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A short walk late morning produced hundreds of White-fronted Geese over, and at least 1 Pink-footed/Bean. Smaller numbers of finches, thrushes, Lapwing and Golden Plover.
Will update when i can over the next few weeks with tours to Ghana and Gambia
Cheers
James
Well it's been a few months since Roy and I have had chance to go birding and now I have been living in Holland for a year I felt it time that I finally made my way to IJmuiden (Roys local patch - http://www.zuidpier.com/) the site of quite a few good birds over the years.
We didn't see anything particularly rare but a bit of 'vis mig' produced 5 Snow Bunting (Sneeuwgors), 10 Woodlark (Boomleuwerik), Brambling (Keep), Hen Harrier (Blauwe Kiekendief), plus lots of Fieldfare (Kramsvogel) and Skylark (Veldleeuwerik). We also had a couple of Tree Sparrow (Ringmus), Redpoll sp (Barmsijs spec) and some Siskin (Sijs).
We checked a few other areas nearby seeing a couple of Firecrest (Vuurgoudhaan), a day roosting Tawny Owl (Bosuil) and not seeing the Siberian Chiffchaff (Siberische Tjiftjaf).
At the end of the day Roy was going to drop me off at Schiphol so I could get the train home, but not before we diverted to view one of the runways where a Rough-legged Buzzard (Ruigpoot Buizerd) has returned for it's 5th winter. Reasonable views but very atmospheric with the setting sun, planes landing, a brief Merlin (Smelleken) etc. Even the security guards didn't ask us to leave!
Below is a selection of photos from the day. For some reason I can't make all the photos the same size so it looks a mess! Hen Harrier, Woodlark, Snow Bunting, Sparrowhawk, Fieldfare, sinensis Cormorant, Firecrest, Tawny Owl and Rough-legged Buzzard airline medley!
James
Since I have been living in Holland my Dutch has steadily improved, sometimes it gets much better (usually after a few beers, or like last weekend when Herman spoke 90% of the time in Dutch). One thing I was really happy with was my understanding of Dutch bird names. I felt pretty confident until I arrived home today from buying my malaria tablets to see 'Taiga Strandloper'....it took a few seconds for the penny to drop. I read the Dutch instructions, it wasn't certain but it certainly sounded interesting. A few minutes later Herman called, he and Frank were already on the way. I hesitated for a second, maybe I will go tomorrow, maybe I shouldn't twitch and then I was in the car, tom-tom navigating...
At this point im extremely grateful for news from HQ, constant updates on files (traffic jams), the birds presence, identity etc. Without this information I would have ended up in a 13km file, with an approximate delay of 65mins.
I made it to Zwolle in good time, and am hoping that the police won't tell me how long it took and one final conversation with Herman told me something about a road being closed and finding my way through an industrial estate. Oh well, i'm sure it will all be clear when i'm closer. Soon it was clear, the road was closed, tom-tom went on holiday so I opted for the bicycle path, it was just wide enough for a car (thankfully no bikes were present) and I found the road I wanted. Minutes later I was running with Andre towards the crowd of people that either lived closer, had faster cars or maybe left on first news. At this point my lack of fitness soon became apparent, Andre left me for dead, so much for losing all that weight and cycling...
Anyway a few minutes later I saw my first ever juvenile/first winter Long-toed Stint. It was quite distant, but good enough. The light was ok, but fading after half an hour. I have seen adults many times in China and Mongolia but this was something special. Thoughts of Caspian Plover erased from my memory. Plenty of gezelligheid, jokes about me not being so relaxed this time, watching Frank and Herman run up the hill and cars deciding not to park in the car park but just ditch them anywhere. The non avian highlight for me was a guy arriving by taxi, then having to pay for the taxi by card. This involved going to the pin machine in the boot, typing in his pin number etc as the crowd shouted to him to run!
A perfect twitch, adrenaline, a fantastic bird, lots of laughs and all just 'een uurtje' from home. Photos below of Herman celebrating and 2 crowd scenes (with yet another discarded bike)
James
On 19th October 1997 Ian Hunt found a Siberian Rubythroat (Roodkeelnachtegaal) in Dorset. I chose that morning to drive north, by the time I reached Nottinghamshire and the news broke I was too faw away to get back that day (which wasn't helped by my car suddenly giving up on me!) I carried on to Yorkshire, saw Stan and then met up with Garry, travelling south through the night to pick up Mark Thomas and Rich Bayldon (i think). We arrived in the dark in Dorset, and the rest is history...the bird was never seen again and has caused endless debate to this day.
