NL day 4 - DBA Vogeldag

Today I attended the Dutch Birding Association day (DBA Vogeldag). It was a fantastic event - lots of great people to meet and chat, and an interesting program - very good talks. Ah, and also I gave two talks myself which I enjoyed very much. It was very good to finally meet in flesh lots of FB friends. Many thanks to Arjan and all the DB team for organizing this event and inviting me.

NL day 3 - just a bit of birding

And no images too... Most day was spent at Sovon offices. In the afternoon went with my old friend Vincent De-boer to have a quick look near Arnhem. Highlights included Tundra Bean Goose and an adult Caspian Gull.

NL day 2 - worst record shots ever

Good birding this morning but my photography didn't excel very high I'm afraid. I went with Gert to check Gooimeer near Huizen. A male Long-tailed Duck has been wintering at this site for the last 12 winters. Despite the cold wind we found the bird quite fast, swimming in the distance with some goldeneyes. Lifer for me, and a very good-looking bird (scope views), but the images - well, not the best... But you can identify it can't you?

Lots of other good waterfowl including several dozen Bewick's with some Whooper Swans, some redhead Smews and one Eider - also this male has been wintering here for the last 10 years; a pretty good inland bird.

Smew

 Eider

After freezing our arses off there we had a quick look at Eempolders where we had again very large flocks of Barnacle and White-fronted Geese, but no red-breasted or anything else of interest.

Then rest of the day spent with the Sovon guys, very interesting to meet and to learn. Looking forward to some more learning tomorrow.

NL day 1 - American Wigeon!

Left UK this morning - after surviving heavy traffic on the A1 and M25. Just as I landed at Schiphol I got a message from Gert Ottens, who was on his way to pick me up from the train: "Do you want to see an American Wigeon?"... Hell yes! So from the airport we drove more or less direct to the Nederrijn river near Wijk bij Duurstede, where this bird was found on Saturday. We got on to the bird immediately as it was swimming in the middle of the river with some wigeons and goldeneyes. Cool bird, lifer, WP tick and completely surprising - I really wasn't expecting it! Here are some more crappy record shots - distant, no light, rain, wind etc.

American Wigeon - male 

Later on Gert and I went birding in that valley. There were tons of geese about - something like 5000 barnacles and maybe 1000 whitefronts. Very very nice.

Among them we had some Bar-headed Geese - this valley is one of their strongholds in Holland. Category C, I know, but good-looking birds nevertheless.

Bar-headed Geese

Uk day 6 - ringing ticks

Early(ish) morning joined Nick for a short ringing session before work on the edge of the Nunnery reserve. Lucky I brought my wellies with me from Israel - very wet it was. Must have transported some soil diseases with polluted mud from the Holy Land into Britain.

Anyway, ring was quite good with some ringing ticks for me. Nothing too exciting but I really haven't done much ringing in Europe.

Lotti

Lesre - adult female 

Lesre - adult male

Bramb - as pretty as they can get

Thanks Nick for a great morning! After that meetings meetings meetings. My brain has no free space left anymore. Tomorrow off to NL for more meetings...

UK day 5 - Dipper take 2

On the way to the BTO offices this morning had a quick look at the dipper, hoping it would choose a lit section of the stream. But unfortunately not, it was still in the darkest section.

Black-bellied Dipper 

Goldcrest

Then a meeting marathon at BTO until late afternoon. The day ended nicely with dinner at the Morans' - thanks guys.