30-07-2011

My Highlights in Gelderland 2010

There were two highlights to me in the region (province Gelderland) where I live:
1. Long-billed Dowitcher on 26 April at Lingewal, south of Arnhem and
2. A beautiful singing Wryneck at the Veluwe on 8 and 9 May

The Long-billed Dowitcher was switching to  summer plumage and was fouraging along a broad ditch with silky beds. The bird was discoverd by Tim de Boer at the end of the afternoon. After a quick dinner we drove not  keeping within the speed limit of 120 to Arnhem  The weather was good with a strong wind, so digiscoping was quite difficult. I managed to take some reasonable pictures.





 The bird flew up sometimes and disappeared in the surrounding meadows, but returned to the broad ditch. It is a unusual bird: as far as colour and shape is concerned it reminds me to a Bar-tailed Godwit, who is yet bigger. The long straight bill and the typical way of feeding reminds to a snipe. Both birds have the same size. The dutch name "Great Grey Snipe" applies anly to the winter plumage. In breeding plumage the bird has an entirely rufous belly, breast and neck wih some small dark bars.
A month later, on 24 May I saw a Long-billed Dowitcher in full summer plumage at a small reserve near Twisk


Long-billed Dowitcher in flight

The behaviour of the Wryneck was very special since the bird was singing the whole month of May. In the early morning you could hear the bird singing from a great distance. He was often singing in a dead birch, sometimes he flew away and was singing at the other end of the field in the top of a pine.
I knew that there was seen a Wryneck, but didn't know the precise spot. Just returned from my trip to Eastern Germany (Feldberg and surroundings) I tried to find the Wryneck on 8 May. It was a gloomy morning with litlle rain, but no wind. Entering the "Kootwijkse Veld"I heard already the wellknown sound of a Wryneck "kie kie kie kie kie". So I followed the call. The bird was singing in the top of an oak tree. Then moved to a birch with a hole in its trunk.




After a long time of singing the bird flew away. I found the bird again at the other end of the field. The bird hopped from tree to tree. Finally it flew to the top of a pine a started singing again (see second picture). For me it was the first time to see a singing Wryneck at the Veluwe at such a close distance.



The next morning I went back with Fabian. The bird was singing in the same birch for a long time. At 24 May we visit the "heide" at 9.30 pm, waiting for the right time to hear the Scops Owl some kilometres away. The bird was still trying to atract a female by intensive singing.

25-06-2011

Summary of the trackings in autumn and winter 2010

I decribe below the highlights of the autumn season from August till December. You will see that some ordinary birds like the starling and first year male blackbirds are really beautiful. In the field you don't realize that, till you held them in your hand. Let's have a look. . .

Ooijse Graaf:

5 September:

First a photo of the ringing site, Fabian and Bram ringing:






Common Whitethroat, adut male




Sedge Warbler


Grasshopper Warbler,  the beautiful striped undertail coverts:




17 October
male Blackbird first year: beauty in black!



Dunnock, we catched two of them:




Starling


De Meintjes

18 August

Our first Tree Pipit in the Meintjes; we  trapped two of them in the clapnet

Fabian with the two tree Pipits




Kingfisher,  1 year female: red underbill, greenish plumage

11 September

Pied Flycatcher, 1 year


19 September  

We had some problems with  the drainage of water. After some digging it turned out that a huge eel was blocking the small water pipe.
On his way to open water he was getting stuck in the small drainage. 


25 September

Jay: we catched two of them and that is a quite good result as we don't trap them very year.



Have a look at the coverts at the wings. You see the difference between the young bird and the adult one.

first year bird


adult bird

Bird ringing can also be a rather painful hobby: Fabian's thumb is strongly grasped by the Jay. Only after some time the Jay let off.
Gerrit and Fabian with the attacking Jay


3 October

We trapped our first and only Grey Wagtail of this year.A first year bird has buffy breast and a white throat. Adult plumage is worn. This bird has a fresh plumage.

