THE NETHERLANDS 16TH 20TH JANUARY Trip report

Transcription

1 THE NETHERLANDS 16TH 20TH JANUARY 2010 Trip report

2 TOUR LEADERS Neil Donaghy Ashley Saunders PARTICIPANTS Angela Jeffries John Jeffries Janet Lowndes Vaughan Ryall 16TH The group met at Harwich Quay at and following a smooth check in, we boarded the ferry and set sail for Hoek van Holland at We had a quick drink in the bar and a brief chat about the trip before heading to our cabins for the night. 17TH The crossing was very smooth and we arrived on time. Disembarkation was a little slow, but we were on the road by and heading north. It remained dark until approximately as heavy rain made for a gloomy start to the day. As we drove, we started picking up the first flocks of Mallard, Common Coot and Mute Swans, as well as a small flock of Gadwall and several Carrion Crows, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Black-billed Magpie and rather unexpectedly five White Storks that were roosting on the motorway light poles. Our first stop was at Oudorp a small suburb of the city of Alkmaar and thankfully, the remain began to ease. We had information of a wintering Baltimore Oriole, but on arrival there was no sign of the bird and perhaps worse still, no birders. However, the bird soon appeared, as did twenty or so twitchers from Belgium, Germany, Holland and of course us from the UK. We were treated to some excellent, prolonged views of the bird as it fed on seed heads on a large tree before the resident Chaffinches chased it into a nearby garden and out of sight. What a great start to the trip and hopefully it will have set the tone for the remainder of the tour. We also noted Blue Tits and Collared Dove around the gardens. Following a quick bite to eat, we continued north in what was again torrential rain. Roadside birds included Fieldfares, Wood Pigeons, a sizeable flock of Egyptian Geese, a couple of Eurasian Jay, Blackheaded and Common Gulls and a few Great Cormorant, but it was becoming obvious that the heavy snows of the past week were still lying deep on the polders and this meant we would struggle to find any numbers of geese. We crossed the Beezanddijk, all the while watching in amazement at the totally frozen Ijsselmeer before stopping at the sluice known as Kornwerderzand and here, we were able to scan the areas of open water. Visibility was very poor with such low cloud, but once again, the rain stopped as we arrived and we were soon enjoying a real winter wildfowl spectacular as large numbers of birds had relocated to the sea from the frozen lakes. It was impossible to count the ever moving flocks, but our best estimates were two thousand five hundred Tufted Duck, one thousand Greater Scaup, three hundred Common Shelduck, one hundred Northern Pintail, two hundred Northern Shoveler, fifty Goosander, thirty Red-breasted Merganser, twenty five Common Pochard, twenty Great Crested Grebe, five Little Grebe, three Common Eider, fifty Eurasian Wigeon, two Common Teal, three hundred Common Coot, two hundred Mallard, three Common Goldeneye, three Dark-bellied Brent Geese and twenty Smew including five beautiful drakes. Thirty six Grey Heron, one hundred and fifty Red Knot, one hundred Common Gull and ten Great Black-backed Gull loafed on the ice, two Eurasian Curlew flew out to sea, a Shorteared owl sat on top of a bund before drifting off over the harbour and as we returned to the bus a splendid male Hen Harrier ghosted across a dike right in front of us superb! It was time for lunch and a hot drink, so we stopped at a fast food place in the nearby town of Bolsward, though the coffee and fries, certainly weren t fast!! As we headed out on to the north east polder, we found our first mixed flock of Barnacle and Greater White-fronted Gees, numbering about one hundred birds, three hundred Eurasian Curlew, two hundred Eurasian Wigeon, fifty Greylag Geese and plenty of Rooks, Eurasian Jackdaws, while very large numbers of Mallards seemed to be congregating on every dike. We drove to several different sites that we had found on our fact finding trip, which in 2008 had been teeming with raptors, geese and shorebirds, but this time the lying snow meant a few Redwing, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Common Buzzard and a couple of Stock Dove were fairly slim pickings. A European Sparrowhawk flew overhead, a couple of Common Kestrel also passed over, two Great Tit flew in front of the bus and around Oudega, we finally found a few geese. By now, the sun was out, the light was superb and despite it being rather chilly, it was a wonderful place to be typical picture postcard Several small flocks of Pink-footed Geese were found and one included a neck collared bird and at least three Tundra Bean Goose, which gave us an opportunity to compare these two rather similar species side by side and we were able to note the bright orange legs, browner mantle, orange tipped bill and slightly stockier build before someone rather unfortunately flushed the flock. A few Greater White-fronts were also present and a flock of over five thousand Barnacle Geese were also noted. This was to be our last stop of the day and we headed to our hotel in Loppersum as it began to get dark and the rain started again.

