Spoonbills in my backyard

steppeland

Spoonbills in my backyard

Diemerbos collection
Diemen, near Amsterdam South East, the Netherlands

These are my shots of the day!! YAY :dance:
I saw these Eurasian Spoonbills last Sunday early morning, 15 minutes cycling from my home… well, yes, in my backyard so to say LOL… Never saw them this close… And it was so exciting observing them…
I tell you… I’ll be back there, looking out for them! And I do hope they weren’t just occasionally passing by… :D

(PS – I did go back several times, but no luck – I never saw them again, so they may well have been occasionally passing by that very morning… wasn’t I lucky to catch them!! )

Endangered
Eurasian Spoonbill is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened species – Status: Least Concern
As Major threaths are given:
The species is threatened by habitat degradation through drainage and pollution1 (e.g. chlorinated hydrocarbons)2, and is especially affected by the disappearance of reed swamps due to agricultural and hydroelectric development2. Over-fishing and disturbance have caused population declines in Greece2, and human exploitation of eggs and nestlings for food has threatened the species in the past1, 2. The species is also susceptible to avian influenza so may be threatened by future outbreaks of the virus5.

Photograph made with Pentax K10D camera – captured with 70-300 Tamron lens, post-edited in Lightroom 2 and Adobe Photoshop 7.0 (crop, sharpening and levels only)

Features

This image was featured on the Redbubble Home Page on Oct. 31, 2009 – That really is a great honour!
Thank you so much, Redbubble!

Inside Solo, vol 17


Comments and feed-back always welcome. Thanks for looking :)


In misty morningland

—-

Spoonbills in my backyard belongs to the following groups:

! 100% !, !$ I LOVE BIRDS !, *A Beautiful Blur, All About Water, All Animals Great And Small., All Countries ~ Wetlands, Ponds, Lakes and Rivers, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, aqua, lime or indigo, Birds and Creatures of Flight, Cee's Fun Artsy Friends (no holidays cards or snapshots please), Dimensions, DSLR Users Only - 1/24 - Camera & Lens In Description Please., Dutch Touch, Endangered Species, Farms and Countryside, First Things, Freedom to Shine, ImageWriting (2/24), Landscape and Abstract Photography, Landscape Photography, Live and Let Live, Live, Love, Dream: May you have a Blessed Christmas Season , Made By Nature - {2 a day} - {challenge theme only!}, Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, Nature's Wonders, PENTAX , Rural Around The Globe, Scenery, Shots in the Fog, Solo Exhibition, The Beauty of the European Waters, The Birds, The Great Outdoors or Uninhabited lands of the World, The true beauty, Top Shelf Wildlife & Nature Art and World Wildlife Photography Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
Spoonbills in my backyard by steppeland
Spoonbills in my backyard by steppeland
  • steppeland

    steppeland

  • dinghysailor1

    dinghysailor1

    Superbly captured indeed.. a lovely dreamy quality from the mist and great colours look almost like a wonderful painting… while the focus on the spoonbills and ducks is outstanding.. marvellous work!
    :))

  • steppeland replied

    Awesome… thank you so much for such a wonderful comment and fav. I feel honoured :)

  • DanielTMiller

    DanielTMiller

    Wow, amazing shot, I love the mist and the mystery in this shot, beautiful.

  • steppeland replied

    Thank you so much, Daniel! :)

  • Roslyn Slater

    Roslyn Slater

    Wonderful capture. I love the misty greens.

  • steppeland replied

    Thank you for the kind comment, Roslyn! (and sorry for the late reply :) )

  • Colleen Milburn

    Colleen Milburn

    In your backyard? Wow. Fab work, dear steppie :))

  • steppeland replied

    well… hmmm… here we say: “the wish is the father of the thought” ;) – I am living in a huge apartmentbuilding 6th floor, in a highly populated urban area (Amsterdam Southeast) – so, that backyard is still about 15 minutes cycling from my home… Still, in my experience, that’s as good as my backyard ;) ... As urban as it is, we are just spoiled rotten with the marvellous natural areas within walking distance here!
    Thanks a lot for your visit and comment, Colleen! :)

  • Colleen Milburn

    Colleen Milburn

    Oh, I like that very much – ‘the wish is the father of the thought’ – would you mind adding it to my Got a favourite quote? thread! It sounds like you have the best of both worlds where you live! And you’re most welcome, sweetie

  • steppeland replied

    Done ;)

  • Sanne Thijs

    Sanne Thijs

    Whoohoo! a homepage for you!! Congrats and enjoy!

  • steppeland replied

    Wooohoo!! That’s so, so awesome! First one for me!
    Thanks a lot, Sanne!

  • SandraRos

    SandraRos

    BAIE BAIE GELUK met die “Home Page Feature” jy verdien hierdie een !!!

