Swimmers 2

lately Caspian Gulls have discovered the Netherlands

a young lesser Black-backed Gull feasts on a washed-up fish

this Cormorant has swallowed a fish hook. That does not bode well

young Grebes are notorious free riders

Moorhen are shy omnivores and like to snack on insects, tadpoles and spiders

a Yellow-legged Gull hunts for insects and worms on a freshly mowed field

Birds of the uiterwaarden (2), Koot, Moorhen, Grebe, Cormorant, Gulls and Kingfisher

With their sheltered, nutrient-rich ponds on either side of the River Maas, Hedelse Bovenwaard and Empelse Waard offer an ideal biotope for waterfowl.

And these feathered swimmers are more than happy to use it..Coots, Moorhen, Cormorants, Kingfishers andGrebes live and breed here year round

Several species of seagull like Yellow-legged Gull, lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull,Common Tern and Black-headed Gull feed here in summer.
A new kid on the block is the Caspian Gull, a species that is successfully extending its range from the east.

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 allows you to get close to the animals from a proper distance.
Its relatively small size and low weight, combined with a very good image stabilization cancels the need for a tripod and allows you to wander around freely.

The photos are from 2021 onwards.

a couple of Coots perform the age-old mating rituals

Ma Coot checks out her freshly hedged chicks

another cormorant practices "spread your wings and fly away"

a wary Herring Gull is peddling away

a Common Kingfisher rests before the next plunge

Black-headed Gulls have only a black head in summer

but they are pretty spectacular hunters

Common Terns may have very short feet