3 18TH Following an excellent breakfast, we set off for a full day exploring various sites on the Lauwersmeer National park. Unfortunately, as we drove through the countryside, it became obvious that thick fog was blanketing the area and it proved to be relentless - lasting all day and making birding pretty difficult. However, we persevered and came away with a fairly respectable days birding. Flocks of Common Pochard, Mallard, Tufted duck and Common Coot were present on every small patch of unfrozen water, but again the large water bodies where we hoped to pick up good numbers of wildfowl were totally frozen and with the fog and snow that was still lying deep, this was pretty much a lost cause. Our first stop was at Lauwersoog Harbour, where approximately one hundred and fifty Common Gull, ten Little Grebe and a few Common Eider, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye, Common Pochard and Common Shelduck could be seen close inshore, while a flock of approximately twenty five Common Redshank were roosting on the seaweed covered rocks. There was no sign of the hoped for Glaucous Gull, Purple Sandpiper or Snow Buntings that had been seen as recently as yesterday. A few Common Coot and European Oystercatcher loafed on the ice and one or two Herring Gulls flew in. A Dunlin showed at very close range and small numbers of Ruddy Turnstone were also present. We decided to go and drive around the polders at Anjum to search for geese and this proved to be quite successful given the conditions. Several thousand Barnacle Goose were noted in four or five flocks, Greater White-fronted Geese were present only in very small numbers amazing given the thousands seen on last years fact finding tour, seven Egyptian Geese were in afield with no snow and five Dark-bellied Brent Geese were also noted. A herd of ten Whooper Swans made up of six juvenile and four adult birds gave superb close up views as they fed close to the road and what may have been several more of this species could be seen sleeping distantly through the gloom. Two Brown Hare were also in this field and another field produced a sizeable flock of Eurasian Curlew. The Bant Polder was impossible to view given the conditions, so we tried the Wadden Zee but with the tide right in, no shorebirds were present anywhere. Our next stop was to be Ezumakeeg, but the road was impassable due to snow and ice, but the birding around the village of Ezumazijt produced more Barnacle Geese, a European Sparrowhawk, a single Greylag Goose, a few more Greater White-fronts, a female Smew and a few Great Cormorant. Driving back the harbour for lunch and a huge female Peregrine perched on top of a post at the side of the road gave excellent views and a few Grey Heron were in the fields. We took lunch before heading off to Helward, where information on some Twite, Snow Bunting and Shore Lark proved fruitless, though large numbers of Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Common Shelduck and Dunlin were present and likewise Paesens produced none of the species seen recently though a flock of House Sparrow were seen briefly in a garden. Back to the harbour and another fruitless attempt at finding the hoped for species. We did find a flock of one hundred and fifty Ruddy Turnstone roosting on the rocks. By now it was mid afternoon and the light was starting to fade even more, so we headed down to the Balatsplaatbos, where a couple of Hooded Crow were in a snow covered field, Chaffinch, Blue and Great Tits were in the copse and good numbers of Fieldfare were feeding in the Sea Buckthorn. We also heard European Robin. Finally, we took a walk to the hide at Jaap Deensgat and finally some luck came our way as six Bearded Tit including four gorgeous males showed superbly in the reeds and a Water Rail ran along a frozen canal before disappearing into an icy bank. It had been a tough day indeed and undoubtedly there will b missed species as a consequence. 19TH We took breakfast before dawn in order to be on the road and at our first stop as it got light. With more fog and drizzle, it remained dark until after and we were unable to find any Long-eared Owls in the roost at the village of Zuidhorn. A Common Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Moorhen were all new for the tour and a couple of Eurasian Jay were also present. With the need to head south today, we didn t linger and drove straight to the Dwingerveld Forest, where despite the poor light, we did find some nice birds. En route a flock of over one hundred Egyptian Geese, several Common Buzzard and a Common Kestrel were noted. With snow and ice on the paths, we took our time and were rewarded with some excellent views of at least three Short-toed Treecreeper, two Crested Tit, two Marsh Tit and an amazing flock of five Willow Tit, as well as a Coal Tit, ten Long-tailed Tit and a small flock of Goldcrest. We also saw at least ten Great Spotted Woodpecker, some of which were already in courtship routine and another three Common Nuthatch. From here, we drove to the small village of Zwartsluis, where a few Greater White-fronted Geese, a Pink-footed Goose and approximately one hundred Greylag Geese were feeding in short grassy fields, alongside large numbers of Mallards on the canal, as well as Common Coot and Great Cormorants, while a drake Goosander flew overhead. Armed with information from a returning passenger, we took the chain ferry across the river to look to Gemeduien for the female Hooded Merganser that had been found yesterday, but in the short time it took for us to cross, it had disappeared only to be replaced by two female Smew. A flock of fifty Eurasian Wigeon flew overhead and eight Goosander flew down the river. A little disheartened, we pressed on towards our next destination passing through the ton of Ijsselmuiden which produced two Greater Canada Geese by the river bank and along the road from Kampen to Lelystad, we found several herds of Mute Swans, nine Stock Dove, Common Pochard, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck and more Moorhen and Common Coot on the now thawing ponds and canals and more Common Kestrel and Grey Heron in the fields. Unfortunately, we also encountered thick fog again and this made viewing very difficult. A herd of one hundred and twenty six Whooper Swans near the Knardijk was a major tonic as the birds trumpeted in chorus as we scoped room a safe distance very atmospheric in he mist and another four birds were also seen giving an excellent count for this species. Good numbers of Common Buzzards were present as we approached Lelystad, a White Stork on an artificial nesting platform was unexpected and a male Merlin gave very nice views as it perched up on a roadside bush, but was spooked by a lorry as we stopped in the hope of better views. Our final destination should have been the icing on today s cake, but the Oostvaadersplassen was totally frozen and produced no birds at all. Likewise the coast road that runs between Lelystad and Almere except at the Sluice where a few Gadwall were on the river and our first Dunnock of the trip was singing by the sluice gates. A couple of Little Grebe and more Tufted Duck and Common Coot were also present. However impressive it was to see the Markermeer resembling the frozen wastes and ice floes of the Antarctic, once again one of the highlights of the tour had been spoiled by the severity of this

