Waders

a young Grey Wagtail explores the muddy shoreline

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

a Western Great Egret on the hunt

a Green Sandpiper is feasting on small invertebrates in the mud

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 hungry 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 other birds frequent the waterline for a quick snack.
And in spring, Barn Swallows use the wet clay as building material for their nests.

I 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, combined with its portability, allows you to get close to the animals from a proper distance.

The photos are from 2021 onwards.

a Eurasian Collared Dove checks for washed up 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 large washed-up eel

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

a young Grey Heron contemplates life

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