Lmst

How coot!
I had never seen little #cootlings before (is that what they're called?)
Slowly going through last weekend's photos and trying to filter out the best ones, these from my last short walk in the park.
🪶 #birds #birdphotography #coot #meerkoet #cooties #spring #waterwingebied #Amersfoort

A parent Eurasian coot (Fulica atra) and 2 cooties (google says that's what they are called) swimming in a pond, the parent is fishing up plants and small bugs that it feeds to its babies.

A family of coots, 2 parents and 6 cooties.

Parent coot about to dive while the young ones pay close attention.

This robin was posing for me last Saturday when I took one last walk in the park next door after a long morning stroll in the nature reserve.
#goodnight

🪶 #birds #birdphotography #robin #roodborstje #Waterwingebied #Amersfoort

European robin (Erithacus rubecula) posing on a branch that is sprouting a few bulbs. It's facing the right, its beak slightly open. Its beautiful orange face and breast shining in the sunlight.

European robin (Erithacus rubecula) posing on a branch that is sprouting a few bulbs. It's facing the towards the camera with its head slightly tilted.

European robin (Erithacus rubecula) posing on a branch that is sprouting a few bulbs. It's facing over its shoulder, towards the left.

Common birds in my area, but that doesn't make them any less beautiful!
Wood #pigeon having a drink, a #jay keeping an eye out while its partner foraged nearby, a #blackbird collecting worms for his family and a house #sparrow pruning between some green foliage. 🪶 #birds #Waterwingebied #Amersfoort

As I was standing near the pond scouting for kingfishers, a few other birders showed up too. We had a little chat and spotted this male kingfisher that perched nearby before flying off again allowing us to take some photos of him. 🪶 #birds #kingfisher #ijsvogel #waterwingebied #amersfoort

Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) perched on a branch. Its colors brightly illuminated by the afternoon sun.

Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) flying to the right.

Butterflies and a bumblebee. 🦋 🐝
#bumblebee #butterfly #Waterwingebied #Amersfoort

Polygonia c-album, or the “comma”, is a food generalist butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae. The angular notches on the edges of the forewings are characteristic of the genus Polygonia, which is why species in the genus are commonly referred to as anglewing butterflies.

Aglais io, the European peacock, or the peacock butterfly, is a colourful butterfly, found in Europe and temperate Asia as far east as Japan. The peacock butterfly is resident in much of its range, often wintering in buildings or trees. It therefore often appears quite early in spring.

Bombus sylvestris, known as the forest cuckoo bumblebee or four-coloured cuckoo bee, is a species of cuckoo bumblebee, found in most of Europe and Russia. Its main hosts are Bombus pratorum, Bombus jonellus, and Bombus monticola. As a cuckoo bumblebee, Bombus sylvestris lays its eggs in another bumblebee's nest.

Went out this afternoon to try and spot some #kingfishers at the local pond. An older man came by to tell me I wouldn't have much luck sitting and waiting without a hide, but proved him wrong by getting some close shots and I saw a pair #mating.
🪶 #birdphotography #spring #Waterwingebied #Amersfoort

Male kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) perched on a branch in front of the clay mound in which there are likely one or more nests.

Female kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) perched between some branches on the waterside.

Flying male kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). They are notoriously very quick flyers and hard to photograph. In this case a lucky shot where its body and head were in focus, but the wings are blurred.

Pair of kingfishers (Alcedo atthis) mating, seen from a little distance away so the photo isn't very sharp. The female is pressed down onto the branch while the male has mounted her back.

Today's subjects in the park next to my house. I only managed to go out in the afternoon, so the harsh sun did make it a little harder to get nice photos. 🪶 #birds #birdphotography #cormorant #magpie #robin #jay #aalscholver #ekster #roodborstje #gaai #amersfoort #waterwingebied

Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) spreading its wings, drying them in the warm afternoon sun.

Magpie (Pica pica) contently sitting on a branch in the sun.

European robin (Erithacus rubecula) sitting on a branch and looking over its shoulder towards the camera.

Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius) sitting on a mossy tree branch, seems to be staring wistfully towards the sky.

Bumblebee in the afternoon sun. #bumblebee #spring #waterwingebied #amersfoort #takentoday #phonemacro

Last one for tonight, I have more bird photos to edit but unfortunately it's past midnight and tomorrow's alarm will be unforgiving at 6.30am...
This Grey Heron was standing between the reeds and looking over the water in the morning sun, however it noticed me and it took off right after I managed to get this shot of it.
🪶 #birdphotography #greyheron #blauwereiger #birding #Amersfoort #Waterwingebied

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) between the reeds, looking over the water in the morning sun.

Yesterday the Goldcrest was my #birdoftheday in the Merlin app and I spotted one for the first time.
Today a small group of 5 or 6 came flying by and gave me plenty opportunities to take better photos of them. 🪶 #birdphotography #Goldcrest #Goudhaantje #birding #Amersfoort #Waterwingebied

A Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) hanging upside down from a branch, it has a small sharp beak, a bright yellow stripe between two black stripes on its head, its head is grey and its round belly is light grey with a yellow tint to it.

A Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) staring straight into the camera looking as if it's making an angry face, it has a small sharp beak, a bright yellow stripe between two black stripes on its head, its head is grey and its round belly is light grey with a yellow tint to it.

A Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) hanging from a branch by its legs as if holding up its head above the water. It has a small sharp beak, a bright yellow stripe between two black stripes on its head, its head is grey and its round belly is light grey with a yellow tint to it.

A Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) hanging sideways on a branch and seen from the top, it has a small sharp beak, a bright yellow stripe between two black stripes on its head, its head is grey and its round belly is light grey with a yellow tint to it. From this top view, the details in the wings are more visible with white tipped feathers, a slight yellow-green tint and a small black patch.

First time spotting and photographing the Long tailed tit today or Staartmees in Dutch! What a cute little fellers!
🪶 #birdphotography #longtailedtit #staartmees #birding #amersfoort #waterwingebied