Lost nature Cartierheide

Last Tuesday, early in the evening, I heard and saw a lot of fire-engines so immediately I knew that it must be a bush fire. It wasn’t the first fire as a few days earlier a big area of 25 hectare near the ‘Achselse Kluis’ got lost.
From the website of the fire brigade I learned that 18 big fire-engines went to the ‘Cartierheide’, a well-known area which I visit regular. I was afraid that a lot of nature would have been gone. 

This morning, for the first time this year, my alarm clock went off early. Walking to the area and smelling the fire, two grumbling squirrels passed my path and it felt so good to be out that early and alone!

The burnt area measures 4 hectare and I was relieved seeing that the area of the Smooth Snake was not hit. Walking through the black part, I noticed that the rabbit-holes were used after the fire. 

As I was that early I was hopeful to make some sunrise pictures but again, and I think that is my destiny, the sun did rise on the ‘wrong’ side. Although I was using two filters (ND Grad) to see more colour in the air......it did not work out as I wanted.....or I’m too stupid!

When I was busy in my favourite low ‘getting dirty’ position I saw something moving in the corner of my eye. 
A rabbit was sitting in the black part and enjoying the sun; I changed my lens quickly and when I saw the rabbit in my viewer it ran away very quickly.......so I turned around and saw somebody with two big dogs......thank you Sir! In the meantime it was 8 o’clock and after the two dogs a lot of bike-riders and other people were entering the area.....time for me to go home.

4 hectares of heath have been gone but this is not the end but the beginning.......the beginning of something else!