails #TinyWorlds
And then the light found them.
Each droplet acted like a miniature lens, bending and reflecting the morning light. This is refraction at work: light changing direction as it passes through water, turning simple dew into a constellation of bright points. What is nearly invisible in shadow becomes suddenly radiant under the right angle of light.
For a brief moment, the forest revealed a hidden structure — geometry spun overnight, now outlined in light.
Same place, same camera, same settings. Just a little later in time… and an entirely different world.
#Kampina #DutchNature #NatureInTheNetherlands
#Spiderweb #DewDrops #MorningDew
#Refraction #LightPhysics #NatureScience
#MacroNature #NatureDetails #HiddenWorld
#MorningLight #SunriseMagic #MistyMorning
#NaturePhotography #OutdoorPhotography #WildlifeMoments
#NatureObservation #ScientificPhotography
#Canon5DMarkIV #Sigma100400 #HandheldPhotography
#NaturalLight #LightAndShadow
#EarthFocus #DiscoverNature #StayAndWander
#Pixelfed #PixelfedPhotography
#WonderingLens #ByMaikeldeBakker
#MoodyNature #ForestDetails #TinyWorlds
The reed buntings / Rietgors in Dutch were singing at the top of their little lungs in the sunshine, a sign that spring is fast approaching. Taken yesterday at #Arkemheen #Nijkerk.
🪶 #Birds #Birdphotography #ReedBunting #Rietgors #DutchNature #BringtheSpring #Passerine #Songbird
#Black-tailed #Godwits also known to us Dutchies as the #Grutto. National bird of the Netherlands.
They just returned from their winter holiday in warmer lands and #Arkemheen is one of the prime places to see a lot of them together. So I went out yesterday to spot them. A new #lifer for me! 🪶 #Birds #birdphotography #DutchNature #Netherlands #polder #Nijkerk #CanonR10
After weeks of staying in — weather, work, and life gently pulling me away from the outdoors — I returned to a familiar place. Early morning, 06:00. A quiet drive in my little yellow car, back to the Kampina.
And it welcomed me immediately.
As the sun began to rise, its light broke through the trees in long, defined beams, cutting through the lingering mist. What we see here is a beautiful example of light scattering: tiny water droplets suspended in the air make normally invisible sun rays visible, revealing the geometry of light itself. Without the mist, these beams would simply pass unnoticed.
The forest was still mostly dark, branches forming a natural frame — almost resisting the light, yet unable to stop it. That contrast is what drew me in. Light doesn’t just illuminate; it reveals structure, depth, and atmosphere.
Photographing this handheld meant working quickly. Light like this is fleeting — it shifts, softens, disappears. I used my Canon 5D Mark IV with the Sigma 100–400mm at approximately 1/250 sec, ISO 500, balancing stability and sensitivity in low morning light.
There’s something grounding about returning to a place you trust. No spectacle needed — just the quiet interaction between light, moisture, and time.
And this was only the beginning of that morning.
#Kampina #DutchNature #NatureInTheNetherlands
#SunriseLight #LightBeams #MorningMist
#AtmosphericLight #LightScattering #NaturePhysics
#ForestLight #MistyMorning #GoldenHourMoments
#NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography #OutdoorMoments
#BackToNature #QuietMoments #NatureObservation
#Canon5DMarkIV #Sigma100400 #HandheldPhotography
#NaturalLight #LowLightPhotography
#EarthFocus #DiscoverNature #StayAndWander
#Pixelfed #PixelfedPhotography
#WonderingLens #ByMaikeldeBakker
#MoodyNature #ForestVibes #MorningWalk
#NatureLovers #VisualStorytelling
And it welcomed me immediately.
As the sun began to rise, its light broke through the trees in long, defined beams, cutting through the lingering mist. What we see here is a beautiful example of light scattering: tiny water droplets suspended in the air make normally invisible sun rays visible, revealing the geometry of light itself. Without the mist, these beams would simply pass unnoticed.
The forest was still mostly dark, branches forming a natural frame — almost resisting the light, yet unable to stop it. That contrast is what drew me in. Light doesn’t just illuminate; it reveals structure, depth, and atmosphere.
Photographing this handheld meant working quickly. Light like this is fleeting — it shifts, softens, disappears. I used my Canon 5D Mark IV with the Sigma 100–400mm at approximately 1/250 sec, ISO 500, balancing stability and sensitivity in low morning light.
There’s something grounding about returning to a place you trust. No spectacle needed — just the quiet interaction between light, moisture, and time.
And this was only the beginning of that morning.
#Kampina #DutchNature #NatureInTheNetherlands
#SunriseLight #LightBeams #MorningMist
#AtmosphericLight #LightScattering #NaturePhysics
#ForestLight #MistyMorning #GoldenHourMoments
#NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography #OutdoorMoments
#BackToNature #QuietMoments #NatureObservation
#Canon5DMarkIV #Sigma100400 #HandheldPhotography
#NaturalLight #LowLightPhotography
#EarthFocus #DiscoverNature #StayAndWander
#Pixelfed #PixelfedPhotography
#WonderingLens #ByMaikeldeBakker
#MoodyNature #ForestVibes #MorningWalk
#NatureLovers #VisualStorytelling
New lifer from this weekend: The #Bullfinch / #Goudvink. Right here in the park next door!
