EARLY MORNING

Sunrise 05.31 - Sunset 21.45

When the sun appears above the horizon the world wakes up. The light is diffuse, birds sing and Wild Boars and Roe-bucks search the plane for food, their pace is easy going. The calmness becomes part of you, disturbing thoughts dissolve. Natures healing process.

Man has become distant of life. The daily struggle of work and bills and possessions overshadows the excitement of living outdoors in close contact with nature. Throw of the chains of western prosperity and go outside, swim the oceans, climb the mountains and fly the air.

LUSH GREENS

Sunrise 05.32 - Sunset 21.43

It is amazing how many colors of green in springtime emerge. A beautiful sight of life and abundance. Swallows fly low above the plain with a small stream in the centre of the valley. Tetterwort has found a place in the robust trunk of an Acacia or Thorn tree. A hike in the outdoors is always surprising.

RAIN - 23 Mai 2013

Sunrise 05.35 - Sunset 21.39

The sunny days and warm temperatures of spring seem to be far off this year. Nature seems to hesitate ass well. Flowers grow less, leaves stay longer bright green. In other words early spring is staying for a longer time this year.

And the rain keeps on falling. Think, cold and wet raindrops, turning trails in mud streams and feeding the rippling creeks with clear water. Nevertheless its amazing.

FLOWERS - 20 mai 2013

Sunrise 05.39 - Sunset 21.35

The first impression, if you think about flowers, are small, fragile plants with bright colors. But trees and bushes bloom as well with beautiful flowers. Like these Chestnut Torches and the Rhododendron Luteum Sweet.

ROE-BUCK - 16 Mai 2013

Sunrise 05.45 - Sunset 21.29

In the field a Roe-Buck lies in the field. Not a very common side to see. Mostly you see them standing, alert or grazing. But this morning this Roe-Buck and another two were lying and ruminating. Its fur rough and wet. And around them the soft green colors of spring.

TADPOLE - 15 Mai 2013

Sunrise 05.46 - Sunset 21.28

At the edge of a small forest pond. Hundreds, probably thousand of tadpoles gather. Imaging that all of them survive. A plague of frogs and toads would hit the forest. Luckily there are many animals who feast on this little creatures.

In contrasts to the dark colors of these amphibians are the colors of spring flowers like the bright white Cow Parsley, Red Campion and Chestnut Candles.

SPLENDOUR - 12 Mai 2013

Sunrise 05.51 - Sunset 21.23

Spring in all its splendour. Nature is awake and it shows. The trees and plants seem to explode. All colors of tender greens grow. The sunlight is getting filtered by a soft green blanket. Birds sing, animals graze. Its is a busy time but also a time of abundance. Everywhere you look new plants appear from a long sleep. Fresh, new and full of life. Spring at its most beautiful!

GUESTS - 4 Mai 2013

Sunrise 06.05 - Sunset 21.10

The dunes are grazed by horses and cattle set free. They are guests of these special landscapes. Welcome guests that make the landscape more diverse. More plants and insects follow. And for the human visitors it is an attractive sight to see.

The Eiders are guests as well, they come and go every year, every new breading season.

RUSHING HOME - 3 Mai 2013

Sunrise 06.06 - Sunset 21.08

At the end of a beautiful day. Birds fly to places to spent the night. Many follow the coast. It is as if every bird is rushing home after a days work. And in the meanwhile the sun sets the horizon in bright orange colors.

THE WETLANDS - 02 Mai 2013

Sunrise 06.08 - Sunset 21.07

When sea defeats land a new landscape arise. It is not completely see and it is certainly no land. It is something in between and depended on the weather. With high tide and stormy weather it is sea for certain. But now, when the sun shines and the tide is low it looks more like land. An amazing landscape full of all kind of seabirds like: “Eiders, Terns, Oystercatchers, Whimbrels, Shelducks, Sandpipers, Geese, Plovers en and many more”

SEAL AND HARBOR PORPOISE - 01 Mai 2013

Sunrise 06.10 - Sunset 21.05

The sanctuary of seals and other sea animals is doing a good job. The seals are back in the Wadden Sea mudflats. People are getting informed about the beauty of this beautiful landscapes and its wildlife and become more aware. The seals who remain in captivity wouldn’t survive in the wild because of different injuries and handicaps. They are the ambassadors of their species and environment.

BEHIND THE DUNES - 30 April 2013

Sunrise 06.12 - Sunset 21.03

Although the beach is a wonderful place to be the landscape behind the dunes is special as well. Its dry, the plants and bushes are robust and though and most of the seem to have thorns. The wind mostly blowing from the west has shaped the bushes and trees. Because of the salty wind the leaves at the west side don’t get a chance to grow the leaves and branches on the more protected site grow faster. Therefore the shapes are so special for these seacoasts.

And between it Shelducks mate, rabbits forage and Pheasants search.

SUNSET - 29 April 2013

Sunrise 06.14 - Sunset 21.02

When sunlight fades and the darkness of the night is almost there, many birds are still foraging the beach. Especially the Sandpipers, these small, funny birds move fast following the waves breaking on the sand. If you observe them it always makes you smile. They almost seem to have wheels to move instead of legs. When they walk, the fast movement of their legs become vague, just like rotating wheels.

The Oystercatcher seem to enjoy the last sunlight as well. But in a very different way. Sitting on top of a dune, silent, still like statues. Watching the sun disappearing at the horizon.

DUNES - 28 April 2013

Sunrise 06.16 - Sunset 21.00

Dunes are walking hills of sand. One day they are here and another day they are gone. It is as if they are alive and in a way that’s true. The dunes, the moist valleys behind it and the beaches in front of it  are full of life. A harsh environment, an amazing landscape.

WALK AT THE BEACH - 27 April 2013

Sunrise 06.18 - Sunset 20.58

The beach of an Isle in front of the coast is sunny but chilly. A strong wind caries the cold of the seawater. But I is an wonderful place to be with many birds enjoying the upcoming spring. A season where we all are waiting for and this year it is late. The sea is pounding its waves on the sandy shores. What adventures are waiting beyond the horizon. Thoughts drift and nature takes over.

A pair of seagulls has caught a Flounder, the male presents it to the female. But she doesn’t want it. Well no problem after some attempts of giving it to her, the male swallows it completely himself.

And as we walk on some Oystercatchers walk the beach as well. Bright orange their beaks and legs, black and white their feathers a typical bird of these regions.