Precision and speed, Red Kite, Feldberger Lake Area, GermanyIt is morning time in May on the lake "Breiter Luzin" in the northeast of Germany. We are out in a small boat hoping to see Eagles and Red Kites hunting/catching fish. While approaching their prey, these birds ensure that their own shadow is pointing sidewards or slightly backwards to avoid warning their prey, and they prefer the wind coming slightly from the front.
For us on the small boat, affected by wind, waves and shaking, it meant that we were struggling to keep the right angle to the hunting birds.
On this approach of a Red Kite, you can see the reflection of the sun between the feathers above the Red Kite's neck and the shadow casted in a pretty much 90 degrees angle.
Breakfast time, Red Kite, Feldberger Lake Area, GermanyOut on the lake "Breiter Luzin" again, a Red Kite was doing us the favor to attack its prey right towards our boat. Unfortunately, the Kite was keeping the sun to its left so that we partially had to face the sun while trying to capture the fastly aproaching bird. Red Kites as well as the White Tail Eagle are starting their attack with a very steep decent, before flattening out into the prey, so they can be easily lost during their attack.
Got-it, White-tailed Eagle, Feldberger Lake Area, GermanyA little breeze in the morning on a small boat on a lake in North-Eastern Germany. A White-tailed Eagle pair was nesting close by the lake and regularly searching for food for the little ones. This time, the male was on duty and got lucky...
Food up-for-grabs, White-tailed Eagle, Feldberger Lake Area, Germany...always a challenge to be at the right spot at the right time with the right lens, however, this hunting success took place reasonably close to the boat, so it is possible to see the prey in the claws of the eagle.
Is-it-what-I-think-it-is? Young European Brown Bear, Alutaguse, EstoniaJust about two hours ago, I had settled into my hide, when this apparently still young European Brown Bear carefully approached and inspected the area close to my hide before moving slowly ahead into the trees again. The bear was frequently looking around and seemed uncertain, whether he would be allowed in this territory.
Dinner watch, Racoon Dog, Alutaguse, EstoniaInterestingly, the bear was followed by this little fellow, a racoon dog. Whereever the bear went, this racoon dog followed approx 5-10 min behind, and took exactely the same path. It almost seemed that this has become a successful pattern for the racoon dog. Maybe by following the bear, he was able to find a promising feeding ground or could secure some sort of leftover from the young Brown Bear.
Got to check it out, European Brown Bear, Alutaguse, Estonia4 a.m. in the morning, I just spent my first night in a small hide in the middle of the Alutaguse forest, with my camper parked a 30min walk away. Light was slowly creeping through the trees, when I saw this beautiful and sizeable Brown Bear suddenly coming out between the trees and moving towards my hide. Due to I saw a younger Brown Bear sharing the same area in the evening the day before, I assumed that this one was mother Bear.
Something fishy over there? European Brown Bear, Alutaguse, EstoniaTaking her time sniffing and roaming around, she finally decided to return to her daytime resting place, not without giving me one last glance. Although my camera was on silent shooting, I apparently couldn't hide the human smell...
Preparing the ground, European Bison, Bieszczcady National Park, PolandAlthough these animals are not small at all, it is a challenge to find them in the large National Park area. Often, they are eating in the early morning close to a body of water, and then disappear for several hours into the woods to digest. This female however had decided that skin treatment and enjoyment outweigh eating...
Pure Enjoyment, European Bison Female, Bieszczcady National Park, Poland...and after she had prepared the ground, she jumped happily into the mud ... and seemed to deeply enjoy her treatment...while the rest of the group was eating.