A little bit of the same

Last week for my photography task I went to the forest to take some pictures with a fixed subject photographed with different objectives & positions. While I took my Icelandic troll Magnus with me as subject and was busy making the pictures, a deer came closer. Silently and curious he came closer without me knowing, until he was almost within reach. My heart bounced nearly out of by body seeing this stag here with his almost grown up anthlers stretching his nose to me.

He backed up a few meters, while I quickly gathered all my stuff and backed up as well. I know rare cases where stags are harrasing visitors. Though he did not look harmfull, his anthlers were impressive with two sharp pins reaching forward. I did not want a close encounter. So I took more distance and he approached even followed me. Then he stopped to inspect the place where my troll had been standing for minutes.

The deer last week, first time he showed up.

I wondered why he was so fascinated by me. Because other visitors he completely ignored. Maybe I looked like someone that comes here often to feed the squirrels and birds? I decided later to have my go at another place in this huge natural habitat. The deer stayed at his place, but sure has been checking out every spot for food.

The picture I took of him is not very clear, because I was a bit flabbergasted by his appearance. But... I decided to return another time. Yesterday.

The same thing happened. I wasnt even there for a minute and from the unseen he appeared again. I still am amazed how deer can just be invisible in the forest and all quietly can be there within a second.

This time I was not too scared. He came up to the same distance as last time, 4 meters away from me. Curious, stretching out and not loosing contact with me. It was a magical moment this, but a feeling of sadness overcame me. Because I realised this deer was in need. Last year they put up huge fences to prevent the deer to get out of the forest and cause accidents and damage to properties. It is just the short minded vision of our nation. Of course human lives are more important (I don't agree but that is another discussion I will not be having here). Now many deer die. Most people believe it is starvation. Just because the animals die of hunger. But they don't die because of the lack of food. There is food, but they wont eat it. Many deer are not used anymore to find food, since all their lives they have been eating grass in the meadows. They refuse to eat the hard grass and bark in the forest. I took a little bit of dried grass with me I used to give to the horses after ridinglessons. It is chopped and fortified with lucern. It is easy to scatter around so the animals have to follow their nature and do a little work to find it. But this deer didnt eat it. While horses and cows would die for it. This poor animal is obviously one of the many that are only eating the soft grasses from the meadows. And will die like the many other deer in the same situation. And believe me I walked only 2 km and not at all in a straight line, and I saw 3 carcasses, all laying close to the fences. As soon as you get at least a km away from the fences, you won't find as much carcasses as close to it. Most of them are within 100 meter from a fence, and 2 even in the area this guy roams, who knows he has been eating them, because despite of them being vegetarians, they sometimes eat in time of weakness carcasses of dead animals or even fish. They know instinctively that this source of proteins keeps them going in times of need. But yet they don't know about eating harsher grasses... I simply believe those deer die primary because of these fences. It is tragic, because I know this deer that catches my heart here will also die very soon, if he is not going to get used to eat other sources. And I will be devastated to find him dead if that happens. Even if he does make attempts to eat whatever this forest offers, it is by far not enough to keep him alive. The pictures shows it all... I hope soon the greens will sprout giving him at least something he wants to eat. Before it is too late.... I know new generations of deer will be able to find their own food here, it is a time issue. I hope it is...

Skinny... he lost all his spare fat. But it is normal in winter, I must say. Still I worry...

So, it was a very short but impressive walk this time. I wanted more but I suffer my ankle :-( I cannot walk long distances currently, which I hate because soon I will go to Iceland. And last thing I want is to be lame. With the only good thing, that I noticed Icelandic Horses are rather 'easy' to ride without stirrups so I don't have to risk cancelling my tour. I would ask for a bombproof horse and go. And hope I wont fall in the waters ;-)

Lentevreugd & Wassenaarse Slag

Today I have decided to go visit the grazing project in an enclosed area close to where my parents live. It is a unique habitat, it used to be grounds on which bulbs have flowered until few years ago. It forms the border to the dunes, and this 'foredunes' are rare in our nation since many people live on this area or use it for flower growing. But here it got returned to nature and they 'hired' about 50 highland cows and 20 Konik horses (a primal breed) to maintain the growth of grass and trees.
The area is still evolving, more and more species arrive to find a place to live. But february is a dead time, so I came across the cows and horses that cant go anywhere, a deer and a white herron.

