- and the mother has food too.. this is one well fed litte woody :) - DancesWithMoths^
- Sharing? - Rosie @}-'--
Parental Bliss
While in the Biesbosch, Hans wanted to make a side-tour to Zeeland, a province in the south of Holland which mainly consists of Islands. To get there we had to pass the Krammer Lock in the Philips Dam (part of the famous Deltaworks). These locks have an ingenious system which can separate fresh and salt water. In between the two sluices there's room for yet another sluice, but as long that that's not necessary, they have created a gorgeous wetland project with 6 little swamps; a true treasure trove for all kind of birds and other animals. (I do hope that 3rd sluice will never be necessary!)
We had moored the Tembo for the night just before the sluices and I took a stroll through this wetland area. Birds were everywhere. I had noticed a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying off and on and figured that it had to have a nest somewhere in the neighborhood. Sat down and followed her movements. It seemed that she constantly returned to this one small cluster of trees.
The next morning I returned and carefully made my way there. As I didn’t have the blind with me I had to find a way to approach the trees without disturbing the Woodpeckers. So I half sneaked, half crawled, moving tripod and camera for 3 feet at a time, with my green raincoat over my head towards the trees everytime the woodpeckers went off to find food. Lucky enough it was still very early so I don’t think anyone has seen this not very elegant action. But sure enough; soon I spotted where the Woodpeckers went to every time. There was a nest! Positioned the camera and formed the green raincoat as a sort of tent over my head and camera. The woodpeckers have never even noticed me!
Comments and faves
Regina/acrphoto, LieselRose, wildxplorer, B℮n, and 150 other people added this photo to their favorites.
... ? [deleted] (43 months ago | reply)
that's amazing, what a great scoop!!
Regina/acrphoto (43 months ago | reply)
Fantastic!
n2kmp (Kim) (43 months ago | reply)
Wow that's a great find, well captured :o)
Rick's Gallery (43 months ago | reply)
Great catch!
Fantastic Shot.
wildxplorer (43 months ago | reply)
beautiful!
Podnah 1 (43 months ago | reply)
Great shot Hennie...these are the kind that we DESERVE some credit for. Sounds like you were in training to be a combat sniper.
ChristinaLEvans (43 months ago | reply)
Excellent family portrait and thank you for describing your sneak technique.
dragoms (43 months ago | reply)
Beautiful shot.
B℮n (43 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called De Doka (1 Foto/1 Comment), and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Hennie zeg, de hele familie vast gelegd! Prachtig voedsel actie hier! Beetje lente kleuren hier,,,klopt eind mei genomen.
Welkom in de Doka!
Please add this great bird photo to "Birds Photos" group
GRTZ,BEN
Patrick Mayon (43 months ago | reply)
Wow : not one, not two but three ! The whole family !
Well done.
Tennessee_Gator (43 months ago | reply)
What a great photo!!!
Linda De Volder (43 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Nice Animals : CONTEST open: ANIMALS IN ACTION, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
superb!
Rivendell♥Photography (43 months ago | reply)
That is one super shot. A family of woodpeckers! Truly wonderful. I love how you can see the legs of whatever yummy snack Mom has brought!
hopendust (43 months ago | reply)
WONDERFUL CAPTURE...what an adventure
Let there be light (Andy) (43 months ago | reply)
Wonderful find and, as always, perfectly captured. You really do inspire me.
Captain Suresh Sharma (43 months ago | reply)
Wonderfully captured image, well composed ! I must say that you press the button at mili-second accuracy. You are a great photographer and you always inspire me. I always look forward to your uploads, but sometimes these get buried under the huge pile which gets bigger by the day, if I am away from my base. I sent `link' to your photo stream, to many of friends.
Peggy Collins (43 months ago | reply)
A heartwarming and impressive image. Your patience and persistence paid off big time!
popeyes pix (43 months ago | reply)
Great shot
fratch (43 months ago | reply)
WOW~!
This amazing shot is
invited to
Nature is lovely
baerchen57 (43 months ago | reply)
allererste Sahne, klasse abgelichtet, eine tolle Szene!
first ever cream, class-scanned in a great scene!
