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17 Oct
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Birds perched on leafless branches near a body of water with boats blurred in the background. Progress of the 200 birds challenge

Progress of the 200 birds challenge

Rense / General, Wildlife / / 0 Comments

Progress of the 200 birds challenge.

February this year I told you about a new challenge was taking to find 200 birds in The Netherlands.

Well, it sure has been a challenge!

So far, I’ve managed to spot 151 bird species across the Netherlands. That means I still have 49 to go to reach my goal of 200. Will I find them all? Probably not—but that’s perfectly fine. This journey has already taken me to places I never would have visited otherwise, and it’s been an incredible experience filled with learning, discovery, and connection with nature.

Help from a True Bird Geek

One of the biggest boosts to my progress came from my neighbor—a true bird enthusiast. His deep knowledge of bird behavior and habitats helped me identify and locate species I might have missed on my own. I also joined several excursions and guided trips in nature reserves across the Netherlands, which led to some unforgettable sightings, including the Osprey, Eagle, and the Crested Cormorant—a rare visitor just passing through.

But the most special sighting for me? The Purple Swamphen. Only three have ever been recorded in the Netherlands, and I was lucky enough to see one!

Tech Meets Nature

Besides good company and expert guidance, I’ve relied heavily on technology to support my birdwatching efforts. Several apps have helped me locate birds in specific areas and log sightings with GPS coordinates. Pretty neat, right?

Of course, birds aren’t always easy to spot—but they do make noise! Identifying them by sound was a challenge at first, especially since many birds sound quite similar. But with the help of the BirdNET app, I was able to recognize most of them and log them accurately.

Even during my holiday in France, I kept the apps running. That’s how I found a whole bunch of Bee-eaters! (Sadly, those don’t count for the challenge, since it’s focused on birds in the Netherlands only.)

Tools I Use

Here are some of the apps and platforms that have helped me along the way:

  • ???? BirdNET – Identifies birds by sound
  • ???? Picture Bird – Visual bird identification
  • ???? ObsMapp – Mobile app for logging sightings
  • ???? Waarneming.nl – Dutch nature observation platform

And because I got really excited about all this, I even started building a small computer using a Raspberry Pi to identify birds 24/7 by recording their sounds. It’s not up and running yet—it’s all Linux-based, which is still new territory for me—but I’m working on it!

More Than Just Birds

This adventure hasn’t been limited to birds. I’ve also encountered stunning butterflies and dragonflies, which you’ll see in the monthly photo galleries I post. Nature has so much to offer when you take the time to look.

Migration Season Is Here

The birding season isn’t over yet! The autumn migration is in full swing, and I’m hoping to add a few more species to my list in the coming weeks. Every outing brings new possibilities.

Follow the Journey

I’ll be posting my full list of spotted birds—both in Dutch and English—so you can see what I’ve found so far. Find them down below.

Progress of the 200 birds challenge is still in progress, and I’m excited to see where it takes me next.

???? Stay tuned and follow me on my social media channels to keep up with the latest sightings, photos, and updates. It’s been a wild ride—and it’s not over yet!

#Birdwatching #200BirdsChallenge #NaturePhotography #BirdsOfTheNetherlands #WildlifeAdventure #BirdNET #ObsMapp #WaarnemingNL #PurpleSwamphen #ButterfliesAndDragonflies #MigrationSeason #BirdNerd #RaspberryPiNature #LinuxBirding

Flying bird soaring above green leafy trees against a neutral sky, capturing nature's wildlife in a serene outdoor setting, emphasizing moments of freedom and beauty in the natural environment, perfect for outdoor photography portfolios and wildlife enthusiasts.

Crested cormorants

Progress of the 200 birds challenge. Diving birds flying over a calm blue water surface with reflections, capturing a serene moment in nature wildlife photography.
[filebird_gallery folder_id=”179″ columns=”2″ size=”full” order=”ASC”]
31 Oct
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dutch air force j 060

2023 Belgium Airforce Days

Rense / Aviation / / 1 Comment

Belgium Airforce Days

2023 Belgium Airforce Days

Finally, an event for which we have waited so long, and this year, it was the 2023 Belgium Airforce Days. Which is quite different then what I posted the last time.

Last year, we had the Sanicole Airshow, which was always a pleasure to visit. But this year, we had an Air Force base open for the public.
Thus, Airforce Base Klein Brogel was the destination to travel on the 8th, 9th and 10th of September.

I acquired a Spotters Day ticket for Friday the 8th, tailored for genuine military aviation aficionados.
These events are organized each year exclusively for a specific group.
Obviously, during these days, you’ll be able to take photos of aircraft and helicopters, which can be pretty special.

The second ticket was for the 9th of September because the Airbase was open to the extensive public.

Specials

For example, 2 Panavia Tornados from the German Air Force. The Tornado is one of my big favourites.
Of course, we could see more common fighter planes, but I had never seen one from the Portuguese Air Force. They showed up with the F-16 Falcon.
The fun factor was that one of their planes just made 100 flight hours compared to the 8000 flight hours of the Belgium Air Force F-16, FA-95.
This plane had its final hours this weekend and will retire afterwards.

100 flighthours
8000 flighthours

2023 Belgium Airforce Days and Swedish Friends

During the Sanicole events, Sweden was at the party every year.  This year, we were fortunate enough to witness two vintage fighter planes at the 2023 Belgium Airforce Days. These were the Saab 35 Draken and the Saab 37 Vigen.

Saab 35 Draken was an interceptor fighter from the Swedish aircraft factory Saab. This fighter plane was operational in Denmark, Finland, Austria and Sweden air forces. Its first flight was on 25 Oktober 1955.

As a successor of the Saab 35 Draken, the Saab 37 Viggen was showing up. This aircraft was crafted with versatility, serving various purposes such as assault, pursuit, aerial defence, intelligence gathering, and instruction. Its maiden flight took place in February 1967.

In the gallery of November, you’ll see some photos of these beasts.

The weather

During this weekend, we were fortunate to have good weather. It was excellent.
On Friday, I was on the airfield from 09.00 to 16.30 hours. The temperature was 30 degrees Celsius.

Unfortunately, not all stands and exhibitions were open this Friday, making getting drinks or food difficult.
Of course, you have water and food with you during such an event, but with these temperatures. I did not have enough.

The organization made arrangements, but it was not close to where I stood.
I was completely done.
I decided not to go the next day due to the high temperatures.

Instead, I went sightseeing in Hasselt with my girlfriend, Sylvia. Later that Saturday, we had dinner in Genk.
Of course, it was still hot that day, but at least we could sit on a terrace in the shade with a cold drink.
The cities are worth it to look around for a day.

On Sunday, when we returned home, we passed the air base very close by.
Guess what?
We arrived at 11.30 hours to view the shows from the other side of the airfield! It’s a different view this time.
Awesome!

We finally went home, late in the evening, with many more photos too.

2023 Belgium Airforce Days and What’s next

After this September adventure, I have loads of photos.
I’ll show the best of the 2023 Belgium Airforce Days in November and December. At the end of the month, you’ll be able to see the complete galleries.

Please keep an eye on my social media channels and enjoy!!

You all take care for now!

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