Sheep’s head mushroom, Naardermeer, 16 October 2022
At the bottom of an oak tree near the duck decoy in Naardermeer nature reserve grew this sheep’s head mushroom on 16 October 2022.
Sheep’s head mushroom, Naardermeer, on 16 October 2022
Autumn leaves on it. This is a rare species in the Netherlands.
Male pintail ducks, Naardermeer, 16 October 2022
The 16 October boat trip in the Naardermeer nature reserve landed at the duck decoy. There, these male pintail ducks swam.
Pintails, domestic ducks, mallards, Naardermeer, 16 October 2022
Sometimes, female pintail ducks joined them. Sometimes, mallards and domestic ducks.
Pintail ducks, common pochards, Naardermeer, 16 October 2022
Sometimes, common pochards.
There was also a kingfisher at the duck decoy.
Grey heron, Naardermeer, 16 October 2022
On 16 October, this grey heron flew over the beautiful Naardermeer nature reserve in the Netherlands.
I went along on a boat trip in the Nardermeer then. The trip was organised by the conservation organisation Natuurmonumenten, owners of the Naardermeer.
Naardermeer, trees, 16 October 2022
The Naardermeer is a lake with many marshy areas.
Naardermeer, birch trees, 16 October 2022
We saw this great egret.
Great egret, Naardermeerm 16 October 2022
Other birds that morning: an osprey, goshawk, common snipes. We heard a Cetti’s warbler.
Shuamta raptor count point, Georgia, 11 September 2022
This photo shows the raptor migration observation point in Shuamta, Georgia. It is not far from Batumi city, like the other hilltop observation point Sakhalvasho which is a few kilometres more to the west.
On 11 September, many black kites passing.
Shuamta raptor count point, honey buzzard, Georgia, 11 September 2022
Of course, also honey buzzards again.
Shuamta raptor count point, honey buzzard flying, Georgia,11 September 2022
Bee-eaters, not officially counted, like usually.
Booted eagles, who are counted.
A painted lady butterfly.
Two sparrowhawks overhead.
A snake eagle circling.
In a flock of bee-eaters, an Alpine swift.
Two hobbies.
Honey buzzard, Sakhalvasho, September 2022
This photo shows a honey buzzard, landing on a branch near Sakhalvasho bird migration watchpoint near Batumi in Georgia.
Honey buzzard lands, Sakhalvasho, September 2022
Honey buzzards are the most numerous species of the millions of birds migrating in autumn along the Black Sea coast of Georgia.
Honey buzzard landed, Sakhalvasho, September 2022
The honey buzzard finds out that the branch is a bit thin for its weight.
Honey buzzard flies, Sakhalvasho, September 2022
So, it flies away again.
Honey buzzards fly, Sakhalvasho, September 2022
If flies along with many fellow honey buzzards (sometimes also black kites and other birds of prey join in), circling in the air, to profit from thermals.
Honey buzzards flying, Sakhalvasho, September 2022
It flies with still more other birds.
Honey buzzards flying, near Sakhalvasho, September 2022
And still more other birds.
Purple herons, Batumi, 7 September 2022
This 7 September 2022 photo shows purple herons migrating along the Black Sea coast near Batumi, Georgia.
Red-backed shrike, Batumi, 7 September 2022
These photos, also 7 September 2022, show a young red-backed shrike near the Black Sea coast near Batumi, Georgia.
Red-backed shrike, near Batumi, 7 September 2022
European roller, September 2022
4/5 September 2022. At the Batumi Raptor Count point near Sakhalvasho village in Georgia.
Although it is called Raptor Count, also some non-raptor birds on their southwards autumn migration are counted. Like the European roller on the photo above. Hundreds of them flying daily past the counting point in these September times.
Most non-raptor bird species are not counted. Like bee-eaters, numerous and filling the air with their beautiful calls.
Gulls at the Black Sea, September 2022
Lower in the Batumi area, closer to the Black Sea. Many gulls. Mostly yellow-legged gulls. Also at least one Armenian gull.
On the stony beach of Batumi city, not only wheatears, but also greater short-toed larks like this one.
Nightjar, Batumi city park, 5 September 2022
In Batumi city park, various nightjars like this one, resting during daytime, before migrating toward Africa again during the night.
Stay tuned for more posts about bird migration in Georgia!
ZWARTE IBIS MIGRATIE LANGS DE ZWARTE ZEE
Also the wheatear is migrating along this sea / Ook de tapuit migreert langs deze zee
The Cure on Rotterdam, September 1979
This 9 September 1979 photo shows British band the Cure, playing at the Rotterdam, the Netherlands New Pop Festival 1979 in the Zuiderpark.
I took photos there with my Kodak Pocket Instamatic, the cheapest, smallest and simplest camera available. In 2005, photo shops stopped developing and printing Instamatic films. That meant the end of photography forever for me and others for whom expensive cameras for which you needed a Sc.D degree were not an option.
You could only make 12 photos with an Instamatic film. So, I had to be careful not to waste film.
I photographed the Inner Circle reggae band.
I made photos of the Specials.
And of the Cure, as this one also shows.
The Cure in Rotterdam. New Pop Festival, 9 September 1979
Inner Circle reggae, Rotterdam New Pop 1979
This 9 September 1979 photo shows Jamaican band Inner Circle, playing reggae at the Rotterdam, the Netherlands New Pop Festival 1979 in the Zuiderpark.
I took photos there with my Kodak Pocket Instamatic, the cheapest, smallest and simplest camera available. In 2005, photo shops stopped developing and printing Instamatic films. That meant the end of photography forever for me and others for whom expensive cameras for which you needed a Sc.D degree were not an option.
There were many bands on various stages at the New Pop festival. I didn’t know at what time there would be what music on what stage. So, when I read the festival line-up now, to my big shame I missed Public Image Limited. It looks like I also very regrettably missed the punky ska girls the Bodysnatchers from England. However … Wikipedia says that the Bodysnatchers played their first concert in London in November 1979, so after Rotterdam New Pop! Someone made a mistake somewhere.
UPDATE: Rhoda Dakar, Bodysnatchers’ singer, has replied meanwhile. Thank you so much, Rhoda! The Bodysnatchers never played outside the UK. So at Rotterdam New Pop 1979 either no Bodysnatchers, or different snatchers snatching different bodies.
You could only make 12 photos with an Instamatic film. So, I had to be careful not to waste film.
I did hear Roger Chapman and the Shortlist. Roger Chapman was a nice chap, but the music was a bit predictable. I didn’t make photos.
I did make photos of Inner Circle, as also this one shows.
Inner Circle reggae band in Rotterdam September 1979
And I saw and heard the Cure and the Specials. About that, later.
Dear Kitty. Some blog 