Janaka @ Wild Botswana (will be back soon ) (43 months ago | reply)
just great..!!!
Hellsgeriatric (43 months ago | reply)
A magnificent capture, Hennie!
hey.pictrues (43 months ago | reply)
superbly done
bawerner (43 months ago | reply)
You are THE best!
Thierry Dacko (43 months ago | reply)
Je reste sans voix!!!
JuttaMK (43 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called BORN TO BE WILD, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
I can just picture youc rawling under the raincoat and you always get your shot. I love how both parents are there at the same time to feed those bottomless babes...
Gypsy Flores Photography (43 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Spectacular Animals (Invite Only) Vote for October's Best Photo, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
sweet...
Ga clicker (43 months ago | reply)
Wonderful commentary and result to your stalking!
I think this bird image is really excellent. You are invited to post it to Excellence In Avian Photography. Please read the rules before posting your image.
mikel.hendriks (43 months ago | reply)
Prachtig familie-aan-tafel-portret zeg, ook de kleur is fantastisch, absoluut het sluipwerk waard !
--
Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
Catsbow (43 months ago | reply)
A photo well-worth all your effort.
Judith Nicolai (43 months ago | reply)
Wat een prachtige plaat! Timing is helemaal perfect, het kleintje met zijn bek open, de ene ouder die hem voedt en de andere ouder die al klaar zit met het volgende lekkere hapje. Geweldig!
Je vertelt het verhaal ook heel beeldend...ik zie je gewoon lopen met die groene regenjas ;-).
gerdavs (43 months ago | reply)
Your stealth and " not very elegant" behaviour paid off, and you have a beautiful and quite unique capture!
willievs (43 months ago | reply)
Always worth the trouble! A beautiful shot once again!
☆Mi☺Λmor☆ (43 months ago | reply)
u make such good spy ;) or detective :D lovely shot and i am glad they never noticed :) the last thing i need is wood pecker pecking on u :P
Marrrcelll (43 months ago | reply)
Jongens, wat een plaat heb je daar weer geschoten.
Ontzettend mooi dit, Hennie.
Anna Masiero - www.annamasiero.it (43 months ago | reply)
ohhhh fantastic capture!!! my compliments!
Jose Sousa (43 months ago | reply)
wow. wow. wooooo oooow.
Beautiful. It pays to be perseverant.
Jose Sousa (43 months ago | reply)
Furthermore, It's a Canon! :o)
makeupanid (43 months ago | reply)
How wonderful-definitely worth your sneakiness!
Herzkasper (43 months ago | reply)
The ultimate woodpecker shot!
Joe Rainbow (43 months ago | reply)
Wow, one hell of a shot, incredible exposure and sharpness. Very well done for your hiding and stalking. Excellent result.
NaPix -- (Time out) (43 months ago | reply)
superb, as all your images are...
another masterpiece
--
Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
ρrakaz (Digital Monk) (43 months ago | reply)
Brilliant!! It's on Front Page! Congrats..
clipyourphotos.com/FP/screenshot/16755
Your other FPs are here
bernat... (43 months ago | reply)
Congratulations!!! your photo reach Explore Front Page
You can download the capture in lab.bernatcasero.com/flickr/frontpagecapture? user=4683254...
Anthony Cronin (43 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called What you see is what you are..., and we'd love to have this added to the group!
superb
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Seen on the explore page. ( ?² )
zedith (43 months ago | reply)
Hey lady, you are the best...! What a description and what a great shot! Full wildlife stuff...
Cheers
Oma Emmy (43 months ago | reply)
Wonderful!!
Ian-S (43 months ago | reply)
A superb picture. Not just one woodpecker, but a family of three, captured in what amounts to a perfect composition.
....and thank you for telling us about how you were able to approach close enough to get this excellent shot.
* mateja * (43 months ago | reply)
That's great you captured three at the same time. I'd say you're very lucky or very patient.
michaelrosenbaum (43 months ago | reply)
Wonderful capture!