20 Moments of Magic!

Friendly_Wombat

A friendly common wombat that came to investigate what was lying in the wet grass. A special meeting with a usually shy creature. Cradle Mountain, Tasmania. Dirt on nose of wombat digitally removed. Canon 20D, Canon 17-40 4L on 17mm ISO 800, 1/200s , f/6.3

Life_on_the_beach

Juvenile Hooker's Sea Lions preparing themselves for adulthood. Image taken on a magical evening spent with the sea lions at a beach on Otago Peninsula, South Island New Zealand

Midnight storm approaching!

Night time in the land of the midnight sun. Sranding on the shores of Torne träsk which is absolutely blank. In the distance a summer storm is approaching changing the color and mood. Took this shot just before the wind rolled in and the scene was lost forever...

Golden Eagle in snow storm!

Installed in the hide well before sunrise. In the early morning the weather shifted and snow started to roll in providing a wonderful backdrop. All of a sudden a young golden eagle arrived and landed in the top of a nearby located pine giving me this scene. A truly magical moment! Flatanger, Norway Canon 7D, EF 300 f/2.8 L IS ISO 500, 300 mm,1/200s, f/3.5

The chief!

I was standing by myself on the side of the meadow at dusk when I saw movement on the other side. Silently the Great grey owl came in for an evening hunt! A fantastic moment being alone with this majestic bird observing it for an hour successfully catching prey. Here a shot from when it was sitting close to my side of the meadow arranging it's feathers.

Little_Blue_Heron

Little blue heron fishing at dawn on Bunche Beach. Lying low on the beach positioned to get the right foreground and background and then waiting for the heron to make it's quick move after standing dead still. A fantastic moment sharing the beach at dawn being able to observe them in their natural environment! Bunche Beach, Florida, USA Canon 5D Mark III, EF 500 f/4L IS + 1.4x III ISO 800, 700 mm, 1/2000s, f / 6.3

Dance of the Reddish!

Lying on the beach at low tide at dawn watching the reddish egret hunt. It's very active hunting style with creating shade with the wings gives a sense of watching a dance. Positioned myself to get the right soft light and a background that would complement this beautiful bird. Sure enough it moved in to the perfect position after just a few minutes :)

Among the terns!

Skimmers at dawn

Skimmers gathering on the banks of Bunche Beach at dawn

Spoonbill in magical light!_digitally cleaned

Spoonbill fishing in front the hide in the late afternoon sun. During the last minutes before sunset the light got amazing and I kept tracking the spoonie with my tele lens hoping to be able to get a tight fishing portrait. Just Before the light disappeared he catched this fish just meters away from me and luck was with me to get a frame just as the fish emerges from the water. Digitally cleaned by removing disturbing element in the background

Peeking_out

Roller checking out a potential nesting hole for the season. Pusztaszer Hungary Canon 5D Mark III, EF 500 f/4L IS ISO 800, 500 mm, 1/1250s, f / 6.3

Close_encounter_with_the_White_Tailed

Sitting in a hide to photograph herons and spoonbills when all of a sudden two white tailed eagles came in. One of them struck down just left of the hide to catch a goose. They stayed for an hour eating, drinking just outside the hide and gave fantastic opportunities for close portrait shots. Amazing experience! Pusztaszer, Hungary Canon 5D Mark III, EF 135 f/2L ISO 200, 135 mm, 1/1000s, f / 2,8

Bambi_takes_a_drink.

Sitting in a forest hide to photograph birds when bambi came to visit as well. Good to be able to sit in the hide while he silently approaches, rinks and makes his exit without seeing the observer just meters away.

Dark_times_awaits

Had an amazing moment in nature when sitting in a lake hide during the biggest thunder storm I have ever experienced. The coot tried to continue it's daily search foor food in the shallow waters but was clearly disturbed by the heavy downpour. To observe the birds in this weather was for me an unique experience. Pusztaszer, Hungary

Big Catch!

Young night heron catching something that was just to much to handle.Shortly after this shot the fish got free again. Early morning giving the golden background.