Wings Over Water — Zoutelande’s Coastal Birdlife

What do you see when you’re at the sea? Some see waves and endless sky. I see movement, feathers, and stories. At Zoutelande, seabirds are more than background scenery — they are coastal sentinels, perfectly adapted to a life between land and sea.

I photographed a mix of species: adult gulls perched on wave breakers, keeping a watchful eye on the tide, and a juvenile Larus cachinnans (Pontische Meeuw or Caspian Gull) resting quietly on a boardwalk, still growing into its adult plumage. These gulls are skilled opportunists — coastal recyclers playing a vital role in the ecosystem.

Among them, a special guest: Haematopus longirostris, the Australian Pied Oystercatcher. A striking species with a powerful bill and strong personality, often mistaken for a local — but likely a rare visitor or misidentification (since they don't normally appear in Europe). Either way, a reminder of the magic of migration and the surprises nature offers.

Shot with my Canon 5D Mark III and the Sigma 100–400mm lens, these images capture the texture of the coast: salt on the wind, waves on the shore, and wings in the sky.

Where there are birds, there is life — and always something worth protecting.

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Ein prachtvoller Brautente-Erpel auf spiegelglattem Wasser – farbenprächtig, stolz und voller Eleganz. Die Natur in Perfektion!

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A magnificent wood duck drake gliding on calm waters — vibrant, graceful, and truly striking. Nature at its finest!

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