During my short visit I didnt feel too comfy, not many people come here so I was all alone and the animals can be unpredictable. Yet stories of accidents are extremely rare.
First I came across the first herd of cows, laying down, watching and following me with their hairy and big horned heads. Nothing to worry, even the young cow meters away from the walking path didn't care. Cows are naturally very curious animals, so I didnt really dare to take pictures since I need to be rather close.

As I continued to walk to the back (foot of the dunes) I spotted the first Konik horses. But first in the bushes next to me there was a deer, probably a roedeer, as she was all alone and had a paddy bum. She fleed very fast but silently into the bushes. Completely gone from vision.

Once with the horses I had to cross the herd over a frozen splash of water. Also here the horses were very close, looked up and grazed on. In the distance I saw a huge horse I assumed to be the stallion, but it approached me in full curiosity. I noticed it was a mare, probably the alpha mare. She crossed the path behind me, and went to the top of a small hill. Probably she was on the watch out there. I quickly took some pictures, but another young horse came my way in a more jolly way. Not in trot but focussing in curiosity as well. I decided to take a distance and had no choice than to cross the ice. In a safer distance I looked at them for a while, the youngster stopped at what I think was its mother and they started to groom eachother a bit.

 The horses didn't show any action or nice positions to take pictures. So I made my way back to the entrance. Passing by the lake where 2 white herrons were hanging out. But they flew off when I wanted to approach to take a picture.

Then with the cows I decided to take some pictures. I have been taking photography lessons, and learned how to manually set the exposure without ever needing flashlight. So, all this pictures (a small exception is possible though, because for quick shoots I still use full auto) I experimented with exposure, diafragm and ISO. I am not at all complaining about the result. Next task is stop using auto focus. But that one is too tough for me. So the cows... Now they all were standing, and some young bulls were battling off.

In a distance there stood a beautifull pitch black cow, I never seen those. But I was worried why she was standing so alone there. After I pictured the others, I went to a closer position on the other side of the frozen stream, she carefully followed me with her eyes. And then... hestitated she started to cross the ice! Now I got a little scared, I thought myself to be rather safe here, so I backed a few (or a lot) of meters. She really planned on paying me a visit, she came over the dunes, stood there watching me, and finally decided to continue her way to the herd. It remains a mystery why she crossed the ice, because she could also have walked on the banks towards the herd.

I followed a flock of birds (kramsvogel) of which I don't remember the English name.

Since I had some time left I decided to go to Wassenaarse Slag too. A 3 km walking route, and this forest is very attractive with its steeper hills than the AWD where I usually go to. But since you can enter with bikes, dogs, horses and a road crosses it, you barely see any wildlife at all. It is a pitty.
I noticed this area I visited also borders another bigger enclosure with highland cows and Konik horses. I might consider visiting this one once too, but you need to walk 2 km at first to reach it anyway. And then manage to find them, because here are much more trees and it is not flat land like Lentevreugd. It seems to be something to do in a safer time, when there are no calf and foals are expected. I don't want to imagine coming across a cow or mare in labour. Well... I noticed we are not allowed off the beaten tracks here anyway.

Next visit sure will be AWD again. I think. Soon the nightengales start to sing again. Which reminds me, I forgot again about the course for recognising bird songs. I do so for over 5 years allready. But they are never smart enough to do more than one course.

Wintertime in the AWD

Nature is beautifull in winter time when it has snowed or dew has been frozen turning the world white. And, if roadconditions and my feelings allow me, I would go out to the dunes to take pictures. So I did yesterday, off to the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen (aka AWD) to entrance Oasis, because that one is likely the best to reach by car. They never salt or sand the roads because that would polute the drinking water. So expect slippery conditions, especially in the area. But, since this is one of the few or even rare locations where you are allowed off the beaten tracks, this was opportunity. Fresh snow is often safer than walked on paths. Other reason to choose this entrance, I needed a new year licence and parking licence as well. Only available here.