Grey Wagtail, first year


10 Ocober

After the severe winter we were glad to trap a second Kingfisher. They are back in the Meintjes. The black bill indicates that this bird is a male.

Kingfisher, male

19 December

This year we trapped for the first time in winter. There were not many birds around. We trapped only 3, but 2 of them  were trapped for fist time in the Meintjes: Skylarks.



Hans and Fabian with the 2 Skylarks























08-06-2011

Autumn at Schiermonnikoog (25-29 October 2010)

Arrival on Monday morning at 10.15. A little bit cloudy with a strong wind (force 5). From a distance I see some people at the Waddendijk. They are probably watching the Desert Wheatear, which was discovered yesterday. Just arrived at the spot it turns out that the bird has flown into the Banckspolder. Fortunately we discover the bird sitting on a blue fence wire at a distance of 150 metres. Through the scope I see a little light brown bird balancing in the wind. We are just arrived und have already seen a rare bird.

We move on to our appartment in the centre of the village. In front of our appartment there are bushes with berries where  Waxwings had their breakfast this morning. At the moment Redwings and young male black birds are eating from the berries. These 1st year  birds are very beauriful with their dull black plumage being in contrast with the red berries. Even the bill is black.
We cycle along the yacht-harbour and the Waddendijk. In the harbour we hear and see 3 Horned larks flying over. Meanwhile it is high tide. At the "hoogwaterplaats" (small area of mud left uncovered by the sea where birds roost during high tide) beside the harbour are roosting  especially Oystercatchers, Red knots and Bar-tailed Godwits.
Some hunderd metres further along the dike I discover a red-throated diver in partial summer plumage. The grey head and the red throat are very clear to see.
The weather has become better: no clouds and the sun is shining.

Then in front of me I see a dark gull approaching me along the dike. The gull has white spots on the upper- and underwings : a Great Skua!


What a great start of our first day at Schier: a Desert Wheatear, Red-throated diver  and a Great Skua.
We cycle on. After the ferry harbour we see a Whimbrel fouraging in one of the pools beside  the cycle track. Via the "kwelderpad" and the "Johan de Jongpad" we cycle through the dunes to the Wasserman, a  German Bunker from World War 2. The dunes are full of Trushes like Blackbirds, Redwings, Song Trushes and Fieldfares. In the innerdunes Robins are producing their typical ticking call.
In the holy park "Klein Zwitserland" we are looking for the Waxwings. At the small postoffice I hear their typical call. A flock of 10 Waxwings are eating berries from a hawthorn very close to the road.. The are not shy and we can watch them in a close distance. But they don't like cars , so the birds fly away when a car is passing the bushes. The birds stay away for a couple of minutes and then return to their meal.



At the end of the afternoon I return to the "Waddendijk" hoping to see  the Desert Wheatear in a closer distance than this morning.I'm lucky: she (it is a 1st year female) is sitting on the wire alaong the ditch that runs  parallel to the cycle track. She dives to the ground frequently to look for food between the old crop.  Some metres further she lands again on the wire.
We can see the details of the bird very well: the almost black tail , fully pale beige colour of the breast, mantle and head. When the sun disappears behind some clouds I see a more greyish plumage, black greater coverts (grote dekveren), dark primaries and seconadries (hand-en armpennen) with pale shaps. No supercilium. This young female is off course. Could it be a Eastern bird? Probably yes. Desert Wheatears are mostly seen in autumn. I saw my first Desert Wheatear 10 April 2005 in the Fochtelooƫr Veen, my second bird on 16th November 2008 on the beach of Nordsee coast.



Before sunset a quick look at the "wad", where it is low tide. Some curlews, Bar-tailed Godwits, Shelducks and Grey Plovers are fouraging. Sometimes I hear their melancholic call. At the "jachthaven" a flock of Bramblings is fouraging in a hidden way between the seaweed. First I don't recognize the call, it isn't the typical Brambling call, but a short finchlike call. At the end of the harbour I see one spotted redshank on the wad.


