Tag Archives: nature photography

Common Starling in a Park

Common starling park scene standing on grass with iridescent feathers visible in soft light
A colorful starling spotted on the grass in a busy neighborhood park

Sometimes you don’t need to go far to find a good photo. I had spent the last two weekends grading national high school graduation exams, which left little time for longer walks or trips to my usual photography spots. Instead, I stayed close to home. During a short walk, I spotted a starling in a park, and it quickly caught my attention.

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Ducklings at sunset

Ducklings at sunset with their mother swimming across calm lake reflections in warm evening light
A mother duck leads her ducklings across the lake as the sun sets, creating soft reflections on the calm water.

It was a calm and warm evening when I returned to the lake. I was curious to see if the same family of ducks I had spotted the other day was still around. I went to the same spot among the reeds, set up my camera, and sat quietly. The gentle sounds of the lake made the wait peaceful. Soon, I realized I was about to witness something special. I saw the ducklings at sunset moving through golden reflections on the water.

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Ducklings at the Lake

Ducklings at the lake following their mother closely, moving together through calm water
Mother duck leads all her ducklings closely behind her across the lake.

Yesterday I went to my favorite lake, thinking it was too early in the season. The weather was still too cold for much wildlife. To my surprise, I spotted a mother duck with her ducklings at the lake just before sunset. They were moving among the reeds, and Mum was cautious at first. I stayed completely still, and she gradually came closer, letting me watch her little family.

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A Surprise Encounter with a Pheasant Near Home

Close encounter with a pheasant — a colorful male pheasant standing on a grassy field, looking directly at the camera, near plowed fields
A male pheasant observing from the edge of the field, showing its vibrant plumage.

A few days ago, I went for a walk not far from my house — carrying my heavy camera and lens in search of interesting subjects. For almost two hours, there wasn’t much to photograph — perhaps the strong wind kept the wildlife hidden. Then, very close to the edge of some plowed fields, I had a close encounter with a pheasant.

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Cranes Over the River

A brief moment — cranes crossing the river sky
A brief moment — cranes crossing the river sky

It started as nothing more than a short ride along the water, the kind where you don’t expect much beyond some fresh air and a little quiet. The river moved slowly, the light stayed soft, and I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. Only later did it settle into something I’d think of simply as cranes over the river.

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Signs of Beavers Along the River: An Early Spring Walk

I went for a short walk along the river the other day, just to see how the area is changing with early spring. It’s still pretty quiet out there, not much happening at first glance, but once you slow down a bit, small details start to stand out. And this time, I noticed clear signs of beavers along the river — more activity than I expected.

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A Rook in the Fields — An Early Spring Encounter

Rook walking across freshly sown field in early spring on the outskirts of a town in Poland
A rook crossing freshly sown fields on a quiet early spring day.

It was one of those early spring walks when nothing seems fully decided yet — winter still lingering in the air, but the ground already waking up. The fields on the outskirts of town had just been sown, rough and uneven, with fresh green blades pushing through the soil. I wasn’t expecting much that day, but then I noticed a rook in the fields — calm, unhurried, walking as if it had all the time in the world.

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The Jay That Paused

Eurasian jay perched on a birch branch in late autumn near the Warta River in central Poland, photographed at eye level
Eurasian jay in the quiet fields of the Warta valley — a rare moment when a cautious bird stayed close enough for a few careful frames

That morning, the Warta valley was still waking up — cold air, soft light, not a soul around. Then I saw the jay that paused on a bare branch, looking straight at me. Most days, they stay hidden — a flash of blue between the trees, gone before you can raise your camera. But this one gave me a look and a few seconds. That was enough to finish the memory so the image could tell the same story my mind kept replaying.

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A Surprising February Walk: The Sparrows of Winter

On the last day of February, the weather felt more like spring than winter. The usual chill had vanished, replaced by +16°C, clear skies, and sunshine — a perfect day for a walk.

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A Curious Yellowhammer in the Warm Winter Light

A curious yellowhammer observed me carefully during a winter walk near the Warta Valley — most birds flew away, but this one stayed

It was meant to be an ordinary walk — one of those gentle winter afternoons when the air softens and the low light warms everything it touches. I was moving slowly along the edge of the fields near the river valley, not searching for anything in particular.

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Faith in the Folds of the Tatras

A peaceful chapel nestled in the Tatras, where faith, perseverance, and community endure.

While my son was skiing in Małe Ciche, near Zakopane, I found the perfect excuse to leave behind the ski slopes and take a snowy hike with my camera. As I walked through the quiet hills, the world seemed to slow down, and then I came across something unexpected — a small chapel hidden within the folds of the Tatra Mountains.

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