Not even 100 meters from the gate I was surrounded by lots of deer. And funny it is to see that they are almost always surrounded by birds, often a red robin and some black birds. They seem to profit from the deer scraping away the snow and reveal the soft moss with maybe some sprouting seeds and awakening insects. For birds a layer of 15 cm snow is too much to dig away. Sometimes, when snow stays for weeks, I take some wild bird food with me to leave some wide spread for the birds. But the snow now doesnt remain very long I think. No need to help nature so far. Because I believe we should not interfere too much with the way of nature. It is natural sometimes a lot of animals die of hunger. It is the law of the strongest to survive, making the species stronger genetically.

But it is different with the deer who clearly are with too many and too less food. Reason is that due to complaining people, they enclosed this whole area. While for all previous years, the deer could leave this area to search naturally for food elsewhere. Now they are bound within this territory, and 1500 deer is just too much. So many trees have been stripped of their barks. Leaving them to die. I have always been against the shooting of the deer. But now, now since these deer have no predators, we need to act as predators, and kill some. Before the whole population dies of starvation. It is no good... I hate the idea, but it is better that a few healthy strong ones survive than having all live in vain. I just hope they will do this job well, which I doubt... because I have never ever agreed with our fauna control.

After passing by a lot of deer, my eyes got locked with a blueish thing on a pole next to me. I at first thought it was a childrens glove someone put on this pole to show it off. But instinctively I quickly took a picture. The sound of the camera scared the kingfisher it apparently was. It flew off. I tracked it down a few meters where it again landed on a pole. But it flew off again. Kingfishers are extremely difficult to picture, they are so fast and rarely sit for longer time especially not close to humans. They are one of my favorite birds here. It was the second time I had this chance to picture them, which makes me incredible happy. I may not have a nice picture with its head and beak showing, but the idea this would have been one of my best shots ever if it did thrills me.
The flying of this bird always makes me smile. It reminds me of Harry Potters quidditch. This shining radiating blue hummingbird like monster, it is almost alien. I am happy to see one still alive. They have not a lot to fear here, the waters almost never freeze completely (most not even at all since it is rapid flowing), while usually periodes of ice and snow kills more than half of the population of a bird that is rather rare in our country. But luckily not in my area. I know plenty of them. Bringing back its natural habitat in more and more places, they usually quickly grow in numbers. But it is sad that frozen waters kill them too easily. We should all care for it to keep a part of their habitat icefree or provide another source of food for them until they can fish again. I sometimes wonder of they would eat other food, dead small fishes or worms. Just to help them get through the rough times. Even if also for the kingfisher I believe nature should rule, this bird belongs to our country and should be helped a little bit to get its habitat and population back that we have been taken away by industrialisation.

It would have been a perfect picture....

After a couple of glides and slides on a slippery path, I decided to go back. This part of AWD has too much hills and steep parts, so since I saw a group of deer almost next to the road at another entrance, decided to see my luck there. It is time the deer loose their anthlers, and in that part usually lots of male deer wander in bachelor groups. Who knows I was lucky....

On my way out, a group of about 30 deer came running by on top of a dune hill. Probably scared by someone or something. A chance for me to try some action shots. I was amazed by the amount of deer I have seen today in just one hour. Not yet a record, but probably a close second.

So off I went to De Zilk. An area that is more flat dunes, and in our country rare heather dunes. The deer were still at the place I expected them to be, but it appeared some of them had roamed away. Unfortunately I couldnt take much pictures without getting the traffic racing behind them on it too. And people who know me, know I hate it to have any form of humanisation on my photo's.

So that was all for today. I hope more blogs will follow now I have a parking card again. They luckily lowered the price with 15 euro's, which makes it more affordable.

Face to Face with Badger

On June 11th 2011, a wish came true. Last year I found out about an agency that offers special Badger meets. But due to circumstances it never came to an actual date setting. I was planning to go with a friend of mine, but she is so very busy, barely has any time left for me. For me it was a intuitive choice to just go by myself, to make sure it will happen. The only suitable date however, was this day. Which came in not so handy due to money restrictions. But... the Voice told me, it is ok to go now. So I went off.

I left my home in very very intense thunderstorms, hail, huge rainfall, and darkness. It felt all so familiar, this disturbed dark past, with so much rumbling and chaos.  Lightning stroke all around me, followed by this roar of thunder that made me gaze in amazement of this moment, but also gave me the shivers of the impact and energy it generated. The rain counting for all the tears that I cried, just to get out of this darkness and get my life back. It is amazing how sometimes the most simple things can be a reflection to your own life.

