For non-bird lovers, the Eempolder may be a windy open plain. Horizon packed with tons of windmills (these.. not these), often very windy and if it starts to rain, you better take it in because there’s no way to hide. For me though, it’s always a pleasure to be there because you never know what you’re going to see! It is always a surprise and hardly ever disappoints.
This time, the short-eared owl was my big surprise! I knew it was there because it was sighted a couple of times in the past few weeks and even managed to see it one time through someone elses bird telescope. It was far away and I didn’t bring my camera that time.
I stopped the bike to take out by binoculars to look around when the short-eared owl (Velduil – Asio flammeus) flew up about 15 meters from me and disappeared behind the embankment. Funny how life works sometimes: I didn’t notice him at all, didn’t have a reason to stop at that one point and if I would not have stopped, the owl would probably not have moved at all – and I would have missed him completely. Pure luck I guess
When I had dismounted and walked towards the dike, it flew back again and I was able to take this picture. I am hopeful that he will hang around in the Eempolder for a while and hope to be able to take a slightly better picture soon – hopefully a little closer.
On the other pictures you see a very photogenic Common Kingfisher (IJsvogel – alcedo atthis) and the other one is either a female or young Hen Harrier (Blauwe Kiekendief – Circus cyaneus) – a first time for me.
