Kor Bosch
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Kor Bosch
@korbosch.bsky.social
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Wildlife & history
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The first time I saw an overwintering red-breasted goose (roodhalsgans), the skies suddenly opened and covered all of us, man and bird alike, in something in between hail and rain. Luckily it lasted only a moment! #BirdOfTheDay #BadWeather #Birds
A group of geese in a field with small drops raining down on them. Most of the birds are greater white-fronted geese, but in the centre stands a red-breasted goose, standing upright and flapping its wings - black with white stripes. Because the light has mostly gone the bird's dark red breast and throat no longer stand out as much, but with some effort they can be made out, as can the white lines separating the black and red parts of his neck and face.
October 5, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by Kor Bosch
korbosch.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #WingsOpenNotFlying and this guillemot (zeekoet) coming ashore is a nice example of that. With the proportion of body size to wing surface it's a bit of a miracle these birds can still fly! #birds
A guillemot coming ashore, standing upright on some rocks as it flaps its wings to dry off. The bird is black and white, and facing us its bulky white torso stands out. Half of the birds head, including the chin and the side of the head, as well as most of the downy looking under wing are also white - in other words, all the parts of the bird that would be facing the water when swimming. The back and upper parts of the bird, as well as the legs and bill, are black.
October 4, 2026 at 4:49 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #WingsOpenNotFlying and this guillemot (zeekoet) coming ashore is a nice example of that. With the proportion of body size to wing surface it's a bit of a miracle these birds can still fly! #birds
A guillemot coming ashore, standing upright on some rocks as it flaps its wings to dry off. The bird is black and white, and facing us its bulky white torso stands out. Half of the birds head, including the chin and the side of the head, as well as most of the downy looking under wing are also white - in other words, all the parts of the bird that would be facing the water when swimming. The back and upper parts of the bird, as well as the legs and bill, are black.
October 4, 2026 at 4:49 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
There's a modest population of red crossbills (kruisbek) in the woods near Nijmegen, supplemented with more birds from the north during winter. It had been a while since I saw one, so on friday I set out to find one, and after some pretty intense searching I was happy to succeed! #birds
A red crossbill in the top of a pine tree. It is sitting very upright and has a rounded head. Its bill is curved upward and downward, although the curve upwards is obscured here.
October 4, 2026 at 10:39 AM
korbosch.bsky.social
The chestnuts are gathering!
A path covered in fallen chestnuts, as far as the eye can see
October 2, 2026 at 6:07 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
I had forgotten to post this image from last month - an upside down Queen of Spain fritillary (kleine parelmoervlinder) on the heather, a stunning butterfly. It had been a few years since I last saw one so I was very happy to see it!
Purple flowering heather with a Queen of Spain fritillary butterfly on it, seen from below and upside down, with the light against it. This is a mostly orange butterfly with black and white spots, with the white spots looking like pearls, after which the butterfly is named in Dutch.
September 29, 2026 at 5:22 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
The #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BokehBirds, and this spotted flycatcher (grauwe vliegenvanger) on a branch qualifies quite well. This was a parent from a nest I discovered back in 2024, right next to a foot path, and they could usually be seen foraging right next to the path.
A spotted flycatcher sitting on a branch to a very blurry background of foliage.
September 28, 2026 at 5:59 PM
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These kestrels (torenvalk) I saw today weren't really hidden, but the patterns on their plumage made them blend in surprisingly well. I don't often see a pair together like this, resting in a tree, as they're often out hunting individually. #BirdOfTheDay #Pairs #birds
A male (left) and female kestrel in a tree. The tree still has plenty of leaves, and although only a few are in front of the birds, their spotted plumage and brown colours make them blend in surprisingly well.
September 26, 2026 at 6:25 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
One of the local beaver lodges had a visitor - a common kingfisher (ijsvogel), resting on a branch sticking out (on the left). Kingfishers can benefit from beavers, too, and I've often seen them near their lodges, dams and pathways. #birds
A huge beaver lodge on the water's edge, with foliage behind it on the landward side. A branch sticks out to the left, and a kingfisher is sitting there with they bright blue back turned towards us, looking up towards the right with its head visible in semi-profile. The bird's bill catches the light.
September 26, 2026 at 3:50 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Sometimes when you see an image you have an irrepressible immediate association.
Het spel "Wie is het" met alleen vrijwel identieke portretten van clerici, in dit geval de martelaren van Gorcum. The game "guess who" but with only near-identical portraits of clergymen, in this case the "Gorcum martyrs".
