Observing birds

As a child, I loved watching and identifying birds. Armed with a well-thumbed field guide, I would look up each new visitor and proudly tell my grandma what I’d found. Not in a professional ornithologist’s way, but with the curiosity only kids have.

As I grew older, my interests shifted and birdwatching faded into the background. But during the lockdown and long days of home office, I found myself drawn back in. Right outside my window stands a Norway maple, and it’s become a regular stopover for all kinds of birds. Suddenly, I was noticing them again - their calls, their colors, the way they flit from branch to branch.

Two Towers

Panorama shot from the Teufelsberg towards the city with my Vivitar 400mm on Fuji Superia X-tra 400. The Teufelsberg, an artificial hill in the Grunewald forest, was constructed from the rubble of World War II and later became the site of a Cold War listening station. Its elevation (about 120 meters above sea level) offers one of the best panoramic views of Berlin.