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2024
Pictures
2023
Pictures
2022
Pictures
2021
Pictures
2020
The year 2021 was again a somewhat different year with many restrictions, our photo
tours were concentrated mainly on our region, we were in snow and ice on the Sommerberg, in Zavelstein to the crocus
blossom, in spring in the Wildseemoor and in the autumnal Monbachtal. But also in our own garden was again much to
discover and hold. In August we have been again on our most beloved island of Texel in the Netherlands, in November on
a marinepark tour through the Red Sea with MY Independence 2.
The picture collage shows some of the photografic motives which
are also part of our calendar Project.
We now wish all the visitors of our homepage a very happy and healthy new year 2022.
After almost two years we were once again on a liveaboard in the Red Sea, the tour took us with the MY Independence 2 from Hurghada via Safaga to the Brother Islands, then to Daedalus, further to the south, where we dived various sites of the Fury Shoals, Saint John's Reefs, Rocky Island and Zabargad. After that we went back to the north, again to Daedalus, over to Elphinstone and finally to Marsa Shouna. The strong wind caused heavy swells, underwater visibility was sometimes quite poor, but fortunately we had quite a few dolphin sightings above and below the water.
The enchanting scenery of the Monbach Valley is really worth a trip. No concrete paths, no railings, just pure nature. However, it goes over rough and smooth and sometimes even through the middle of the brook. Good shoes are a must, but you will be compensated by lots of great photo opportunities.
We have been visiting Texel, NL again. Everywhere the heather blooms. Even in the dunes. Unfortunately we have had somewhat bad luck with the weather. But Texel always is worth travelling to.
This year, due to the many rainfalls during the summer, there are finally wet meadows that deserve their name. Mostly the water comes from nearby waterways and floods the meadow or individual sections for a short time. Wet meadows are unique biotopes, which are nowadays also endangered in our country. On the photo you can see a young stonechat, this bird species loves such habitats, especially if there are singing and hunting guards in the form of higher plants.
We found the small yellow-bellied toads in the Keltern Forest for the first time this year. Originally, this species was a typical inhabitant of stream and floodplain landscapes, but today it usually prefers replacement habitats on clayey ground, such as tractor tracks, puddles and small water ditches. Usually these habitats are low in vegetation and free of competing species and predators. Rapid warming of the waters ensures rapid development of spawn and larvae.
End of May we have been at the 'Kaiserstuhl', we have experienced again a lot of new and interesting things. Special impression have made the many poppy-flowers, which seem to have enjoyed the rain during the last weeks.
For the first time this spring, starlings are breeding in one of our nest boxes. The young are already quite loud, possibly they will fly out in the next few days. The blackbirds seem to have already left their nests, the great tits and blue tits are still feeding intensively and, due to the rather low temperatures, are still hibernating a lot. You can observe the events live via our nest box cameras here on our homepage under the heading "Tit webcams".
We found pasqueflowers (Pulsatilla vulgaris) not only along the river Enz on the Kammertenberg, but also in our garden these early bloomers feel at home. They are a favorite landing place for many insects. Bees and bumblebees enjoy the beautiful flowers, as they are rich in pollen and nectar.
In February the White-throated dippers were very active at the river Alb in Bad Herrenalb, at least 3 were busy building their nests, maybe this year we will manage to find the young birds.
Corona still has us in its grip and somehow all is different this winter. Unusually much snow and ice also reached our region, in between there were some opportunities to enjoy the white splendor in January. The photo was taken on the 'Sommerberg' in Bad Wildbad.