It is round 6 pm and I'm getting cold and hungry. I turn back to our appartment  to cook a substantial meal. At 18.15 I get a phonecall: a bluetail has just been seen at the Monnik, a holyday park. It's already getting dark, so I decide to check the place tomorrow

Tuesday:
the day starts with sunshine. I cycle to the Monnik. The guys of the JNM have already checked the bushes and trees. No Bluetail is found..
The wind is blowing from NW, there is a no migration. I take some pictures of  Sanderlings in beautiful light on the beach of the Marlijn.



A Horned Lark is flying over the beach and lands in front of me. The bird is calling till his mate passes by. Both birds continue their flight. The clouds are coming and the the rest of the day is gloomy. On my way back to the voillage I see a hunting Merlin. Barnacle Geese are feeding on the meadows south of the village. In the afternoon it is raining.



Wednesday:
heavy clouds, no sun. We walk across the Westerstrand. Some Common Snipes and only 1 Jack Snipe are flying up.. Barnacle geese are feeding along the wet and mud places.


On our way back to the village we pass the site of the Waxwings, which are still there. Together with blackbirds they are are eating the berries .



Nearby I hear a treecreeper. Unfortunayely it is'n t the Scandinavian Treecreeper. The bird has a smaller step between the 6th and 7 primary. The certhia familiaris (the Scandinavian subspecies) has a longer step, lower flanks greyish-white to white, a prominent white supercilia, that is wide behind the eye. This bird has a clear one, but no longer step, which is distinctive.




In my opinion there are less Dark-bellied Brent Geese than in other years. I see mainly large flocks of Barnacle Geese

Thursday: After breakfast I'm sitting an hour or so in the hide at the Westerplas. It is a good site to watch the ducks.: Shovelers, Gadwalls, Common Teals and Pintails. Especially the Shovelers are coming close to the hide:




Then raptor time is starting at the Westerplan. A hunting Goshawk causes a lot of panic under the waterfowl : all the ducks are flying up. After some time a Sparrowhawk is skimming over the stretch of water , which makes less impression on the waterfowl then the Goshawk. There is no sign of panic or alarm. Around 10.00 I start to pack up my things and meanwhile I'm scanning the surroundings with result. At the left side I see a raptor approaching at full speed the hide. The bird is brown with a clear  mustache.  The immature Peregrine Falcon turns to the right and is crossing the water. Strange enough the waterfowl doesn't react to the hunting Falcon.


It is a beautifull start of the day, but rain is in the air. At 10.30 it starts raining.
In the afternoon the weather is becoming  better. I go to the jachthaven again, hoping to see Twites. I haven't seen or heard them this week yet. However, today I'm overlooking these birds again. The Red-throated Diver is still there an swimming not that far. I have my boots so I can approach the bird over the dry wad to make some photos.


Along the Waddendijk 3 Snow Buntings, in the Middle Dunes a lot of flying Siskins and Bramblings; besides the cyle track through the salt marsh 3 little egrets, Reed Buntings, Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits. At the Marlijn (Restaurant) we walk some kilometres along the dunes. In the wet parts of the beach a lot of Common Snipes, no Jack Snipes. Along the track besides the dunes a lot of Goldfinches.
At least we cycle to the Strandhotel at the end of the "Badweg". Here we see a lot of Goldfinches too. We are suprised to see a lot of Seals resting on the sandbars. The group consits of 22 animals.


We can approach them easily , as there is a stretch of water between  them and the tourists. They stay relaxed till a wife is coming closer and stepping resolutely into the water. For some seals this is the sign to leave. Fortunately the wife is recognizing the results of her behaviour and walks back. The rest of the seals stays at the sandbar.


  One white seal is resting apart from the group.


To end the day we visit, of course, the Jachthaven, to check for some unexpected stuff. There is only a first year Wheatear scratching around. In the Banckspolder a female Hen Harrier glides over the fields.

