Kor Bosch
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korbosch.bsky.social
Kor Bosch
@korbosch.bsky.social
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Wildlife & history
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korbosch.bsky.social
Yesterday's walk on the local fens was gorgeous and I was even rewarded with a sighting of a great grey shrike (klapekster) which has chosen to winter there this year - the first since I started going to this nature reserve many years ago. It was far away but unmistakable! #birds
Three scots pines (grove den) next to a fen. A great grey shrike sits at the end of a branch of a barren tree. A wood on the left with a path running along it, and to the right a field filled with heather and isolated trees on a slope very gently curving down. In the background more trees can be seen. The area is cast in the soft warm light of the setting sun.
November 6, 2025 at 7:07 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Last month I saw a Caspian gull (Pontische meeuw) unsuccessfully chase a black-headed gull for food before being turned away from a landing spot by some cormorants. The bird was ringed in Poland in 2021 and has since apparently spent most of its life at an Oss industrial estate. #birds
A Caspian gull spreading its wings while chasing a black-headed gull. The Caspian gull is pursuing a black-headed gull (in winter plumage). The latter has apparently swallowed a fish which can be seen by the thickness of its throat. The Caspian gull is ringed. The Caspian gull, having given up chasing the much more agile black-headed gull, attempts to land at a half submerged tree trunk, already populated with four cormorants, who do not welcome the visitor. I found out the Caspian gull had been ringed in a Polish ringing project and submitted my sighting through their site. This allowed me to view all its previous sightings. After being ringed in the nest it arrived in Belgium at Vilvoorde the next year. Since then it has only been seen in the Netherlands, primarily in Oss but also sometimes along the major rivers. It's possible it also travelled elsewhere but simply wasn't picked up.
November 2, 2025 at 1:01 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Earlier this year I stumbled upon two hoopoes (hop) near what must have been a nest. I didn't share these at the time because this is still a very rare bird here that tends to attract too many photographers, and I also didn't return, to give them rest. Hopefully they had a successful year! #birds
As a friend and I were walking we suddenly heard the beautiful and unmistakable call of a hoopoe. It was right in front of us and flew off almost immediately. But moments later a second hoopoe appeared from the opposite direction, landing in the top of a bare tree and remaining there for a short while. Eventually the hoopoe flew off, revealing its butterfly-like flight and its black-and-white wings. Here it is taking off. The hoopoe continuing its flight. It briefly landed in another tree with more cover, before flying off and disappearing altogether.
November 1, 2025 at 2:21 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Rainy day.

(Turnstone (steenloper) on the coastline of Schiermonnikoog, earlier this month.) #birds
A turnstone sits on some grass beside the sea, which is crashing violently on the shore. Rain drops can be seen falling around the black-and-white bird, which sits with its eyes closed in an anguished expression.
October 25, 2025 at 4:14 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
A short-toed treecreeper (boomkruiper) ascending a tree branch near Nijmegen. In the Netherlands, this is the "common" treecreeper, but in much of the rest of Europe it is rarer or not present at all. They have a different song and slightly different colouring. #birds
A short-toed treecreeper is hopping up a diagonal branch. It is using its stiff tail, propped against the tree, to stay balanced.
October 25, 2025 at 1:18 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
For many years now, a local tawny owl (bosuil) has loved to sit on the chimney of a house next to the forest when it's cold. Luckily its continuing the tradition this autumn. ☺️ #birds
An owl sits on top of a chimney. It is a variety of brown and white hues and has its eyes slightly opened.
October 22, 2025 at 7:06 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Sorting through old photos from June I came across this funny/weird scene: a small willow warbler (fitis) was shadowing a substantially larger wood pipit (boompieper) carrying food towards its nest. Not sure if the warbler was hoping to steal the meal but it looked very suspicious! #birds
A wood pipit (top right) is flying off from a tree, as a much smaller willow warbler initiates the chase. The pipit in flight on the right, the warbler is following it. The wood pipit has landed in a tree with his beak full of insects. In a branch above and behind it, the willow warbler ominously watches the larger bird...
October 19, 2025 at 5:29 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
The winter thrushes are returning! Yesterday I saw nice flocks of redwings (koperwiek) and, in these photographs, fieldfares (kramsvogel) looking for food. We only get these birds in winter and they nicely fill the gap left by the departure of many breeding birds. #birds #vogels
A fieldfare in flight, seen from below. It has a yellowy breast with black spots that run down its torso, which is white for the lower half. It has a grey head and a white chin. Its bill is yellow and its underwing coverts are a downy white. A group of fieldfares has just landed, or is about to land, in a willow tree. The birds are sitting individually but all face the same direction, as they have only just landed.