September 25, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Kor Bosch
korbosch.bsky.social
A carrion crow (zwarte kraai) parent was trying to feed the kids, but they were at serious risk of poking the parental eyes out in their enthusiasm, so they had to be kept at bay at the same time. It isn't easy being a crow parent! #BirdOfTheDay #Corvids #birds
A crow parent, on the right, holds a piece of wet bread (it had been dipping it in the lake) and is being swarmed by two juvenile crows who are snapping at the food. The parent turns their head away so as not to get their eye hurt more (both eyes were already showing damage likely caused by the kids!), and sand is kicked up by all the crows in their enthusiasm.
September 23, 2026 at 12:41 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
A carrion crow (zwarte kraai) parent was trying to feed the kids, but they were at serious risk of poking the parental eyes out in their enthusiasm, so they had to be kept at bay at the same time. It isn't easy being a crow parent! #BirdOfTheDay #Corvids #birds
A crow parent, on the right, holds a piece of wet bread (it had been dipping it in the lake) and is being swarmed by two juvenile crows who are snapping at the food. The parent turns their head away so as not to get their eye hurt more (both eyes were already showing damage likely caused by the kids!), and sand is kicked up by all the crows in their enthusiasm.
September 23, 2026 at 12:41 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Bij de Arnhemse straatnamencommissie kregen we de vraag of de naam van het Fuckspad, volgens de administratie vernoemd naar de 18e eeuwse componist Valentini Fucks, wel klopte. Over de componist kon ik niks achterhalen en ik betwijfelde daarom of hij had bestaan, zodat ik op onderzoek uitging.
September 21, 2026 at 3:49 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Caspian gull (Pontische meeuw) is now so common in the Nijmegen region that I come across them as often as I do herring gulls (zilvermeeuw). Two hours after passing by this juvenile, an adult Caspian gull was in the same spot, so it either aged two years in two hours or another bird arrived. #birds
A second calendar year Caspian gull in flight, with the light behind it shining through its wings, giving it a nice outline effect. Only in its fourth year will this gull have fully adult plumage, when it will be harder to identify from herring gulls. With more juvenile birds the main standout is often that its head is much paler than that of herring gulls of the same age, but it remains tricky. I always try to ID all similar large gulls (herring gull, Caspian gull, yellow-legged gull) I see, just to get more of a feel for it.
September 20, 2026 at 6:27 PM
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A hobby falcon (boomvalk) just casually snacking on a crane fly (I presume - a very long-legged insect at least) in mid-air, in the Millingerwaard today. #birds
A very stripey falcon has just caught an insect with very long legs with its claws in mid-air. As it flies, the hobby leans forward a little to inspect its catch - its long legs are bent forward so it claws level with its beak. Its upper legs are covered in feathers, as stripey as its chest. While still in flight, the bird is leaning down and eating straight from its claws. The hobby is still soaring and munching, with long crane fly legs seen extending from its beak.
September 19, 2026 at 6:33 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
This is one of my favourite #silhouette photographs, today's #BirdOfTheDay theme. A song thrush (zanglijster) caught mid-song hidden in the foliage.
#birds
A song thrush is singing on a branch. It is visible only in silhouette, in a singing pose, with its lower bill reverberating in song. Behind it verdant green can be seen from the leaves.
September 15, 2026 at 6:54 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
A herring gull (zilvermeeuw) attempting to swallow a crab, who objects. Seemed like an appropriate image for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme #mouthful!
#birds
A herring gull is swallowing a living crab. Obviously crabs have lots of pointy parts so, before attempting to swallow, the herring gull spent a fair amount of time positioning the crab just right, so that its legs and claws would go down with the smallest risk of wounding the bird. The claws, and some legs, protrude from either side of the gull's mouth.
September 11, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by Kor Bosch
korbosch.bsky.social
A hobby falcon (boomvalk) coming my way. Luckily, I am not a dragonfly. #birds
A falcon flying towards me and looking straight at the camera. Its wings are pointing down. This is a juvenile hobby - it lacks the red feathers on its "trousers", has an entirely pale greyish blue bill, and is a little darker in appearance.