Friday 29 October: our last day at the isle. We pack our bags and leave it in the appartment. The weather is gloomy with a strong wind. Where is the promised thinny sun? We cycle to the Westerstrand first. A lot of goldfinches are feeding at thistles. Flocks of Barnacle Geese are flying from the Wad to the meadows. We make a last try to see the Twites at the Jachthaven. This time we are lucky. A flock of about 20 birds is feeding in the "drijfzandbak", a small area surrounded by a small dike, wihich contains dried mud and plants with seeds. You can see the small yellow bills very well in the scope. Some birds have the pale pink-coloured glow on their bellies. The birds are very restless: the are feeding for some minutes flying from one plant to another  then flying away across the dike, coming back again for feeding and flying away again. The 4 Horned Larks are quite easier to watch. A watery sun is shining now. We visit the hide at the Westerplas for a last view. Pintails, Shovelers, Common Teals, Wigeons are swimming close to the hide. At 13.45 we leave to the ferry and cycle on the track on the innersides of the Waddendijk hoping to see the Desert Wheatear on our way back again. She is still there, on the same spot as Monday. I take some pictures. After a suprising welcome at Schiermonnikoog now a suitable goodby by the same rare bird.



The next day, Saterday 30 October, we hear that the Desert Wheatear has left the isle. It is well-known, that Wheatears continue migrating at the end of the day, as they can orientate on the setting sun. Probably this bird did the same.

11-04-2011

survived with a deformed bill

At 5 september a Reed Warbler with a remarkable deviation was trapped in the Ooysche Graaf. The bill of bird was deformed. Look at the picture below.


You can see that the under bill is bent to the back, probably caused by an accident. On the next photo you have a better look at the bill.




Remarkle is the fact that the bird is an adult bird in good condition. Despite this handicap the bird manages to survive and to feed .

Other interesting species trapped: a White-spotted Bluethroat and a Grasshopper Warbler. I'm always strucked by the design of the undertail coverts.


The Bluethroat at sunrise:

04-04-2011

Aquatic Warblers: Ringing at "Castricum"

Just returned from our birding tour in Eastern Poland we could assist at the ringing station in the dunes of Castricum for a couple of days. In the begining of August they catch at this ringsite the first Aquatic Warblers . In Poland we have seen these Warblers in their habitat: the low sedge marhes of the Biebrza. Here in the dunes of the Netherlands we hope to have a close look on these birds and even hold them in the hand.
On the first day, 5 August, we arrive at 5.15 am at the site. Jan Visser has already opened  the nets. It's a quiet day, no large numbers.

Jan Visser en Fabian

Some fotos of the birds trapped on this day:


green sandpiper

Nightingale, juvenile; You can already see the typical colour of the tail


Nightingale, adult


Next day, 6 August , we arrive at 5.15 at the ringing hut. It's still dark. Jan and Hans are already there. We drink coffee before starting the first round along the nets. Shall we trap an Aquatic Warbler today?
According to the statistics the first birds should be trapped on these days.
At around 8.00 I walk along the nets of the "bridge section". The net close to the water was empty, but on my way back  I pass this net again and then I see a small bird flying into the net. I've a close look on the bird and see a sedge warbler with a yellow median crown-stripe! That must be our first Aquatic warbler! I extract the bird from the net and study all details of the feathers togehther with Fabian. Then we go back to the hut, where the bird is ringed.

Aquatic Warbler, juvenile; the median crown-stripe of this bird isn't that broad




 Birds trapped today: 138  (22 species)
 Some species+ numbers:

green sandpiper 4                           nightingale 14     
reed warbler 31                             grasshopper warbler  14
whit-spotted bluethroat  4              lesser whitethroat  5  
common whitethroat  4                  willow warbler  11


Saterday 7 August: our last day. We are lucky: a second juvenile aquatic warbler is trapped. This bird has a beautiful median crown-stripe and a broad supercilium









 Birds trapped: 101 , 22 species, among them:

 green sandpiper      7                 greenshank  1
 spotted flycatcher   1                 common whitethroat  10

 icterine warbler       1                 reed warbler   17