October 18, 2025 at 3:18 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
The Cetti's warbler (Cetti's zanger) is heard far more often than it is seen, but this one was the most cooperative one I ever encountered. It sat in full view for over three minutes (!), mostly at ease with one leg pulled up, occasionally performing its famous call. #birds
A brown and grey bird sits on a branch, one leg pulled up and its tail pointing upwards. Its back and cap are dark brown while its underside is grey. Its chin is very light grey and it has an eyestripe in the same colour. It is relaxed. The Cetti's warbler is looking sideways, but not alerted. It still has one leg pulled up. The Cetti's warbler is calling from the bush. The Cetti's warbler is calling even more intensely! This is what it looks like when producing so much noise. Normally it will be invisible at this point.
October 17, 2025 at 7:28 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Close-up of a red knot (kanoet) halfway through moulting to its winter plumage. Its belly is still orange, while its head is already turning grey. It was foraging at high tide on Schiermonnikoog. #birds
A bird with a fairly long bill on the beach. We can only see part of the red knot: its head and part of its torso. Its head and back are a messy patchwork of black and grey while its belly is still fairly orange, faded from the original red. Its bill is black and opened, revealing the bird's tongue.
October 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Reposted by Kor Bosch
korbosch.bsky.social
A dunlin (bonte strandloper) foraging for food, undeterred by the waves breaking on the shore of Schiermonnikoog. #birds
A small brown and white wading bird with a long bill walks along the waterline. From the right a wave comes crashing in, water drops growing ever smaller as they get closer to the dunlin.
October 8, 2025 at 12:42 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
A dunlin (bonte strandloper) foraging for food, undeterred by the waves breaking on the shore of Schiermonnikoog. #birds
A small brown and white wading bird with a long bill walks along the waterline. From the right a wave comes crashing in, water drops growing ever smaller as they get closer to the dunlin.
October 8, 2025 at 12:42 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Stormy today, but with moments of great beauty.
A view from Schiermonnikoog towards the mainland. On the left the rocks of the coastal defences can be seen, and on the right red vegetation on the edge of the sea, which is visible in the distance. Clouds on the left are breaking up, as the sunlight is reflected on the sea. The beach! After some heavy showers there is a stark contrast between wet and (much lighter) dry sand, which is being blown across the ground. On the left the sea, on the right a row of dunes disappearing towards the horizon. A heavily overcast sky. The sun barely breaks through, throwing its beams towards a large field filled with reeds, shining golden. A path through the dunes, with typical shrubs for the area. Beyond, more vegetatoon, another row of dunes, and through a gap, the sea.
October 4, 2025 at 2:54 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
That bar-tailed godwit (rosse grutto) from the previous post has been hanging around a little longer. Got some nice action shots when it was spooked by a dog. The bird was fine, it returned shortly after to a very successful feeding ground. #birds
The bar-tailed godwit takes flight from the lake. Mid-flight, the godwit shakes its head to shake off water drops. It briefly has its eyes closed.
October 2, 2025 at 7:58 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
This bar-tailed godwit (rosse grutto) was in the area over the weekend, foraging along the shore of a nearby lake, rather than along the coast, where it is usually found here. I took up position and eventually it wandered right up to me. Very nice to get such a good look! #birds
The bar-tailed godwit in winter plumage. In Dutch it is called a rosse grutto, a rufous godwit, but that name doesn't make much sense anymore in winter. It is a variety of very light brownish colours with a reddish pink base to its bill, which ends in a black tip. The bar-tailed godwit foraging in the lake, which has soft green reflections of the surrounding foliage. The bird's soft colours are more visible here. The bar-tailed godwit in flight, flying past me. Its tail is fanned out, showing the horizontal bars along it. This is quite different from our regular black-tailed godwit, which has - well you can probably guess.
September 30, 2025 at 2:44 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
While watching a bar-tailed godwit (rosse grutto) forage in the water, a common ringed plover (bontbekplevier) suddenly landed right in front of me. It turned out my reaction speed was on point, and I don't think I'd ever caught the plover's tail as well! #birds
A small plover is about to land on the sandy beach of a lake. Its wings are spread out and its tail fanned out as it is slowing down. It is backlit, causing the sunlight to illuminate the white tips and outline of its tail feathers.
September 28, 2025 at 6:54 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
A bit of an abstract image but I enjoyed the way the light fell on this dunlin (bonte strandloper) and on the waves behind it last weekend. There were a couple of them hiding in a group of sanderlings (drieteenstrandloper). #birds
A small wading bird with a long black bill sits on an artificial rocky coastal shoreline, with white spots dancing behind it as the sunlight falls on the waves. The bird is photographed against the light, so its colours don't stand out very well, but it's mostly white (on its underside) and various hues of brown (on its back and cap)
September 27, 2025 at 10:36 AM
korbosch.bsky.social
Mocht op de radio vanochtend heeeel kort iets vertellen over de Belgische vluchtelingen in Arnhem tijdens de Eerste Wereldoorlog. Erg leuk om te doen! www.nporadio1.nl/fragmenten/s...
