Kindom of the Gulls

The spring, which we all long for so badly, has again postponed its entrance. Teasingly the winter comes and goes and -just when we think that springtime will finally arrive- it returns with frost and snow showers again.

In the meantime, everyone in the marina is busy with sanding and painting their boats to get them ready for the season. But that night it freezes hard and again the Nieuwkoop Lakes are covered with a thin layer of ice.

The -in summertime overcrowded- wooden boat jetties, are empty and abandoned. Although ....... The still prevailing peace in the harbor is highly appreciated by the seagulls. The jetties, which they fully took over, are now their Kingdom. After taking a bite out of the water, the gulls float around a while. Thereafter they occupy their spot on the jetty again, pluck their feathers and quarrel for the best spot. A landing seagull can -after everyone has moved- just land at the very tip.

Carefully I slide little by little towards the gulls. They allow me, as long as I am quiet and sit still on the ground, to come very close. While photographing and studying them time passes without  noticing. After some time I am getting cold. I see that the sun is already setting.

The next day I want to take again some photos of the gulls, but the wind has increased and the layer of ice causing the enchanting atmosphere, is gone. Again I realize that nothing lasts forever. Soon the sailing season starts and until the fall the "Kingdom of the Gulls" will be taken over by man.

The photos are enlarged even more beautiful. Click on the first picture.

Thanks to all my friends abroad for their spontaneous, nice comments and praising words on my last blog.  Because English is not my native language forgive me when my English is not correct.

I hope we keep in touch. Of course I will visit you on your own blog, although it may take sometimes a little longer.

Greetings, Joke