The best of 2023

A look back at the best of 2023. The year has mostly been about our renovation, but my wife and I also had some time to go out and enjoy nature. The best pictures however are mostly of friends and family. I will not share them here on the internet, but I will share some of the best nature pictures.

Hero image of The best of 2023

A holiday in Germany

I never got around to adding the pictures from this holiday to my blog. When went to the south of Germany and stayed with a friend. After a couple of days, we drove all the way from the Alps to my brother who lives in Berlin in the north. It was a wonderful trip and we saw a lot of beautiful places.

A small Alp-town by night.

A small Alp-town by night.

Sun setting over a sunny plateau in the Alps.

Sun setting over a sunny plateau in the Alps.

24mmf/2.81/160s
A small Alp-town by night.

A small Alp-town by night.

70mmf/2.81/80s
A part in the forest with lots of woodpeckers.

A part in the forest with lots of woodpeckers.

The beginning of the Alps from the German side.

The beginning of the Alps from the German side.

24mmf/2.81/250s
Lots of kites (at home we see them rarely).

Lots of kites (at home we see them rarely).

400mmf/5.61/2000s
Beautiful Alpine lake in the last hours of the day.

Beautiful Alpine lake in the last hours of the day.

70mmf/2.81/640s
A Belgian dude, living the life

A Belgian dude, living the life

24mmf/2.81/4s
The beautiful town of Friedberg!

The beautiful town of Friedberg!

70mmf/2.81/80s
A gorgeous bullfinch.

A gorgeous bullfinch.

The day-to-day life

During the normal working days, we also had some nice visitors in our garden and some nice trips around the country. Of course, we saw a lot of birds!

A rare Cattle egret

A rare Cattle egret

400mmf/6.31/2500s
A wish granted.

A wish granted.

A hot summer day.

A hot summer day.

400mmf/5.61/800s
Gardenlife (the view from my office)

Gardenlife (the view from my office)

My luckiest shot

My luckiest shot

400mmf/5.61/6400s
A spoonbill is always a great sight

A spoonbill is always a great sight

400mmf/6.31/8000s
White-tailed eagles

White-tailed eagles

400mmf/5.61/8000s
A buzzard

A buzzard

400mmf/6.31/6400s
Spring time, taking care of the little ones

Spring time, taking care of the little ones

Mid-flight

Mid-flight

400mmf/6.31/2000s
The difference between a heron and an eagle

The difference between a heron and an eagle

400mmf/5.61/4000s
White-tailed eagles

White-tailed eagles

400mmf/5.61/4000s
Time for a snack

Time for a snack

400mmf/5.61/400s
Meadow pipit

Meadow pipit

400mmf/5.61/400s
Our most spotted bird of prey

Our most spotted bird of prey

400mmf/5.61/1000s
We were still lucky...

We were still lucky...

400mmf/5.61/1600s
...and a short eared owl stayed the year.

...and a short eared owl stayed the year.

400mmf/5.61/500s
So many...

So many...

400mmf/5.61/800s
beautiful birds.

beautiful birds.

400mmf/5.61/400s
Let me sleep

Let me sleep

400mmf/5.61/500s
A roedeer with its winter fur

A roedeer with its winter fur

Uitkerkse polders never ceased to deliver

Uitkerkse polders never ceased to deliver

400mmf/5.61/1250s
Little squirrel

Little squirrel

400mmf/5.61/400s
Running on the trees

Running on the trees

The black woodpecker

The black woodpecker

400mmf/5.61/400s
Buzzard hunting

Buzzard hunting

400mmf/5.61/8000s
Little wren

Little wren

400mmf/5.61/400s

The Ardennes

Whenever we have some time, we love to go for a little trip somewhere in the Ardennes. We love the nature and the quietness. We also love to go backpacking and camping.

Backpacking in the Ardennes. Very, very wet...

Backpacking in the Ardennes. Very, very wet...

24mmf/2.81/500s
A little rest during our backpacking hike.

A little rest during our backpacking hike.

Deer in the distance.

Deer in the distance.

A mother and her young.

A mother and her young.

400mmf/5.61/640s
After the shortest night of 2023 #wildspotting

After the shortest night of 2023 #wildspotting

24mmf/2.81/80s
On the lookout

On the lookout

24mmf/2.81/80s

Youth group

I am a youth leader in our church. It is always a joy to photograph during the activities. Most of the pictures are not for the internet, but I can share some of them.

A campfire with our youth group from church.

A campfire with our youth group from church.

2mmf/2.41/8s
A stormy day at the beach

A stormy day at the beach

The dunes

The dunes

70mmf/2.81/500s

See you next year!

Last year might have been the worst year for photography. I did not have a lot of time to go out and take pictures. I hope that next year will be better. I hope to go out more and take more pictures.

The most walked path (this is behind our garden).

The most walked path (this is behind our garden).

70mmf/41/500s