And to complete it, it was a long journey, taking the risks to drive in Belgium, because I know that if I loose the way, it always is in Belgium because their roadsigns are a mess, to difficult to read from a distance, and they have weird no where else excisting crossings and transitions. So, in Liege, suddenly I noticed there were no more trucks around me. And I simply had no clue what road I was on, still appearing to me a highway. I ended up in the center of Liege, following signs to Luxembourg/Highway. But unfortunately road constructions... And after half an hour I was back at the point the mistake was made. Also a reflection to my life, moving in circles, making some wrong decisions that will in the end always take me to the place I have to go to, but just in a little more time. While learning some more lessons only to be given during this circles.

A strange, scary roundabout where also was possibility to cross as there was a road going one side to another (notice it looks a bit like a Vesica Piscis from Chalice Well). I was so scared, had to join this circus where you are allowed to drive 100 and instantly change lanes from in to out. Complicated, like I try to describe it, but I made it again to the road I had to follow. Just like I lost my lifes Highway a bit and had to take risky decisions to get back on.

I didnt feel to comfortable to leave the road now to go to Weris. I decided to let this be for another day, when I do have access to my navigation (my freshly load up mobile decided to take holidays just this day... how I dislike the phone... really... arrghhh). Because I arrived early I made a ride out to the direction of Houffalize. I deciced to take one of the many outback tracks looking for a place where I can take a walk. The bad weather I started the day with changed for wonderfull mixed weather, sun and a few friendly clouds. I saw two birds of prey soaring the sky, and I put my car offside the best I could to make some pictures. But as usual my camera was set on the wrong mode... They didn't turn out very clear, while I had the chance to archieve an airstrike attack. How I wish to have better equipment, the birds kept flying in the distance or very high up in the sky. They were a couple of red kites (I have to laugh now, because I didn't know the English name of these birds, but by chance I thought it to be red kites.... and they actually are named red kites!)

It was time to go back to the meeting point. Have some food first. Waiting for the guide, a guy my age in a safaribus stuffed with pieces of animals, cages, junk and whatever. He is also a wildlife rescuer. What a job... it was wonderfull to see how someone could fit in the job, absolutely no doubt he found his life task in wildlife management. But he shouldn't drive so fast, because my car really has failed his mountain test for sure. I cannot make it possible to drive a 6% highway faster than 90km/h.... is that a mistake of me, or just bad quality of my car... I don't know but I really felt a snail on a highway :-( And the guide was driving like an idiot over the outback ways. It was only a short drive (well in his terms yes, 5 minutes what I would have taken 15 for...). On the site we passed first a beaver set. They were sound asleep at this moment. In the distance there was a male roe deer watching us. So tiny, so beautifull! Now I know I either never saw one back home, or these are just smaller and more beautifull. Too far away to capture in a perfect picture.

Then we entered the Badger territories. Requested to not make noises, we followed the guide, still in terrible speed, up to the top of a very steep hill. When reaching the observation post, the first badger allready was there, awaken. So beautifull to see, this gorgeous creature in the green landscape. But as soon as the whole group joined in to see, it ran off. The group was quite disturbing. Could not make up to keep quiet. So in the lodge we waited patiently, for the Badgers to arrive. 3 Did. One young female stayed quite long. All pictures I have are from her. But the group lost concentration, and after 20 minutes she ran off after they started to rumble, talk, telling jokes, and someone left the hut.

What a shame, the guide gave us an option to go to the beavers instead. Because it would take some time for the Badgers to return. I was not amused, I took two 3 1/2 hour drives just to see Badgers, and half of the group has been on Beaver excursion the same day. Just for some noisy 'can't sit still' people we had to leave :-( and instead we waited 45 minutes around a mosquito infested pond for the beavers to wake up. It is not that I don't like beavers, but I came for the Badgers. So it disappointed me sort of... But thankfull for the experience to at least see 2 (one just a glimpse) and taking some pictures made my day. I did not came here for nothing.

