~~~~ A photographer tells ~~~~

Quiet Morning Fishing: A Moment on Lake Malawi

Kenneth Chilongo is fishing in a local fishing boat on Lake Malawi, in the village of Chitimba, in northern Malawi. The sun has set, the air is cool and the water calm. The silence is broken only by the soft sound of the boat. His rod moves slowly to the rhythm of the lake. At first he sits upright, but soon he changes position and lies relaxed in the boat, as children and teenagers often do: mobile and free.

Cheers,

~~~~ A Photographer tells ~~~~

Eijsden Castle

Besides my passion for nature and wildlife, I also love architecture. Every time I am in the Netherlands, I can't resist exploring and taking pictures of a castle, church or other iconic building. For example, a few years ago, Eijsden Castle was on my list.

Eijsden Castle is a manor house with a castle farm and is located south of Eijsden, in the Dutch municipality of Eijsden-Margraten in Limburg. The castle is located on the river Maas, near the place where the river Voer flows into it.

Before the current castle was built in 1636, there was already a fortified house, called the de Caestertburg. On the east side of the castle is a stately driveway, with a Mary chapel with a murder cross at the other end.

The original builder was Arnold de Lamargelle. The castle remained in his family for a long time, but was later inherited by a Count of Hoensbroek and eventually came into the hands of Hubert de Geloes.

Eijsden Castle is a fine example of the Maasland Renaissance style. The surrounding park, which was laid out around 1900, is freely accessible to the public.

Cheers,

~~~~ A photographer tells ~~~~

African pygmy kingfisher

Unfortunately, I haven’t yet been able to capture the African pygmy kingfisher sharply while it’s bathing. The dive in and out of the water is so quick that I’ve yet to catch the right moment. However, as you can see, the bird has indeed touched the water – its feathers are still wet.

The African dwarf kingfisher is a small, jewel-like forest kingfisher, distinguished by its striking orange face with a purple cheek patch and the narrow, dark blue crown. This bird is found in the undergrowth of forests, shrubland, and some woodlands. It is often inconspicuous, remaining motionless for long periods before suddenly darting after its prey. Its call is a loud "tsik", usually given during flight.

Although the African dwarf kingfisher resembles the Malachite kingfisher in appearance, it is smaller, has more orange on its face, and prefers highland habitats. It also resembles the similarly small African dwarf kingfisher, but the latter has a dark crown, which is the distinguishing feature.

Cheers,