I think the cover photo already spoiled it. My first real wildlife encounter was with foxes in the dunes. This was before I got the birding virus. The curiosity, daring and cunning behaviour of foxes always attracted me to get them photographed within their habitat as naturally as possible. This was a challenge years ago, but doable in the dunes. However lately they are more scarce. Mainly due to the more people that are photographing them, even feeding them (which is now prohibited), but I think they are hiding further and further away in the dunes as it became more and more crowed after 2020 with people.

So after a few times enjoying myself with the new toy, the Sony A7riv and the 200-600mm lens, it was time to get the Fujifilm out again. I must say its still a killer combo. However the battery life compared to the Sony is really disappointing. Setting up the Fuji in boost mode, the battery drained 50% in an hour. I must say I never really saw a difference between normal and boost mode. Still I always knew that the battery life was not the greatest on the Fuji, but its that good on the Sony and it shows.

After the cold temperatures, snow and ice the warm weather quickly made its entrance. That resulted in really nice mornings and afternoons with a low sun and golden light. This is the advantage of the winters over here, the low sun and clear skies when its still relatively cold, have this yellow and golden light. Something that is present during a few hours. In short we have not a golden hour, but several golden hours. How cool is that!

Well it finally happend, after the temperatures dropped the first time now the temperatures dropped significantly with ice and snow as the final cherry on top! I guess The Netherlands wasn’t the only country in Europe to have massive snow and ice weather and forecasts. I can tell you the crazy dutch ice skating lovers where everywhere! As was a beautiful snow filled landscape, a real treat after grey rainy days and lockdown. Finally snow, ice and sun! Real winter!

After a few weekends without real good weather or light, the temperatures started to fall. Meaning real winter weather is coming. The temperature fell well into the sub-zero degrees. Combining that with an early start for a well deserved hike after a week of work indoors meant that it was really really cold! However clear skies and sun made it a beautiful morning. The idea was to start at Oostvaardersplassen with an alternative to go to the Veluwe if there were too many people or the area was closed.

Well the following weekend after this one, see previous blog post, was just as nice and therefor a second attempt to get some good old bird shots in the dunes. Again the sun was really giving that winter yellow light. Kind of and endless folder hour at that moment. Now where we are further into January this is slowly disappearing, which is a shame, but the weather lately is so dull and grey that I welcome spring and warmer weather for sure!

A new year, new promises? I don’t know, but what I do know is that the first two weekends of this year really had some nice weather. Meaning sun finally, some clouds, no rain (yes!) and good light. For me the perfect opportunity to get my camera and start shooting again, because that was quite a while ago. This blog and the second one (see the next one) are all about me getting back to the dunes, just for fun, no expectations.

I’ll keep this one short. After a few weeks not really taking any photographs I needed to go outside and shoot. My plan was to go early into the woods, specifically to Spleuderbos as I did here, but the lack of mist and the promise of a clear beautiful day I decided to go birding at the Oostvaardersplassen.

A weekend escape just the two of us, going on a hike and bird watching from a special photo hide, a hut so to say, in the east of The Netherlands. The bird watching spot is situated in the area of the Sallandse heuvelrug, therefor we also decided to do a day hike there and as it’s quite a drive we decided to stay the weekend, nice!