With the arrival of what seems to be an early Spring here in The Netherlands, I have been outside with the camera trying to improve my skills. I captured some of these on my walk to the local pond. These birds are all acting like Spring is here to stay.
Grote zaagbek – Mergus merganser- female
Grote zaagbek – Mergus merganser – male
Kuifeend – Aythya fuligula – male
Mute Swan- male
Boomkruiper- Certhia brachydactyla
Vink- Fringilla coelebs-male
© The Cedar Journal, 2019, all rights reserved.
The Cedar Journal 
Oh, nicely done! These birds make me happy.
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Thanks. It was great to get out in such nice weather in February.
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Very nice, we don’t get many Goosanders in Norfolk.
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Strange, as you really aren’t that far as the bird flies.
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I keep my fingers crossed that there will be no cold surprises for these lovely birds in the Netherlands. It is still, officially at leas,t winter
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Thanks Peter, you are right, it is still officially winter.
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Excellent!!! You might have to change your blog to the Cedar and Wing Journal if you keep getting great shots like these. Looks like those Mergansers are world travelers. My favorite is your header image – not familiar with the species (need to go look that one up), but very nice picture with the ripple and the exposure on the whites of the bird. Thought at first your Mute shot was upside down – very intriguing picture, the white blew out some of the details on the real subject, but perfect on the reflection – maybe it is an anti-vampire. Thanks again for featuring your local birds – even BLH is putting up bird posts – life is good.
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The header is some sort of gull – there are so many here I couldn’t identify with my limited bird book and experience. Thus it became the header.LOL. Thanks for your comments and I am thinking I have my total bird requirement for the Cedar Journal for this year. I really need to get out in the boat and do some paddling.
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Perhaps a juvenile Black-Headed Gull? They are in Western Europe and just touch Eastern Canada over here. If so, it’s a beautiful specimen of one:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-headed_Gull/media-browser/44589121
Very nice shots of the Mergansers, the Tufted Duck and the other birds!
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Thanks Ron! I was using the hubby’s Nikon with 60mm zoom. It does a wonderful job without getting to close where I scare off the bird I am trying to capture. The Duck was not cooperating. It kept diving when I would click the shutter… I will look the gull up in my book and cross reference it with that site you listed. Thanks again!
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Beautiful photos, my favourite is the first one, the ripples are stunning
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Thanks.
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The weather has been ridiculous the past week. It was like May in February. But was very nice while it lasted. Look you had some fun too! Great pictures. I don’t know what the birds will think about the weather getting back to normal again…
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I am sure they will be shocked! I wanted to get the kayak out but with the hubby working it didn’t happen. Hiked more of the Floris V-pad instead. Hope you guys were able to enjoy.
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March 2nd and -4 degrees in northwestern Minnesota. You’re killing me with “spring” photographs. Even so, I’m glad for you in the Netherlands — and glad you have photos to share. They give me a spark of hope as I look at the calendar and see the days numbering down to the vernal equinox. How soon before the tulips begin blooming?
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Well…I am guessing I might have tulips blooming by the end of March. That would be about three weeks ahead of normal.
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I am sincerely and deeply jealous of your early spring. Please keep sharing these spring images with me here in the deep freeze of a cold and particularly snowy Minnesota winter.
Your first photo is stunning with the rippling water.
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More people have commented on that picture, funny I almost didn’t use it. I have some more flower pictures coming…
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