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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
Two wigeons (smient) looking for food. At first I thought the male (on the right) was going to share and that this would be a wholesome interacton, but instead he quickly turned to the right so the female wouldn't be able to nibble at his seaweed. #birds
Two friendly looking ducks foraging on the shore. The male, on the right, is lifting up a long piece of seaweed with his bill, while the female on the left is approaching and has opened her bill to take a bite. The male is much more colourful, with a brownish red head with an ochre cap and a pinkish brown breast, and a back that is consists of very thin black-and-white lines and some white spots. The female is brownish with a white belly, but the brown still consists of various shades to give her an interesting appearance.
December 21, 2025 at 10:59 AM
korbosch.bsky.social
Today I discovered we have a fine 17th century engraving of Arnhem with a man on a unicorn on the opposite bank of the Rhine. However, the description on our site has a typo and instead of saying the man sits on an eenhoorn (unicorn) it says he sits on an eekhoorn (squirrel)...
Engraving from ca. 1623-1632 of a view of Arnhem from the south bank of the Rhine. The depiction of the city is fairly accurate with some churches and the pontoon bridge in the correct location. In the foreground, an old man rests on the back of a unicorn that is laying down, and examines himself in a mirror. The text on the image is in German and Latin. Gelders Archief: 0963 - 120, Public Domain Mark 1.0 licentie.
December 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
It's the time of year where you look back on the things you've done, and in my case, on the animals you've seen. This group of wild boar (everzwijn) storming through a valley covered in flowers beside a reservoir in Spain was one such stand-out moment. #mammals
December 17, 2025 at 10:20 AM
korbosch.bsky.social
Vandaag was ik net op tijd voor het mooiste moment van de dag!
The sun sets behind an old white church spire, turning the sky orange. There are small houses and fields separated with hedges and trees around it
December 16, 2025 at 5:44 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
A curlew (wulp) after a long hard day working down the mud mines.

De Cocksdorp, Texel, november 2025. #birds
A curlew walking on a tidal flat while the tide is out. It has a long curved bill with which it can poke down into the mud to look for food, which this individual has clearly been doing with abandon as its entire bill is coated in mud, right up to its eyes.
December 14, 2025 at 4:45 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Met onze jubilerende vogelwerkgroep en @sovonvogels.bsky.social e.a. gaven we een boek uit. Zelf deed ik wat redactiewerk. Gisteren kreeg ik het eindelijk in handen. Ik wist al dat het heel leesbaar was, maar het is ook prachtig geworden! Hier te bestellen: sovon.ccvshop.nl/Gelderse-Poort
Voorkant van het boek: Gelderse Poort, veranderend rivierenland Open pagina met links een foto van de Spiegelwaal en rechts stukjes die de toestand van de sperwer en havik beschrijven Stukje over de ontwikkeling van het gebied in de jaren '60 en '70. Het kaartje links toont bouwplannen om de Waal "recht te trekken" door deze te verleggen, en de helft van de Ooijpolder vol te bouwen. Gelukkig allemaal niet gebeurd, door activisme wat op foto's rechts te zien is Stukje over de zeearenden die dit jaar voor het eerst in de Millingerwaard hebben gebroed
December 6, 2025 at 10:03 AM
korbosch.bsky.social
By now I've photographed enough purple sandpipers (paarse strandloper) that I focus more on capturing the scene and less on the bird. This one was foraging amidst heavy winds along the Texel coast, with spray kicking up all around it. #birds #BirdOfTheDay
A purple sandpiper foraging along the shoreline. It is photographed against the light, so you can see little more than its silhouette. The foregrond is dark and gravelly, but in the background the sea can be seen, in places bright white where it reflects the sunlight, creating strong contrasts between light and dark. A little closer to the purple sandpiper. It is photographed against the light, in focus, with a thing outline of white around the bird and little white spots visible caused by the spray being kicked up. An out of focus shot of the purple sandpiper: the focus lies in front of it, and highlights the white specks of spray blown in front of the out of focus, silhouetted bird. Bokeh balls of light can be seen on the sea.
November 26, 2025 at 2:01 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
On a particularly windy morning (code yellow!) this grey plover (zilverplevier) was foraging in the De Cocksdorp harbour of Texel. It took note of, but tolerated, my presence. Less fancy than its golden cousin, this is still a very impressive bird! #birds #vogels
November 22, 2025 at 11:34 AM
korbosch.bsky.social
One of the highlights of a brief Texel visit was a group of horned larks (strandleeuwerik) that I had the pleasure to watch for a while, early in the morning before the dog walkers showed up. This individual was closely studying a shrub, probably to look for seeds or insects. #birds #vogels
A horned lark - with a brownish back, a white belly, black legs and bill, and a bright yellow face with a black moustache and neck, examines a shrub from below to look for food. The horned lark pokes its head in between the branches to look for food. The horned lark raises itself up to look for food on the branches from above.
November 19, 2025 at 1:47 PM
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