It is up to me now to give it some time to find out what this creature has told me. Usually it takes some time. One thing is sure though, I will go for a more intensive Badger observation next year. Hoping then there will be more Badger time, because really I could have sit there quietly in the hut for hours. I was the only one not making noises, not talk, not laugh. Just to sit quietly, patiently, just me and my Badger spirit. Despite of Badgers poor eyesight on the look out to see movement in the ferns or see something black and white. I guess the only one who truely wanted to seek this connection. And I know it is the wrong setting. I have to observe them one time all alone. After finding a place where I can do so first. I guess I just have to find the courage to go to the Glastonbury Tor Badgerset. But, in September you see Badgers in the darkness, and it is so tough to picture them. Well, I now have my pictures. I will keep that moment just to connect with them. :-) Can't wait!

 

Christmas in AWD

*** Will be translated shortly, in the meantime use the translate button left to find a terrible translation in one of the 23 languages supplied....  You sure miss the fun for now....***


Jaja het is eindelijk weer eens zo ver, ik ben naar AWD geweest en met meer dan 3 gelukte foto's thuis gekomen :) Dus, het is weer eens tijd voor een blog(je). Ik ben de afgelopen tijd nauwelijks in de AWD geweest, door de korte dagen en drukke weekenden is er toch weinig tijd beschikbaar, en dan de weersomstandigheden ook nog eens!

Maar ik dacht dat het vanmorgen wel mee zou vallen met de gladheid, ondanks dat ik een halve cm ijs van mijn autoruiten af moest bikken. Ondanks dat de straat hier nog erger glom dan voorheen. Ik vond het eigenlijk niks om verder te rijden, Lisse is echt beroerd met strooien. En als ik een heuveltje oprij, schrik ik me lam van een idioot in een antieke polo die besluit om op die heuvel in te gaan halen. Hoe achterlijk ben je? Hij reed al op de bumper van zijn voorganger, en ik zie de bui al hangen, laat gas los en wijk heel voorzichtig naar rechts. Hij slingert, schuift, draait bijna om en parkeert net niet tegen mijn auto aan. Vervolgens rijd hij schuivend en slingerend weer verder en hopelijk met wijsheid om toch maar iets later op bestemming aan te komen. Ik zit ondertussen wel af te vragen of ik nu wel zo slim ben om persee naar AWD te willen. Besluit om toch door te rijden.
Bij de spoorwegovergang, zijn drie auto's op elkaar gegleden. Lullig bochtje maar het is duidelijk hoe dit ontstaan is. Dit is de gemeente grens, en precies op die lijn heeft gemeente Noordwijkerhout gestopt met strooien en schuiven. De weg is daar schoon, maar richting Lisse dus niet. Mensen dus vol vertrouwen doorgereden en verrast door dit lullige bochtje wat een ijsbaan was geworden door de ijzel. Maar ik opgelucht omdat ik weer veilig door kon rijden.
De oprit naar de N206 was slecht, ik wist niet of mijn auto dit wel ging trekken die heuvel op, en ben rechtdoor gereden naar Langevelderslag. Maar daar kon ik ook niks omdat parkeren in een dik pak sneeuw ook niet gaat werken als ik weer weg wil. Ja ik ben een trutje wat dat betreft, maar ik heb geen goede banden en mn auto is te licht. Ik neem geen risico's. Ik ben niet bang, maar vertrouw mn auto niet.
Uiteindelijk toch voor gekozen naar de Zilk te gaan. Heerlijkheid, het was nog lekker rustig. De terreur van joggers en stokprikkers is nu aangevuld met sleeen en langlaufers, ja zelfs skieers. Daar heeft Waternet nog niet over nagedacht...
Bij de schaftkeet staat een mannetjes damhert te graven naar voedsel. Hij laat zich makkelijk benaderen, alles wat hem boeit is iets wat onder de sneeuw ligt. Ik krijg niet de indruk dat de herten al erg honger hebben. De bomen zijn nog niet zo aangevroten als vorige winter.

Het enige moment dat zn neus niet in de sneeuw zat

Na wat foto's loop ik verder. Het thema vandaag is denk ik de kramsvogel. Want die waren er in grote getalen. Het eerste stuk waar ik ze zag, samen met lijsters en merels, rook ik de gegiste geur van de duindoornbessen aangedaan door de vorst. Hun laatste voedselvoorraad. En ja dat gegiste dat leidde natuurlijk tot openbaar dronkenschap. Enkele kramsvogels en merels hipten laveloos rond met afhangende vleugels. Zij hadden een gezellig kerstfeestje zo. Hopelijk blijft Reintje dan wel afwezig. Het zou te makkelijk voor hem zijn, en wie weet wel een bijzonder kerstmaal.

