Saturday, May 9, 2015

Garden birds & Ezumakeeg

With the arrival of the Icterine Warbler today the garden family is complete again. The cat is locked inhouse during daylight-hours after he killed the pair of Barn Swallows (I still do not understand why they sat on the ground inside the barn). I will never forgive him for that, but I am extremely happy that a new pair has settled. In fact it is the best year ever, with nesting Chiffchaff, Blackbird (3 pairs), Song Thrush, Starling and several House Sparrows. And there are territorial Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Blackcap, Dunnock, Wren, Collared Dove and.. Long-eared Owl! Today it was calling in broad-daylight, not sure if this indicates a nest and/or young.

EDIT May 11th: a pair of Spotted Fycatchers arrived, hope they stay!


Meanwhile Ezumakeeg is very productive. The bad weather of the last days resulted in a huge flock of Swifts and swallows, and today there were several Little Gulls, Black Terns and 2 White-winged Terns! The pair of White-tailed Eagles gave a great show and caught a Teal in a coordinated hunt. And of course there are waders. Many Dunlins, Ringed Plovers, Little & Temminck's Stints, some Curlew Sands, a Red-necked Phalarope and a Glossy Ibis!
distant digiscope of the Phalarope
Curlew Sandpiper
dull weather digiscope of a colour-ringed Little Stint - probably a Norwegian bird
Glossy Ibis, most of the time hiding in the long grass
Garganey - digiscope



Temminck's Stints, about 25 were present


Ezumakeeg is looking promising!
And that Bearded Vulture... yesterday I missed it by few kilometers, and today I could probably have seen it from my house. Same like 3 years ago. Unlucky with big birds this spring..

Monday, May 4, 2015

at least we tried

Some more images of last weekend, again a weekend without the albatross. The albatross that reappeared today and gave a stunning show...
there were some Barn Swallows
and some Firecrests again
same bird, feeding in the only pine tree on the island
more views of the Pallid Harrier above the promenade
there was a Whinchat
and there were a few Whitethroats
female British Yellow Wagtail @Kringel
Hobby over Kringel
and of course there were Gannets, many Gannets. This picture proves we checked the colony untill last light
and today I tried to spread the news of the return of the bird, but the system told me that Black-browed Albatross is a very common species and I should report it on waarneming.nl :-)





Sunday, May 3, 2015

Helgoland again

Another weekend-try for the albatross, and again it did not show..
But this morning I had a brief but good view of a Pallid Harrier! It flew from Mittelland towards Sudhafengelande and disappeared. Pobably the same bird that was seen yesterday even briefer by only a few observers, the pictures may confirm. Helgotick!

more later 

Friday, May 1, 2015

Helgoland - and some more

Some more images of the Wrynecks at the Friedhof and Kringel (at least 9 were present on the island!).

the -just arrived- Firecrest in a tiny bush at Sudstrand


and various:
Gannets waiting for the ruler
Northern Wheatear @Kringel
almost dry Whitethroat @Friedhof
dull Willow Warbler @Kurgelande