4 winter. Where there are usually thousands of birds there were none. With what available light there was left, we drove back to Lelystad and checked into the hotel. 20TH We were up early and on the road before it got light, but in keeping with our fortune on this tour, every café we tried to get breakfast at was closed until mid morning! Unperturbed we pressed on, eventually getting through the rush hour traffic and road works at Hardewijk and a coffee stop near Amersfoort. Amazingly, the fog started to lift and there was a hint of blue in the sky. We were heading towards Arnhem and began to see large flocks of Mute Swans, and as ever, Common Buzzards, Common Coot and Mallard were seen as we drove. We took breakfast in the charming town of Velp before heading into the Veluwe Forest and the Posbank Restaurant. It was still rather misty as we walked into the Beeches and small numbers of Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tit were noted, but our target bird Black Woodpecker evaded us despite our best efforts. A Short-toed Treecreeper showed well and as we were about to leave, we were fortunate to find a female Lesser spotted Woodpecker which showed superbly as it fed in the trees directly above us. By now, it was late morning and we still had to get to Hoek van Holland for the ferry home, but with clear blue skies and a warm sun, for once the journey felt pleasant shame the weather changed so late in the tour!! A single flock of approximately ten thousand Greater White-fronted Goose something we were expecting to encounter throughout the trip, as well as a flock of forty Greater Canada Geese and several Egyptian Geese, and yet more Common Buzzards, Grey Heron, Mute Swan and Common Coot were seen in big numbers. Upon arrival at the port, there was no sign of the Indian House Crows, so we boarded the ferry with time to spare. Setting sail on time at least eight hundred Great Cormorant were roosting along the harbour walls, along with approximately two hundred each of Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls and a flock of one hundred Eurasian Wigeon and fifty European Oystercatcher were feeding on the shore, while ten or so Great Crested Grebes were on the sea. SYSTEMATIC LIST 1. Little Grebe 2. Great Crested Grebe 3. Great Cormorant 4. Grey Heron 5. White Stork 6. Mute Swan 7. Whooper Swan 8. Greater White-fronted Goose 9. Taiga Bean Goose 10. Pink-footed Goose 11. Greylag Goose 12. Greater Canada Goose 13. Barnacle Goose 14. Dark-bellied Brent Goose 15. Common Shelduck 16. Mallard 17. Gadwall 18. Northern Pintail 19. Northern Shoveler 20. Eurasian Wigeon 21. Common Teal 22. Common Pochard 23. Greater Scaup 24. Tufted Duck 25. Common Eider 26. Common Goldeneye 27. Smew 28. Goosander 29. Red-breasted Merganser 30. Hen Harrier 31. Common Buzzard 32. European Sparrowhawk. 33. Common Kestrel 34. Peregrine 35. Merlin 36. Water Rail 37. Moorhen 38. Common Coot 39. European Oystercatcher 40. Red Knot 41. Dunlin 42. Ruddy Turnstone 43. Common Redshank 44. Eurasian Curlew 45. Black-headed Gull 46. Common Gull

5 47. Herring Gull 48. Great Black-backed Gull 49. Feral Rock Dove 50. Stock Dove 51. Wood Pigeon 52. Collared Dove 53. Short-eared Owl 54. Great Spotted Woodpecker 55. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 56. Sky Lark [H] 57. Rock Pipit 58. Northern Wren 59. Dunnock 60. European Robin [H] 61. Redwing 62. Fieldfare 63. Blackbird 64. Goldcrest 65. Great Tit 66. Coal Tit 67. Blue Tit 68. Crested Tit 69. Willow Tit 70. Marsh Tit 71. Long-tailed Tit 72. Bearded Tit 73. Common Nuthatch 74. Short-toed Treecreeper 75. Black-billed Magpie 76. Eurasian Jay 77. Eurasian Jackdaw 78. Rook 79. Carrion Crow 80. Common Starling 81. House Sparrow 82. Chaffinch 83. Brambling [H] 84. Goldfinch 85. Egyptian Goose 86. Baltimore Oriole OTHER WILDLIFE 1. Rabbit 2. Brown Hare 3. Common Seal 4. Roe Deer