September 6, 2026 at 11:56 AM
korbosch.bsky.social
A hobby falcon (boomvalk) coming my way. Luckily, I am not a dragonfly. #birds
A falcon flying towards me and looking straight at the camera. Its wings are pointing down. This is a juvenile hobby - it lacks the red feathers on its "trousers", has an entirely pale greyish blue bill, and is a little darker in appearance.
September 6, 2026 at 11:56 AM
korbosch.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Woodland.

March 2023. A nuthatch (boomklever) inspecting freshly felled trees in a forest that was being thinned. A melancholy image. #birds
Multiple felled tree stems lie on top of and next to each other. They are fairly freshly felled. On top of the stacks of trees sits a nuthatch, its reddish breast similar in colour to the fresh cut wood, and is looking down along the trees below for food.
August 26, 2026 at 10:25 AM
korbosch.bsky.social
Not quite perfect but all the same very happy with this shot of a hobby (boomvalk) spotting an insect mid-air and deciding it's dinner. Very lucky that the lightest part of the cloud cover happened to be right behind the hobby's silhouette, adding some dramatic flair! #birds
A dramatic sky ranging from bright white to dark grey and then white again. In front of the brightest spot the silhouette of a hobby falcon can be seen: an agile hunter who mostly eats insects, which it catches in mid-air. It is looking sideways towards a large insect which flies in front of grey cloud cover. It is angling its wings to change directions towards the insect.
August 23, 2026 at 7:00 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
A few moments later, the little owls were relaxing even more, taking turns preening each other. #birds
The two juvenile little owls sitting on a very thick coil of rope resting on a fence, which they use as a perch. One of the owls has its eyes closed in relaxation as the other is preening it.
August 22, 2026 at 5:10 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
Cycled past two little owl (steenuil) siblings yesterday, who were playing around a bit in a garden. I see these birds fairly often, but I've never seen them so relaxed. Very rewarding. #birds
Two very intent looking juvenile little owls. One is sitting on top of a fence, the other is sitting on a cabinet directly below its sibling. It is holding a stick, which rests on top of the cabinet and leans into its chest, and has a small branch that it is chewing on for some reason.
August 22, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Reposted by Kor Bosch
korbosch.bsky.social
A white wagtail (witte kwikstaart) repeatedly hovered around large leaves, as if contemplating landing, before deciding otherwise. When I saw my photographs I realised what had actually happened: it was finding and attacking groups of flies and picking them off, presumably to feed the kids. #birds
A white wagtail flies towards a leaf along a reed field. Its mouth is already filled with flies, but the leaf it is approaching is covered with dozens of flies at rest. There are more flies scattered throughout the image, including one hanging on to the bird's tail. The white wagtail is hovering over the leaf. The flies take off, appearing as a small cloud of dozens of individuals underneath the wagtail, which hangs over them with its wings spread wide. It is almost as if it is dropping the flies down to the ground. The cloud of flies disperses in different directions, and the wagtail flies upwards in chase of some of them. (This seems like a challenging endeavour as its beak is already overflowing with flies) The wagtail is satisfied with the catch at that particular leaf and flies off, either to continue the hunt or to feed the family. The plumage of this bird is very clearly worn down now, at the end of a busy breeding season, with many feathers at the end of their life, giving the bird a somewhat scruffy appearance. But this clearly does not stop it from being active!
August 19, 2026 at 5:10 PM
korbosch.bsky.social
A white wagtail (witte kwikstaart) repeatedly hovered around large leaves, as if contemplating landing, before deciding otherwise. When I saw my photographs I realised what had actually happened: it was finding and attacking groups of flies and picking them off, presumably to feed the kids. #birds
A white wagtail flies towards a leaf along a reed field. Its mouth is already filled with flies, but the leaf it is approaching is covered with dozens of flies at rest. There are more flies scattered throughout the image, including one hanging on to the bird's tail. The white wagtail is hovering over the leaf. The flies take off, appearing as a small cloud of dozens of individuals underneath the wagtail, which hangs over them with its wings spread wide. It is almost as if it is dropping the flies down to the ground. The cloud of flies disperses in different directions, and the wagtail flies upwards in chase of some of them. (This seems like a challenging endeavour as its beak is already overflowing with flies) The wagtail is satisfied with the catch at that particular leaf and flies off, either to continue the hunt or to feed the family. The plumage of this bird is very clearly worn down now, at the end of a busy breeding season, with many feathers at the end of their life, giving the bird a somewhat scruffy appearance. But this clearly does not stop it from being active!
August 19, 2026 at 5:10 PM