When I was working on the Great snipes in Poland, I was very busy in the evenings and most mornings. But during the day I had a lot of ‘free’ time. Most of the time I went for a good walk in the big forests nearby, mainly to find some nice landscapes. On this kind of walks I most often leave the long lens behind, because I don’t really enjoy snapshots of wildlife, I rather prefer good preparation, from hides…
Imagine you’re sitting in a small low hide, with your knees in your neck, on a flooded soft bog sinking deeper deeper in the water every hour, and sunset kicks in. You’re all alone in a huge open river valley, far away from civilisation, all alone except some Elchs and Roe deer splashing around in the wet marsh, and a background choir of a stunning list of bird species…
This Little bustard gave a wonderful performance, just in front of my hide in the drylands of Spain. At the climax point of their display, they seem to explode, and lift of for one meter in the air, making some strange prrrt noises…
Springtime for us as nature-photographers is like party every day! But springtime in Scandinavia is even a bigger party, two elusive birds start to show themselves and perform a spectacular display, in the middle of ancient forests and bogs: the huge Capercaillie and noisy Black grouse…
Years ago, when I was camping alone in a big forest in Sweden to photograph Black grouse, I woke up by some deep whoo’s in the middle of the night. I had never seen a Great grey owl in the wild before, but knowing there was one calling not far from my tent, made me shiver…
With great company from Norway, France and Belgium, I guided a photo-tour to Portugal, to photograph the Great bustards and many other birds. The group was very brave and endured the 15 hours sessions in the hides, entering one hour before sunrise, and leaving only one hour after sunset!
Centuries ago the sea and the river Scheldt had all the freedom they wanted on the coastline, and penetrated deep in the lowlands. Floodings created deep streams in the land, and remained there long after sea was controlled and closed off by dikes. One area in Flanders is particularly known because of its many big and long creeks, Het Meetjesland.
Here are some more pictures from our successful trip to Finland. Thanks to Olli from Finnature, we had a great time with some northern birds. My favourite was definitely the Willow grouse, a male that must have been crazy, and even attacking humans… I will never forget the sounds, really funny songs!
When we finished shooting the Black woodpeckers and others, we went to our second destination in Finland; the national park of Riisintunturi. Famous for its crown snow-load on the pine trees on the fell, causing the trees to bend under the weight, and creating a beautiful fairytale-like forest wrapped under a snowy white veil.
From the moment I arrived in Bulgaria, the first thing I noticed where the Hawfinches. You can see them everywhere! Stop at any gas-station, and you can hear them! So I knew this was my chance to get some good time with these beautiful birds, a species that is rather shy in Belgium. I finally spent three days in a hide photographing Hawfinches
