The nature reserves Hedelse Bovenwaard and Empelse Waard are separated by the Maas, but to birds it is one area. The landscape is pretty similar with flowery meadows and young riparian forests..
Songbird like Goldfinch, Robin, Blue
Tits, Stonechat, and Whitethroat call these reserves home.
In winter Fieldfares show up to feast on the ample supply of
hawthorn berries.
Also present are opportunistic feeders like Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Wood Pigeon.
More special are the Sand Martins that nest in the free eroding clay banks of the Oude Schans.
Birds of prey like Kestrel and the mighty Buzzard roam the sky and feed on voles in the grasslands.
Occasionally a Stork shows up to gorge on Common Vole and Earthworms.
I use a Canon SX70 HS camera to shoot the birds. This camera may not always produce super-sharp images, but its extreme focal length of 1365 mm and low weight allows you to wander around and get nice close-ups.
