Birds
Category Winner
Danny Slijfer (1)
Havikerwaard (Gelderland)
98mm; 1/100s at f/5; ISO 250
In spring, the river IJssel can overflow its banks and flood this area. I am the kind of photographer who embraces chance encounters—like the one with this group of great egrets. The high water and a beautiful sunset created the perfect setting, which I made the most of. The herons appear small in the frame to emphasize their behavior and the temporary nature of their habitat.
Runner-up
Martijn Nugteren (2)
Lunteren (Gelderland)
70mm; 1/200s at f/11; ISO 3200
I live in the forest, and in my garden, I have a large shed where I also store bird food. One day, I noticed that a jar of birdseed had been knocked over and was half empty. Curious about the culprit, I set up a wildlife camera. It didn’t take long to discover that a jay was the thief, flying into the shed through a broken window. Using a tripod and remote control, I managed to perfectly capture the jay in action.
Honourable Mentions
Rinie Jochoms (3)
Berg en Dal (Gelderland)
600mm; 1/1250s at f/7.1; ISO 2000
This photo of a blue heron in a tree was taken in Beek-Berg en Dal. I pass by this place regularly and often see herons sitting in the trees. For some time, I had been thinking about capturing a heron—usually known for its still pose in a meadow or by the water—in a different way.
Jan Smit (4)
Texel (North Holland)
840mm; 1/10000s at f/9; ISO 1250
On the beach in the Slufter, little terns have established a small breeding colony. However, they face constant threats from high tides, drifting sand, walkers with dogs, and predatory gulls. As a photographer, I was there at the right moment—but for the little terns, it was a bad day. A herring gull was heading straight for the colony, ready to feast on the young chicks, while the little terns desperately tried to chase it away.
Marcel van Kammen (5)
Tjerkwerd (Friesland)
200mm; 1/320s at f/5.6; ISO 200
This black-tailed godwit was photographed at meadow bird farmer Bote de Boer during a 'meadow bird safari,' where visitors were given a tour of the area on a flat cart behind a tractor. From a more distant road, I had a great vantage point over the landscape, allowing me to capture the black-tailed godwit, its surroundings, and the interested onlookers all in one frame.
Margriet Verkuijlen (6)
Eindhoven (North Brabant)
500mm; 1/800s at f/8; ISO 1600
This photo, taken in Park Meerland, captures the reflection of a Canada goose with its young in a glass balcony. The park, where I regularly photograph waterbirds, offers plenty of water and grassland but is also home to a shopping center and high-rise apartments. Canada geese are usually found here in large groups and, despite the urban bustle, they choose to breed in this area.
Mathijs Frenken (7)
Amsterdam (North Holland)
170mm; 1/640 sec at f/11; ISO 4000
While photographing in the center of Amsterdam, I quickly realized that the coots were not afraid at all—in fact, they were quite bold. As I stood at the edge of a canal, one climbed out of the water and stood right in front of me, hoping I had something to eat. Its unusually shaped legs immediately caught my eye. By leaving its head out of the frame, I ensured all attention was drawn to its striking feet.