Groepsfoto van Belgische vluchtelingen in Arnhem in 1914. De groep bestaat uit hele gezinnen: vrouwen, mannen en kleine kinderen. Sommige mensen hebben hun huisdier mee. Een klein jongetje heeft een krijtbord vast met daarop de tekst "Leve België". Bron: Gelders Archief, fotograaf onbekend, toegang 1523 - 333-0004
September 23, 2025 at 11:15 AM
korbosch.bsky.social
One day trip to Zeeland yesterday to watch seabirds. We made a brief stop at Vlissingen, where a storm had blown a juvenile black guillemot (zwarte zeekoet) into the harbour, where it was eating all the crabs. Very cool to see it up close! #birds
A small type of guillemot floating in the water. Its underside is mostly white, its top side is mostly black, and both sides are speckled with the opposing colour. Two white bands run across its wing. It has a pointy black bill, a little sturdier than that of a regular guillemot but still a lot more narrow than that of a razorbill. The bird has bright red legs. The black guillemot has retrieved a crab after a dive. The black guillemot has thrown the crab around a little, and is about to snap to catch it in mid air. Because it swallows the crab whole it needs to align it properly first, to avoid eating mishaps.
September 22, 2025 at 3:37 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Got very lucky yesterday in my local patch when I saw an impressive heron fly towards me. Something was off about it, so I figured it wasn't a regular grey heron (blauwe reiger). I was right: it was a migratory purple heron (purperreiger), which stayed in full view for two hours in a treetop. #birds
The purple heron in flight, heading roughly in my direction. The heron is quite similar to the grey heron but it has a base colour of reddish brown. The purple heron in a tree top, looking down. There are some distinctive black lines following the bird's face and neck lengthwise. The neck has a peculiar angular shape, emphasised by this line. The heron looking sideways and up. It stayed for quite a while and was seen by some other birders, until it flew off after some crows annoyed it.
September 21, 2025 at 4:06 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
A juvenile spoonbill (lepelaar) looking for food.
#birds
A juvenile spoonbill wading in the water. The image is underexposed, creating a dark setting where the bird stands out in its bright white colour. Horizontal blue lines run through the water, showing a history of motion. On the left a dead tree stands in the water. Behind the bird, green vegetation can be seen along the water's edge.
September 20, 2025 at 9:54 AM
korbosch.bsky.social
I see kestrels (torenvalk) so often that it's easy to overlook them. But this male made sure I paid attention when it caught a vole and landed quite close to me to devour it. #birds
A kestrel, a small bird of prey, is about to land on a tree stump in the foreground on the right while carrying a vole it has just caught. Autumn is approaching and much of the vegetation around has started turning brown. In the background on the left the dead remains of giant hogweed tower over the surrounding plants. The kestrel lands, revealing a spotted chest and feathery trousers. He has a grey cap and is carrying the vole in its right claw. The kestrel sits on a dead tree branch, where it finished the last of the vole.
September 19, 2025 at 6:43 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Before they start their long journey south, the barn swallows (boerenzwaluw) need to eat to survive the trip. A nearby lake provided a great source of nutrients yesterday, with a large group of the birds skimming the water and picking off insects. Mesmerising to watch! #birds
A barn swallow soars above the water, its lower jaw opened and gliding over the surface as it is about to pick off an insect. A barn swallow has picked off an insect. It is still flying forward at great speed but its head is still facing down and back as it has only just grabbed its prey. A barn swallow seen from the side as it is flying forward at great speed, carrying a prey in its beak. A barn swallow has its eyes on the prize as an insect can be seen on the surface of the lake. It has opened its beak and is about to grab it.
September 18, 2025 at 6:39 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Glad to have gone on an after-work bike ride yesterday to catch this little stint (kleine strandloper). It's a rare visitor to the region and usually viewed from much greater distance. It wasn't shy although it did fly off when some horses threatened to trample it. #birds
A very small wading bird walks on a sand bank at a lake. It is quite colourful, with a white belly, underside and eye stripe and various soft colours such as light brown. The feathers on its wings have a darker inside fringed with lighter hues, giving it a neat appearance. The little stint in flight, flying in my general direction. Before getting closer it turned and then flew further off, hiding behind a sandbank from the horses.
September 9, 2025 at 6:23 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Probably my favourite falcon: the hobby (boomvalk). It catches dragonflies and even birds like swallows in mid-air, and will eat them as it soars. The difficulty in photographing them is that you can never predict their path, but I was very lucky this one came quite close to me! #birds
A hobby falcon floats in the air. One of its claws is closed, grasping a dragonfly. The hobby has a white base colour on its underside with a pattern of black stripes on its belly and black spots under its wings. It has orange trousers and bright yellow claws and bill. On top it is mostly slate-grey. It has a black moustache running down from its yellow bill and a yellow eyering. The same hobby falcon, soaring, its tail spread out. It is pulling at the dragonfly with its beak, while still grasping it firmly with its talons.
September 7, 2025 at 6:05 PM