waders

a young Blue Heron contemplates life

this is a Common Sandpiper

this Magpie keeps its feet dry, for the moment

Carrion Crows are opportunistic feeders and do not mind to get wet feet in the process

some White Wagtails live close to the shore

Spoonbills were almost extinct in the Netherlands but lately the numbers are increasing

a not so sharp photo of a Green Sandpiper

Birds of the uiterwaarden: Waders

The nutrient-rich muddy banks of the ponds in the Hedelse Bovenwaard and Empelse Waard on either side of the Maas, offer plenty of food for shore birds.

Typical waders like Heron, Sandpiper, Egret, Oyster Catcher and the occasional Spoonbill can be spotted here.
But more common bird species have also discovered the feeding opportunities at the waterfront.

Opportunistic types like Carrion Crow and Magpie show up, but also Wagtail, Lapwing, Doves and others frequent the waterline for a quick snack.
And Barn Swallows use the wet clay as building material for their nests.

I mainly use a Canon SX70 HS camera to shoot the birds. This device may not always produce super-sharp images, but the extreme focal length of 1365 mm allows you to get close to the animals from a proper distance.

The photos are from 2021 onwards.

an Eurasian Collared Dove checks for small critters

in dry periods the occasional Lapwing forages on worms in the muddy shores

a young Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Carrion Crow quarrel over a washed-up eel

Oyster-catchers become more and more common along the Dutch rivers

a Western Great Egret on the hunt