Roll on 12 years to the day. Its windy this morning, good news the plover is still present. So I take the 1145 boat off Vlieland. I miss the first bus from Harlingen and have to wait 45 minutes for the next one. While I wait a couple of Buzzards fly over head and then a Red Kite (Rode wouw), I drop my rucksack, smashing my tripod against the bus shelter casuing the blind man stood next to me to gasp. I then reel of 20 photos of the kite, and explain in my best Ducth what i'm doing! I nearly miss the next bus as im busy putting my camera away!
On the bus and then a quick change to my next bus. Im now heading over the Afsluitdijk, adult Little Gull (Dwergmeeuw) alongside the bus, turning out to be a nice day, my buses are all on time. I change in Den Oever and head towards Den Helder. My target is the 1600 ferry to Texel, my bus arrives at 1546 and it is apparently a 19 minute walk to the terminal so I keep my eyes open for a taxi (catching the 1600 ferry rather than the 1630 means only 30 mins extra but in birding that can sometimes count). Im just about to start running to the ferry when I see a bus labelled 'TESO' the Texel ferry company bus, I ask someone if its going now, 'yes it should leave any minute'. Great, I wait....and wait, it's now 1651, I can't wait any longer (im later told the bus left later than the ferry!) I decide to run, looking all the time for a taxi, nothing and I miss the boat. Still not to worry, im going to catch the next boat easily. I buy my ticket €3 return, bargain and we dock at 1650. It takes me a few minutes to run to the bike hire place, and they won't hire me a bike!! Because they close at 1800, I offer to let them keep the deposit and then contemplate buying a bike off them (im desperate by now). I look around, mutter some of my best English, look around for taxis, buses, anything. Maybe some old lady will feel sorry for me...Nothing so I run back to the bike hire place, see a taxi number and 10 minutes later im on site (it would have been a 15 min walk but the light was against me and I really thought I would be there sooner).
I approach the group of 10 birders, all avidly staring in one direction...this is it...Caspian Plover about to fall...'oh we're watching the American Golden Plover (Amerikaanse goudplevier)...the Caspian flew off 30 minutes ago'...NOOOOOOO! Ok well thats ok, it may come back and no-one is looking, it's blowing a gale, the AGP comes so close I take a photo of it and then continue my looking. How hard can it be, there's only a few thousand Golden Plovers around, it gets darker, Im shown a Peregrine (which is a Merlin - Smelleken) and now im getting frustrated because no-one is looking...aarrggghhhh!
I decline a lift back to the ferry, deciding that being a martyr and refinding the bird will make it all worthwhile. The last person leaves...and then all the Golden Plovers also leave, leaving one very empty field and me the most gutted I have been in birding for 12 years left to walk back to the ferry.
I decided that at €3 return I will stay in Den Helder the night, catch the morning ferry and all will be fine. The first hotel is full, the second closed so I head home to Arnhem. If its relocated in the morning it will be a 6-7 hour round trip but it will be worth it....but it wasn't relocated...yet!
Photos below of American Golden Plover, poorly named hotel, James taking all the physios advice about not carrying too much luggage and the Red Kite.
It's just bliss today, thrushes and finches everywhere. All you can hear is Redwing, Blackbirds, Fieldfare (Kramsvogels), Brambling etc flying overhead. It's my favourite type of birding, lots to look through, constantly changing and you never know what is round the corner. I do finally see the Barred Warbler (Sperwergrasmus) and find a Yellow-browed Warbler (Bladkoning). Also take some photos of Sanderling (Drieteenstrandloper), Firecrest and a Hooded Crow hybrid (Bonte kraai hybrid).
The good news is the plover is still present so my plan is sorted for tomorrow. I will leave Vlieland on the 1145 ferry and that will give me time to get to Texel (by which time I will also know if the bird is still present or not).
