On 12 May 2013, again to the Zouweboezem nature reserve in the Netherlands.
This reserve is famous for its black terns and its purple herons.
As we approach the reserve: shelducks near the Lek river.
Near the parking lot, chaffinch and chiffchaff singing. An oystercatcher.
A bit further: a reed warbler sings.
A sedge warbler sings.
Then, a male reed bunting.
A willow warbler and a wren sing.
A common tern flying.
A northern lapwing in a meadow.
Black terns fly above the meadow, hunting for insects.
A great cormorant.
Bearded reedlings fly away.
On a reed stem, an ergot fungus, Claviceps microcephala; in the sclerotium phase at the moment.
Marsh marigold flowers.
Black terns fly over their nesting colony, but few of them have started nesting yet. Tufted ducks sit on some of the black tern nesting platforms. It seems that the cold spring has delayed the terns’ nesting season.
A yellow water-lily flowering. That is early for this time of the year.
A great crested grebe.
A Stereum hirsutum fungus on a fallen branch.
Near the hide, a male shoveler duck swimming.
Canada geese. A mute swan. Wigeon. Gadwall ducks.
Many shiny alder leaf beetles on small trees. Some of them mating.
Water violets flowering.
A Savi’s warbler and a blackcap sing.
White dead-nettle flowers.
A green-veined white butterfly.
In a meadow, orchid flowers.
A black-tailed godwit flies, calling.
An Egyptian goose flying.
A male and a female marsh harrier fly together.
Then, a black-tailed godwit, driving away a Canada goose. Considering that Canada geese are capable of driving away big gorillas, quite a feat.
A purple heron; flying, then standing at a ditch bank.
A group of grey lag geese, with also two barnacle geese.
A male pheasant.
Many grey lag geese have goslings.
Then, something special. A male cuckoo. Usually hidden from view, but not today.
A jay flying.
A carrion crow drives away a buzzard.
A false puffball slime mould on a tree stump.
Then, a female linnet.
And a male linnet.
Then, Lentinus tigrinus mushrooms.
We are near the exit of the reserve. Corn salad flowering.
In Ameide village, a white stork on its nest on the roof of the church.
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