De sporen in de sneeuw waren vooral van vossen en bunzings/marters. Weinig damhert, dus ik verwachtte ook niet om die veel te gaan zien. Ik liep helemaal door richting het strand, ben daar niet geweest omdat ik het briljante idee had om dwars door de duinen terug te lopen.
Eerst nog een bos vol kramsvogels, mezen en goudhaantjes bewonderd. Ontzettende drukte daar, en deze waren niet dronken.

Kramsvogel

Kramsvogel

Geen idee.... :-P Koolmees?

Goudhaantje, zo snel zo beweeglijk, is al weg voor je foto kunt maken...

Ik volgde een spoor van een tractor waar Waternet kennelijk wat bomen heeft gerooid om ruimte te maken. Uiteindelijk hield dat wel op en moest ik door de sneeuw heen. Ik wilde niet terug en dacht dat het allemaal wel mee zou vallen. En het meidoornbos werd dichter en dichter, waar ben ik aan begonnen? Ik volgde een koeien/hertenspoor. Dat was de juiste keuze. Op wat bomen die wat haar van mn hoofd hebben getrokken na, kwam ik na een half uur uit de wildernis vandaan. Ik heb een paar damherten weg zien rennen, voor de rest wel heel veel (vosse) sporen, maar geen vogel gehoord of gezien.
Ik kwam uit op de Franse Vlakte. Boven zee hing een bui, en er ontstond een regenboog. Ik wilde liever zo snel mogelijk naar huis. Hier was de sneeuw her en der zo ver opgestoven dat je soms een halve meter wegzakte. Het was niet leuk en het was koud. Ik volgde maar weer de diersporen en kwam weer op een pad uit. Gelukkig. En ik herkende opeens ook weer waar ik was en kon naar de auto lopen.

Somewhere... over the rainbow.... way up high.... lalala

De wilde zwanen zijn weer terug (al lang al maar ik zie ze voor het eerst weer zo massaal)

Het damhert stond er nog steeds woest te graven, omringt door hele families, fotografen, sleeende kinderen, langlaufers raasden langs hem heen. En hij ging ongestoord door. Niet wijs dit hert... Maar leuk voor al die mensen die hier misschien wel voor het eerst kwamen, en meteen al op kerstdag een mooi mannetjes hert zien in de sneeuw.

Ik kan me weer gaan opwarmen. Gelukkig, de weg naar huis is ontdooid, alleen het parkeerterrein thuis is nog een ijsbaan. Hoe lang zal het sneeuw nog blijven liggen? Het dooit zo hard, maar ik ben blij dat ik vanmorgen nog wel even de ijzel getrotseerd heb.

AWD July 10th 2010

*** Will be translated shortly! In the mean time use the translate button on the right for a terrible not so funny translation in one of the 23 languagues supplied.***

Vanmorgen was het stralend mooi weer, en ik ben al een tijdje niet in AWD geweest. Dus ik besluit vandaag maar weer eens te gaan. Want je weet maar nooit wanneer het weer gaat regenen.
Deze blog gaat overigens heel kort worden, net zo kort als mijn wandeling. Ik was er maar een uurtje. En alles wat ik gezien heb was een (wilde) vos en een specht (geen foto). En de VVV konijntjes. Wat is mijn foto van de dag/week/maand konijntje alweer groot geworden...

Ik zag iets aan de kant van het water zitten, het was pluizig en roestbruin, het had voor mij alles kunnen zijn een jong hertje, een haas of een vos. Ik ging uit van de tweede, en bleef rustig aan de overkant staan kijken. Het mysterieuze dier kijkt op. Het is echt een vos. En een wilde. Ik blijf doodstil staan, hij kijkt naar me, en ik hoop dat hij niet vlucht. Maar hij zit zich vol te vreten aan een kadaver van een damhert, en hij heeft kennelijk honger en gaat rustig verder.
Hij zit vrij ver weg, lastig om op de foto te krijgen, want afstandsfoto's hebben bij mij bijna altijd last van diepte onscherpte, dus scherp is het niet (maar dat zijn jullie gewend van mijn superfoto's uch uch). Ik sluip iets dichterbij, en ik kan zo zeker 10 minuten kijken, af en toe komt een walm van dat kadaver mijn kant op. Yuk dat dat beest dat eet...