Beautiful little bird, hopefully I'll be able to shoot some photo's of them in a slightly less distracting environment this year.
🪶 #Birds #birdphotography #DutchNature #Waterwingebied #Amersfoort
The weather may still be dreary, but this great tit is already inspecting and prepping his little house for spring, so it won't be much longer! Taken yesterday morning at the #Waterwingebied
🪶 #birds #birdphotography #DutchNature #spring #lente #greattit #koolmees #nestbox #vogelhuisje
On the 14th of February last year, I first took out my then new #CanonR10. Here is the first picture I took with it: A #cormorant at #Waterwingebied, versus a picture I took last Saturday at the #Oostvaardersplassen of a cormorant landing on a branch. 🪶 #birds #DutchNature #1yearapart #aalscholver
Yesterday I went out with a friend to go birding, we visited #Oostvaardersplassen, #Arkemheen, #Eemdijk and #DeSchammer
Here is a small selection of the raptors we spotted. 🪶 #birds #birdphotography #DutchNature #White-tailed-eagle #zeearend #kestrel #torenvalk #littleowl #steenuil #buzzard #buizerd
#Fight club? Coot fu fighting?
These two Eurasian Coots were going at each other this morning in #Bloeidaal. Lots of splashing and squeaking. Eventually the fight broke up and one had to retreat.
🪶 #Birds #Birdphotography #TerritorialDispute #DutchNature #coot #meerkoet
Just enjoying some sunshine💛🌳
#spreadnaturelove #naturelovers #naturephotography #natuurfotografie
#roots_nl
#naturelover #countryfeatures #dutchnature #spreadnaturelove #igholland
#alwaystakethescenicroute #seasonsmagazine #detailsofnature #deeldenatuur
#dutch_nature
#ig_discover_holland
#spreadnaturelove #naturelovers #naturephotography #natuurfotografie
#roots_nl
#naturelover #countryfeatures #dutchnature #spreadnaturelove #igholland
#alwaystakethescenicroute #seasonsmagazine #detailsofnature #deeldenatuur
#dutch_nature
#ig_discover_holland
Garden lover 💛
#spreadnaturelove #naturelovers #naturephotography #natuurfotografie
#roots_nl #birdphotography
#naturelover #countryfeatures #dutchnature #spreadnaturelove #igholland
#alwaystakethescenicroute #seasonsmagazine #detailsofnature #deeldenatuur
#dutch_nature
#ig_discover_holland
#spreadnaturelove #naturelovers #naturephotography #natuurfotografie
#roots_nl #birdphotography
#naturelover #countryfeatures #dutchnature #spreadnaturelove #igholland
#alwaystakethescenicroute #seasonsmagazine #detailsofnature #deeldenatuur
#dutch_nature
#ig_discover_holland
Had an exciting experience at #Arkemheen polder today! After chasing away a #white-tailed #eagle, this red kite came at me, circling above me and possibly contemplating an attack. After a few good shots, I chose to leave its threatening aura.
🪶 #Birds #Birdphotography #DutchNature #seaeagle #zeearend #redkite #rodewouw #raptor #Nijkerk
Today I managed to photograph the elusive #Waterrail a bird that's often heard and not seen outside of the reeds.
I got lucky spotting this one foraging and got a few awesome shots! I almost didn't go out because it was cloudy🪶 #Birds #birdphotography #DutchNature #waterrail #waterral #wadingbird #Bloeidaal #Amersfoort
A few more photos I hadn't shared yet from my visit to National Park de Hoge Veluwe with a birding buddy. Tawny owl and the #fox were the definite highlights beside the very detailed shots we took at the hide. 🪶🦊 #Birds #DutchNature #tawnyowl #bosuil #chaffinch #vink #bluetit #pimpelmees #redfox #vos
The marsh tit or glanskop in Dutch. Managed to get these nice sharp shots from the birding hide at Nationaal Park de Hoge Veluwe last Saturday. I'm very happy how these turned out.
🪶 #birds #birdphotography #DutchNature #HogeVeluwe #marshtit #glanskop #Poecile #palustris
A few of the shots from the hide at #HogeVeluwe today. Sitting in a hide is nice for some close shots with nice #bokeh, but my preference is to hike around and see what I find. But it was a great day with a new buddy! More pics later
🪶 #birds #birdphotography #DutchNature #robin #chaffinch #marshtit
First Signs of Thaw
A winter landscape at the Hatertse Vennen captured at the moment the thaw began. Snow still covers the heath and grasses, while the ice on the shallow pools is starting to break and soften.
#landscapephotography #DutchNature #SonyAlpha #A7V
A winter landscape at the Hatertse Vennen captured at the moment the thaw began. Snow still covers the heath and grasses, while the ice on the shallow pools is starting to break and soften.
#landscapephotography #DutchNature #SonyAlpha #A7V
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