Most of today birding, eating, cycling and all very nice. The photos below show Firecrest, rare habitat on Vlieland, Hoody hybrid, Sanderling and the main street (home of Hollands only Myrtle Warbler)
James
A fairly tense breakfast in the B&B, no news, not looking good....and then just as we are heading out for the days birding the news breaks. The plover is still there and the ferry leaves in 15 minutes. Well I just thought it doesn't matter to me, im not that intent on having a huge Dutch list and, well maybe we can hire the zodiac later and it will all be a good experience. Anyway at that point everyone leaves, I decide that im going to stick with 'no guts no glory' and find the Forest Wagtail, Rufous-tailed Robin etc on Vlieland. It seems that a few others (c.6 people) think the same. One of whom is Rommert Cazemier who spends the day finding a Hume's Warbler (Humes bladkoning), Olive-backed Pipit (Siberische boompieper) & Siberian Chiffchaffs (Siberisches tjiftjafs). I see the Hume's for a second (photo below), I hear a Yellow-browed (Bladkoning) at the same time in the same are but the birds are so high in the tree tops that it's impossible to tell how many birds are present. More Firecrests, thrushes etc. I hear distant flyover Lapland & Snow Buntings (IJsgors & Sneeuw gors), dip a Little Bunting (Dwerggors) and a Common Rosefinch (Roodmus).
In the afternoon I hear from Herman, plover well seen, sharing a field with an American Golden Plover. My twitchiness starts to build. Its ok, im due to leave the island on tuesday morning, if it's still there then I will go straight to Texel...
In the evening I dip a Barred Warbler (Sperwergrasmus) and see a brief Siberian Chiffchaff and another Goshawk.
Photos below of Hume's (honest), Sparrowhawk, Redwing, Brambling and a Dutch twitch (4 discarded bikes!)
James
The day started well, hundreds of Goldcrests (Goudhaantjes), Blackbirds (Merels), Redwings (Koperwieken), Brambling (Kepen) with 2 Goshawks (Haviken), Great grey Shrike (Klapekster), Lapland Bunting (IJsgors), 2 Crossbills (Kruisbeken), and smaller numbers of Redpoll (Barmsijs) including 2 definite Lessers (Kleine), Siskin (Sijs) and a Hen Harrier (Blauwe kiekendief).
In the late afternoon, after much cycling, walking, talking, eating etc we returned to town to hear the news that a Caspian Plover was on Texel...'No guts no glory'...that was it, 90% of people checked out their hotel, ran to the last ferry and left. About 20 of us remained, ate some more, drank some more and decided to wait on news. We had the number of a zodiac taxi to Texel, just €500 return, shared with 12 people that seemed quite a bargain...
James
This year I wasn't going to make it to Scilly so I decided to try one of the 'Deception Tours' weekends to Vlieland (http://www.deceptiontours.nl/). Nils van Duivendijk kindly sorted out my accommodation and I teamed up with Herman for a 'No guts no glory' weekend.
We made the first boat to Vlieland and set off into a force 8 northerly gale, just the weather for seeking out asian passerines!
Being a low-listing dude with regards my Dutch list I was 'happy' to 'tick' Red-throated Diver (Roodkeelduiker) and Little Gull (Dwergmeeuw) from the ferry. On the island (which had many more trees than I hoped!) we decided the only option was for a seawatch. Once we had sandblasted our eyeballs sufficiently we then checked the bushes. Not much on offer but plenty of thrushes, Goldcrests (Goudhaantjes) and a Firecrest (Vuurgoudhaantje).
Not only have I not really ridden a bike since I was a kid I hadn't ever appreciated how hard cycling in the wind was, with ruck sack, scopac etc. Still it was good exercise and I did manage to stay upright. We then returned to the seawatch and highlights were more Dutch ticks in the form of Kittiwake (Drieteenmeeuw) & Pomarine Skua (Middleste jager).
Photo below of Herman staying close to the life rafts!
James
Another reasonably pale Common Buzzard that drifted over home today
James
My vis mig watch was spoilt by someone using a strimmer (not sure that makes sense - that my 'vis' was spoilt by noise but it meant I couldn't hear anything calling) but it didn't matter for 2 Red Kites that just sailed over, distant but Red Kites nonetheless!!
James
