Bakkeveen, Oude bos

There’s an estimate of there being around 1600 couples of black woodpeckers in the Netherlands. Over the last few years, I’ve been lucky to witness a few of these large birds. The loud exotic sounds they make also helps spot them :). This time it was a very close encounter… While I was painting this scene, the woodpecker came banging on the tree right next to and above the easel, making it vibrate along with his intense hammering. One of the perks of painting outside!
This is a place in “oude bos” near Bakkeveen and Wijnjewoude.