Some setbacks

During one walk in the Blankaart nature reserve, I was attacked by a dog. Some people stopped us to ask for directions, and their dog suddenly lashed out at me. In a split second, I pulled back my hand, and the dog caught my sweater instead. I was very lucky not to get bitten. The dog was a big one, and it could have been much worse.

Also, our beloved (and very old) 400mm F5.6 lens is nearing the end of its life. It has been a great lens for many years, but it’s starting to show its age. The image quality is still excellent, but the autofocus often doesn't work anymore. It’s a bit sad to see it go. I have many fond memories with it. I'm currently looking for a replacement, but it's all a bit expensive. I’ve been eyeing the new 100–500mm lens, but it's a bit too costly to buy on impulse.

This is just a small selection of the few photos that turned out really sharp...

Birds all over the place

Even some very shy birds, like the Savi's warbler, were quite active. The light was incredibly difficult to work with, but I still managed to get some nice shots. Most of all, I enjoyed seeing this special bird right in front of us.

It’s a fantastic time to be outside and enjoy the beauty of creation. Spring is far from over, so I hope to capture more great shots in the coming weeks. I’ll keep you updated on my blog. Thanks for reading!