  • steppeland replied

    Aww, SandraRos, dank je wel – je gelukwensen vanuit Zuid-Afrika betekenen heel veel voor me! :)

  • Hans Bax

    Hans Bax

    Da’s heel mooi Steppe! Van harte!!! Geweldig!
    Goed weekend en groeten!
    Hans.

  • steppeland replied

    Dank je wel, Hans… dit is echt een topper – fantastich! ben er heel blij mee!
    Fijn weekend voor jou ook! :)

  • aglaia b

    aglaia b

    ♥

  • steppeland replied

    :D – thanks!

  • nishagandhi

    nishagandhi

    congrats on home page!!

  • steppeland replied

    Thank you so much, nishagandhi !

  • F.A. Moore

    F.A. Moore

    Beautiful scene, wow, you must have loved seeing these incredible birds there!
    Congrats on your home page! Whohooo!!! :D

  • steppeland replied

    Thank you so much, Frannie! I am truly honoured by your visit and comment. Yes, I really had a thrill out of that beautiful summer morning!

  • RollZLX

    RollZLX

    Very awesome. This picture really sets a great mood.

  • steppeland replied

    Thank you so much! And thanks for the fav, much appreciated!

  • LouJay

    LouJay

    What a beautiful shot – very impressionist painting -ish. Lovely for you to see these beautiful birds!

  • steppeland replied

    Thank you! Yes, both of the images in this series have a painting-like feel, isn’t it! Thank you so much for your kind comment!

  • Colleen Milburn

    Colleen Milburn

    Big congrats on your HP, sweetheart! :))

  • steppeland replied

    Thank you so much, Colleen! This really made my day! (although… those games were a good second LOL )

  • PPPhotoArt

    PPPhotoArt

    what a beautiful view to wake up too, congrats on homepage!!!!

  • steppeland replied

    Indeed, even when it did take stil a 15 minutes ride with the bicycle… it definitely was worth getting out of bed for! – Thank you so much for the kind comment, PPPhotoArt

  • Steve Buffington

    Steve Buffington

    Wonderful shot. Lots of mood. I can feel the mist. Congrats on the home page feature.—Steve

  • steppeland replied

    Thank you so much, Steve, for the kind words! really appreciate it!

  • phil decocco

    phil decocco

    what a terrific setting and you’ve captured masterfully.
    phil

  • steppeland replied

    Yes, it was an awesome morning! Thank you so much!

  • Tenee Attoh

    Tenee Attoh

    I will look out for them next time I go to Holland :-) well done, it seems sometimes we only get one chance to capture something so calm and beautiful.

  • steppeland replied

    Yes, indeed! I hope you will be lucky on your next occasion too! :)
    Thanks so much for the compliment and the fav’s!

  • Carla Jandelle Petters

    Carla Jandelle...

    How amazing! What wonderful birds…and congrats on the HOMEPAGE!

  • steppeland replied

    Thank you so much, Carla! Yes, they are special – I’ve always felt they have some fairytale status… [giggle] – thank you for the fav too! :)

  • steppeland

    steppeland

  • Elizabeth Bravo

    Elizabeth Bravo

    What a beautiful image…....I love all the wonderful mist. Congrats on the home page feature!!

  • steppeland replied

    Thank you so much for the kind words, Elizabeth, it means a lot!

  • DoreenPhillips

    DoreenPhillips

    Fabulous Image Steppe….......HAPPY HP DAY TO YOU….......XXX

  • steppeland replied

    Thank you so much, Doreen! That was a real thrill indeed!

  • Aimelle

    Aimelle

    wooohooo ! congrats dear! I’m so happy for you…
    this is a wonderful atmospheric picture
    and a very well deserved feature ^^

  • steppeland replied

    thank you, thank you! Yes, I did do the happy dance for this first HP-feature. It definitely is one of my own favourite images, although not among the most faved or commented, till before the feature :D – really happy with it being ‘discovered’ LOL

  • F.A. Moore

    F.A. Moore

    Inside Solo, vol 17! <<Click to go!
    Congratulations on being News in the magazine


    Inside Solo is the Art News and Resource magazine from Solo Exhibition.

    Click the link, above, to go see your work highlighted in the Art News section for members. The magazine is now a formal publication, in PDF format, downloadable from its RB page. There’s a link back to comment on the magazine, at the base of the inside back cover.

  • steppeland replied

    omg, that’s super fabulous, Frannie! The magazine looks awesome a gain on first glance, and it’s such an unbelievable honour to have made it into the art-news section. I’m more than honoured… I’m thrilled! Thank you for the marvellous work you do with Inside Solo, and with the group. I’ts a tremendous gift you give to this Redbubble community, and to the art-world as a whole! Thank you!

  • Cee Neuner

    Cee Neuner

    Beautiful landscape!!! Just awesome!! :D

  • steppeland replied

    Thank you so much for the kind comment, Cee, I so much appreciate you taking the time to look and comment on my work!

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