Welcome to my website!

My name is Mark Eising and I live both in the woods of Hilversum and at the lakes in Loosdrecht, The Netherlands. One of my passions in life is birding. I have created this website for my family, friends and anyone who is interested in my travels around the world and loves to look at the photographs I take from all kinds of wonderful animals in the wild, especially birds.

If I have any time off work, I go out birding, both in The Netherlands and abroad. In addition, as an international corporate law attorney, my job takes me to all kind of countries on a regular basis. If I can, I take every opportunity to explore the local wild life in those countries. I take a lot of pleasure in birding in The Netherlands with my twin brother Rick and internationally with my buddies Jan from Amsterdam en Erik who lives in Houston, Texas.

Species of animals
You will find many species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies and all kind of other insects and even 901 different species of birds on my website, making it one of the biggest animal photo websites in the world if you take into account that each and every animal is photographed by just one person: me. All animals are photographed in the wild, not in captivity. The animals are divided by region as indicated on the left of each page of this website. The number of photographs increases regularly. For a categorized overview of all animals, please check: index of animals. For my video's please check: my video's and for my latest photographs please check: latest photographs.

Combloux, France
In March 2012, I went with a group of friends on a 5-day skiying trip to Combloux, France. Although birding was definately not something on my friends' mind, even they could not ignore the common ravens that were everywhere on the slopes. One nice sunny afternoon gaves us two gliding golden eagles. Near our chalet,  I found some ring ouzels and mistle thrushes around the slopes that I was lucky enough to shoot with my camera. Please see their photos under Rest of Europe.

Bali, Indonesia
In October 2011, my wife and I spent 2,5 weeks on Bali. Besides enjoying the beautiful scenery, including the lovely rice fields and nice beaches, the very kind and friendly people and the delicious local food, I visited some excellent birding places. One of the main target birds in Bali is of course the Bali Myna, probably the most endangered bird in the world with only around 80 re-introduced species in the wild. I was extremely lucky to find four different Bali Myna's, including one juvenile without a ring on its feet, making it a "real wild" bird! And I even managed to get a great picture and a videoclip of the Bali Myna! You will find them and all my Bali animal photo's under Asia.

Extremadura, Spain
In August 2011, I went with my buddy Jan on a self-organized 4-day birding trip to Trujillo and Monfragüe National Park in the Extremadura, Spain. Of course, August isn't the best time of year to visit, but we managed to see quite a lot of different birds after all, including some great local rarities like great bustard, cinereous vulture, blue rock thrush and dartfort warbler. Please check my wildlife photo's under Rest of Europe.

Chiapas, Mexico
In April 2011, I went on a 10 day birding trip lead by Mark Pretti to Chiapas, Mexico, including 7 days of camping in the magical El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve. El Triunfo hosts quite a few very range restricted birds (horned guan, azure-rumped tanager, blue-throated motmot, black-capped swallow, rufous sabrewing, and blue-tailed hummingbird) and generally rare birds (resplendent quetzal and Prevost's ground sparrow). Please check my wildlife photo's under Central America.

New York, USA
In November 2010, I spent a few days birding in Central Park, New York, after completing the New York City Marathon. My first marathon ever. What a mind blowing event! Hundreds of thousands of encouraging spectators and the live musical performances along the course all warmed my heart and kept a big smile on my face during the whole course. My photo's of the birds in Central Park you will find under North America.

Ghana
In August/September 2010, I took a birding trip with Ashanti African Tours to Ghana dedicating most of the time to rainforest birding. We got an impressive quality bird tally including many sought after secretive species (including the remarkable and very rare Yellow-headed Picathartes). Some of them together with other animals I captured with my camera. Please check my photo's under Africa and my trip report.

Lesvos, Greece
In April 2010, Jan and I went to Lesvos, Greece for two weeks to watch the spring migration of birds moving back to their nesting grounds in Europe. Not only did I see almost every bird on or passing through the island, I captured quite a lot with my camera. Please check Rest of Europe.

Mali
In February 2010, I visited friends in Mali, and did some limited birding around Bamako, Mali's capital city. I managed to see some 70 different birds after all, 19 of which I took pictures. Please check my photo's under Africa.

Thailand
In December 2009, my wife and I visited friends in Bangkok, Thailand, and travelled mostly around the northern part of the country for a month. Please check my photo's under Asia.

Massachusetts/Maine, USA
In September 2009, my wife and I attended a friend's wedding in Massachusetts and spent a few days birding in Massachusetts and Maine. Please check my photo's under North America.

England
In August 2009, I visted a friend who is the warden of Dorset Wildlife Trust which manages the nature reserve in the northern part of Brownsea Island at the south coast of England. One night we set up a moth trap and the next early morning we spent hours identifying all kinds of different moths. My photo's of about 20 moths, including the first ever sighting of a Jersey Tiger on the island, and other animals you may check under Rest of Europe.

Peru
In June 2009, I spent a month in the Amazon Rainforest of Peru where I worked as a volunteer in a nature conservation project. It was an extraordinary amazing and wonderful experience! You will find my animal photo’s under South America.

Belize
In March 2009, Jan, Erik and I took a birding trip organized by Mark Pretti to Belize; please check my photo's under Central America and read my trip report.

Enjoy my website and thanks for visiting!

photo above: Madikwe, South Africa
photo left above: Mombasa, Kenya
photo left: Big Bend NP, Texas, USA