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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
A common sandpiper (oeverloper) about a week ago. A small, easy to miss wading bird that allowed me to come pretty close as it was foraging along the shoreline of a local lake. #birds
A long-legged bird with brown back, white belly and fairly long bill walks along a line of sand surrounded by water. It is walking away from me, but looks over its shoulder in my direction.
January 24, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Reposted by Kor Bosch
korbosch.bsky.social
On my walk yesterday a kingfisher (ijsvogel) suddenly flew past at quite close range. I was lucky to respond fast enough and got a sharp photograph when he was about to pass me, just as he blinked with his nictitating membrane (knipvlies). #birds
A kingfisher flying past me at fairly close range. Its nictitating membrane is closed - this is its "third eyelid", a very thin, translucent eyelid that can close without fully impairing the bird's vision. The colourful bird has an orange belly and its wings, back, cap and moustache are all greenish blue. The bird, with a fully black lower mandible, is a male.
January 15, 2026 at 5:23 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
On my walk yesterday a kingfisher (ijsvogel) suddenly flew past at quite close range. I was lucky to respond fast enough and got a sharp photograph when he was about to pass me, just as he blinked with his nictitating membrane (knipvlies). #birds
A kingfisher flying past me at fairly close range. Its nictitating membrane is closed - this is its "third eyelid", a very thin, translucent eyelid that can close without fully impairing the bird's vision. The colourful bird has an orange belly and its wings, back, cap and moustache are all greenish blue. The bird, with a fully black lower mandible, is a male.
January 15, 2026 at 5:23 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
A group of four twite (frater) has ventured further south than they normally would. These birds only visit the Netherlands in winter, when they tend to stay along the northern coast, so where I live these are considered a rarity. They've now made their home on an unappealing island. #birds
A sandy hill with a shrub on it and covered in a light sprinkling of snow. Four small birds sit in the shrub, three of them prominently at the top and one towards the bottom.
January 11, 2026 at 4:58 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Meadow pipits (graspieper) were foraging in a group along the snowy Beuningse plas on this very cold day, when a common kestrel (torenvalk) saw an opportunity and snatched one. Small lumps of ice were still stuck to the pipit's long claws. #birds
A kestrel sits on top of what appears to be a large plank pointing up. In one claw it holds an already dead meadow pipit, one of its legs pointing upwards, lumps of ice sticking to its long nails.
January 10, 2026 at 4:38 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
An image from an earlier winter, but appropriate considering the current weather conditions here. A woodlark I discovered not far from my then-house, foraging for food on a snowy field back in february 2021. It had puffed itself up a bit against the cold. #birds
A brownish bird on a snowy, stubble-covered field. The woodlark has a very distinctive whitish eyebrow. It has raised its crest and looks altogether more orb-like than it would in spring or summer. Its plumage consists of lighter and darker shades of brown with a lighter belly and striped chest. There are dark brown triangles on its wings.
January 10, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Reposted by Kor Bosch
korbosch.bsky.social
The local overwintering robin (roodborst), its belly wet from the snow, visiting my bird feeder.
#birds
A robin sits at one of the feeding stations of a birdfeeder. The bird is looking sideways. The background is white and grey from the snow.
January 4, 2026 at 11:38 AM
korbosch.bsky.social
The local overwintering robin (roodborst), its belly wet from the snow, visiting my bird feeder.
#birds
A robin sits at one of the feeding stations of a birdfeeder. The bird is looking sideways. The background is white and grey from the snow.
January 4, 2026 at 11:38 AM
korbosch.bsky.social
This little owl (steenuil), the bird of the year of the @vogelbeschermingnl.bsky.social, cautiously looks out into the new year.

As a kid I always wanted to see this bird (and never did). Luckily I now see them regularly, and they never disappoint. Here's to many more birds for 2026! #birds
The head of a little owl peers out of the entrance of a nest box in Extremadura, Spain, watching me intently. It has distinctive thick white eyebrows and piercing yellow eyes.
January 1, 2026 at 2:04 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Some photographs from the past year, one per month, all taken in the Netherlands. I'm not highlighting the rarest birds here, or lifers, just some observations and views that were memorable! Photos have alt text with more info. The year in #birds, part 1
Kennemerduinen, january. A pensive cormorant (aalscholver), an often underestimated bird. Heumensoord, february. I took a lot of closer shots of firecrests (vuurgoudhaan), but this one does a much more representative job of showing it in action in a bush, appearing briefly before disappearing again. Kraaijenbergse Plassen, march. This may not seem like a typical march shot: two carrion crows (zwarte kraai) caught in an extremely vicious fight. Perhaps it was territorial in nature, but it was a much fiercer fight than I'd ever seen before (and multiple other birders also commented on it). Normally one bird chases the other off. Here, after rolling down into a ditch, one ended up trying to drown the other. I'm not sure if it survived. Kraaijenbergse plassen, april. This is the typical month for the bluethroat (blauwborst). Always a joy to go out and find them!
December 31, 2025 at 4:38 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
A nuthatch (boomklever) in the local woods, earlier this year. Even when you can't make out its plumage, it's an instantly recognisable bird like this, when it's moving down a tree, its needle-like bill pointing out. #birds
The silhouette of a nuthatch as it climbs down a tree. It is photographed in profile, to a completely white background. Both the bird and the tree it is on are entirely silhouetted and black.
December 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
A long-tailed tit (staartmees) enjoying a break in the sun from its hyperactive foraging sessions. #birds
A long-tailed tit sitting on a branch and looking in my direction. Its has a white, slightly pinkish chest and a long and thin tail - longer than the rest of its body - in black and white feathers. Its head is white with two black stripes running to its dark eyes. It has yellow eyelids and a black tail.
December 26, 2025 at 11:57 AM
korbosch.bsky.social
Probably my last lifer of the year, a very much lost Hume's leaf warbler (Humes bladkoning), sidetracked from Central Asia. I love phyllos (as the family is affectionately called) so this inquisitive and not very shy bird being present very close to home was a real treat. #birds
A Hume's leaf warbler foraging in a pine tree. Its head is turned sideways, making its prominent supercilium very visible. The Hume's leaf warbler seen sideways as it sits on a tree branch. Its upper parts are greenish brown, its underside is off-white. It has a single bar on its wing (the yellow-browed leaf warbler (bladkoning) has two) The Hume's leaf warbler sitting on a tree branch, quite close by.
December 24, 2025 at 7:40 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
I see wood warblers (fluiter) every year locally, but this obliging bird in May was my first time seeing one on Texel. It never disappoints! Its song may be repetitive but it is captivating and draws you in, its colours fitting in perfectly in a forest in spring sunlight. #birds
A wood warbler sits on a forked branch. Its belly is soft light with yellow-greenish streaking and facing the camera. Its head is turned sideways, with a yellow chin and large supercilium and a brownish-green cap and eye stripe. Its bill and legs are a little dark but don't stand out. The background is almost fully green from the forest, with a few branches standing out.
December 24, 2025 at 11:07 AM
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