Dan krijgt hij me door en vlucht weg... en ik loop mijn rondje verder. Vandaag als een wonder heb ik de gele route gelopen (ik en op de paden blijven... En meer dan die vos heb ik dan ook niet gezien. Zelfs geen enkel hert, niet eens de sporen.... zo vreemd :( Maarja ik was ook maar heel kort in het AWD. Kwam eigenlijk even een beetje voor mezelf, on a mission zeg maar. Ik moest even iets kwijt.

Ik ga binnenkort (vanavond, morgen, vrijdag) nog voor de herkansing, als het weer meezit. Eerst ook nog eventjes uitkijken naar zaterdag, dan ga ik mij op nieuw terrein begeven, en hoop ik dit keer ook echt in de sporen van mijn geliefde dasjes te treden. Ik kijk er naar uit, het heeft lang geduurd.

Pannelands Parkeerwachter konijn (wild x tam)

 's Avonds ben ik toch nog een keer naar AWD gegaan. Naar de Zilk dit keer,  je wilt toch wat variatie.
Ook hier was het rustig met dieren, heel erg rustig. Zo af en toe moest ik even wennen aan echt helemaal niks horen. Ook geen vliegtuigen. Ik ben om de grote schapen paddock heen gelopen. Ik verbaasde me over het pad langs het kanaal wat de laatste keer toen ik hier liep, een kaal pad was. En nu liep ik tussen het metershoge riet, over een geschoren weggetje zeg maar, tussen de heggewikke en wederik door. Een mooie kleurenpracht moet ik zeggen, en aan de zijkant kropen de windes zich een weg omhoog in de meidoorns. Hier was ook wel volop geluid, van de krekels. Wat ik een heerlijk zomers geluid vind.

Onbekend vlindertje, een piepkleintje van nog geen cm

 Aan het einde van het pad besluit ik een stukje van het pad af te gaan, en hoor ik wat geritsel. Er staat een groepje damhertbokken in het bos :) Eindelijk.... ik besluit het eventjes rustig te bekijken, en door een doorgang kom ik oog in oog met een mooie bok die daar net doorheen wilde. Een beetje lullig staat hij daar met zn kop omlaag, en ik denk dat ie serieus in de knoop had gekomen met de meidoorns die er groeiden. Hij was wijs en liep toch terug, en dat deed ik ook, want ze stonden op het pad. Dus ging ik daar nog even foto's maken. Er was ook een vader met dochter en die vader liep naar de plek waar ik eerder dat oogcontact had. Hij joeg de jongens op, en ze kwamen zo heel mooi op ons af gerend. Ze hadden weinig keus om zowat tussen ons door te gaan. Vond het wel even een beetje eng, want die geweien zijn toch best wel impossant. Maar ze doken vlak voor ons toch het bos nog in. Maar ze kwamen dichtbij genoeg om zowat hun luchtverplaatsing als een wind langs ons heen te voelen. Heel erg gaaf om zo dichtbij die dieren te zijn (ja ok op een kinderboerderij lukt dat ook wel, maar dit zijn wilde damherten).
Ik was kwaad op mn camera die geen serie foto's wilde maken, lampje kwam er te laat achter dat ie nog volledig op macro ingesteld stond... en zolang ik dan geen macro opname had willen maken van de stippen in de vacht, gaat dat natuurlijk niks worden. Baal baal... ik heb nog een hoop te leren voor zaterdag :)

Dit was de wat jongere bok, niet minder imposant overigens

De heren verdwenen weer aan de horizon, ik liep verder om de schapenpaddock heen richting uitgang. Stilte... heel erg veel stilte, slechts verbroken door de altijd aanwezige groep kraaien. Ze cirkelden hun rondjes al krassend aan een donker wordende hemel. En ik verbaas me over hoe anders dit deel van AWD er nu toch uitziet. Maar vooral ook over de ongelooflijke stilte van vandaag, zelfs geen vogels. Waar zijn alle dieren heen?

Op naar een volgende keer, misschien morgen nog, of anders vrijdag weer eens naar de Oase. Hopelijk is het weer goed gezind :)