Why start this blog with what seems like a rather poor photo?

Is it a rare bird? Probably not. I think it’s a bruine kiekendief (Western Marsh Harrier). It’s definitely a kiekendief, but I’m still waiting for confirmation. So why open with this image? Because despite its quality, this photo stirred up a lot of emotion.

It was taken by Margot, a dear friend of mine. We’ve been friends for several years now. A few weeks ago, I noticed that Vogelbescherming (the Dutch bird protection society) was organizing a tour in Wageningen, at the Binnenveldse Hooilanden. That place is close to where Margot lives, and I thought—what a perfect excuse to plan something with her again.

I like that phrase: an excuse to meet someone. I’m in a phase of life that I think many people can relate to. A few years ago, I moved away from my university city to live closer to work. My friends did the same, scattering across the country. It becomes harder to keep in touch—not because we don’t want to, but because life gets in the way. And sure, if you want to maintain those bonds, you can plan more things with your friends. But sometimes I forget. Or maybe I don’t want it enough. Or maybe it’s just… I don’t know. Some vague reason I can’t quite put into words.

That’s why I really appreciate it when an opportunity like this comes up—a fun activity near a friend’s home. It gives me that extra push to follow through. I encourage others to find little excuses to reconnect with their (old) friends.

So, the tour was near Margot’s house—and it was a bike tour. Luckily, Margot had the perfect bike for it: a tandem. It was my first time riding one, and it was hilarious. The tandem was old, too, which made it even better. It reminded me of the bike my grandpa used to ride. We cycled to the meeting point and met the tour guide along with the other participants.

The guide introduced herself, and the tour began. Margot didn’t have a great pair of binoculars, so I shared my camera with her. I like sharing my camera. Teaching others how to take great photos is something I enjoy, and there’s something special about sharing a hobby like this.

But I knew there would be that moment—you know, the one where a beautiful bird appears right when I’ve handed off my camera. And yes—it happened.

I think it was the second time I shared the camera. Suddenly, a few birds began swarming and circling—a typical sign of a predator—and we spotted the kiekendief. It’s not a rare sight, but I hadn’t seen one yet myself. It was still on my list. I considered asking Margot for the camera back, but I knew it would ruin the moment. And let’s be honest—I probably wouldn’t have gotten a great shot anyway. So I let her enjoy it.

In these situations, I always tell myself: If you miss something, it’s just a good reason to come back again.

Luckily, Margot got two decent photos of the kiekendief, so at least I got a good look at it when I was sorting through the pictures. And I know Margot is grateful for the experience. Still, when I was editing the photos later, I felt a bit disappointed—there was so much potential in that shot!

Aside from the kiekendief, we saw some other beautiful birds too: a tureluur (from just 3 meters away!), a visdief, a graspieper, and a grutto. The landscape at sunset was stunning as well.

So, I recommend doing tours with the Vogelbescherming and finding excuses to visit your friends.