Zvezda & Alex 4th time: Just birdin'

[xelas]

From Geese to Gulls. 

 

BY 347 / NL 008

Herring Gull - Larus argentatus

 

Zeeland, 14.10.2019

[xelas]

BY 348 / NL 009

Great Black-backed Gull - Larus marinus

 

Zeeland, 14.10.2019

[xelas]

BY 349 / NL 010

Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus

 

 

IJmuiden, 15.10.2019

[Galana]

Lesser Black-backed Gull HV140  was seen  November 01 2014, Zeebrugge, Belgium. It will have been down to Africa five times since and is about seven years old. Bred in Scandinavia.

"Baltic" Gull.

[xelas]

Moving on to this rare find, a juvenile that should be somewhere else, IMO.

 

BY 350 / NL 011

Gannet - Morus bassanus

 

Zeeland, 14.10.2019

[xelas]

As numerous as Hooded Crow is in Slovenia.

 

BY 351 / NL 012

Carrion Crow - Corvus corone

 

Zeeland, 14.10.2019

[xelas]

If not pointed out by Peter, I would completely missed this one.

 

BY 352 / NL 013

(Red) Knot - Calidris canutus

 

Zeeland, 14.10.2019

[xelas]

We went to search for this twice, been lucky on our second/last outing, just before calling it a day.

 

BY 353 / NL 014

Golden Plover - Pluvialis apricaria

 

Amersfoort, 15.10.2019

[michael-ibk]

You really have no excuse for overlooking a Knot, you had ample opportunity to study that bird from two metres away two years ago.

[xelas]

Indeed, @michael-ibk ... but although this one look big it is heavily cropped ... and I am not that good with birds at distance ... specially not with waders.

[PeterHG]

There may have been a Snipe hiding in the grass with the Golden Plover.

[xelas]

Yes, Zvezda has noticed it also. Sharp eye, Peter!

[xelas]

For next 4 days we have moved towards German border, to Groenlo, where Tanja was one of 1500 participants of a big re-enactment event named Battle of Grolle: https://www.slagomgrolle.nl/en/ . While she has to sleep on a straw mattress under the tent, we have enjoyed a luxury room at B&B De Ruisende Aar: https://deruisendeaar.nl . Out in the countryside, and with trees around, I was lucky to find this little gem of a bird.

 

BY 354 / NL 015

Goldcrest - Regulus regulus

 

 

Winterswijk, 17.10.2019

[xelas]

On Saturday, advised by our host Irma (also a keen birder) we have tried to find more bird at Zwillbrocker Venn, just over the border in Germany. The water level was unusually low, the venn almost dry, so we just walked around hoping to spot any bird at all. Again we were lucky with another tiny and hard to find and even harder to photograph bird.

 

BY 355 / NL 016

Treecreeper (Eurasian) - Certhia familiaris

 

 

Winterswijk, 19.10.2019

[xelas]

Sunday, our last day in Netherlands. Before going to Groenlo, to pick up Tanja and to return to AMS airport, we have got another tip from Irma. This is what we were looking for:

 

 

and this is what we got

 

BY 356 / NL 017

Eagle Owl (Eurasian) - Bubo bubo

 

Winterswijk, 20.10.2019

 

 

Above photo needs some explanation: the ex-quarry, where the resident Eagl Owl nests, is fenced and there is one wooden wall with relatively small openings. When we have looked through one, I have seen a large bird flying very close, parallel to our location. There was no time to think, just to raise the camera and to prey (and spray). The end result is not that bad, for shutter speed was set at 1/30 sec !! A worthy contender in the EBC category, I think.

 

Edited October 24, 2019 by xelas

[xelas]

Before this trip, I have hoped to get 11 new additions to Big Year. Finally we have managed to photograph 17 new birds, and if the weather would be more co-operative, I am sure we might get to #20.

 

Peter counted about 40 birds seen on each day of birding. We came home with 55 different birds photographed. And there were at least 5 more I did not care to take a photo. With all that water bodies, and coastal area, Netherlands is a good birding destination. Knowing Peter was like icing on the cake! 

Edited October 24, 2019 by xelas

[TonyQ]

A lovely Goldcrest and a beautiful Treecreeper - Excellent photos.

I think “impressions of an Eagle Owl” does deserve a prize

[Galana]

Nice set of photos.

That Eagle Owl in flight is a worthy entry.

[Dave Williams]

The Eagle Owl in flight is actually a lovely photo but you couldn't claim it as an ECB as it's unidentifiable!

I see you have pushed the numbers forward to try and protect the gap Alex....mmmm, you might have achieved it although I'm still optimistic you will soon be toast. Well, dry bread anyway!

[Soukous]

Gorgeous Goldcrest and Treecreeper. 

I haven't seen either this year.

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

The Eagle Owl in flight is actually a lovely photo but you couldn't claim it as an ECB as it's unidentifiable!

It's modern art. Instead of Picasa he has resorted to Picasso.

[Zim Girl]

Also really like the Goldcrest and the Treecreeper, Alex.

[PeterHG]

I'm glad you managed to collect a good number of additions over here, @xelas, in spite of the unfavourable conditions. I agree with the others both the Goldcrest and Treecreeper are excellent shots of hard to photograph birds! The quarry is where I saw my first Eagle Owl in our country. I would have pointed you there, but I thought they would be long gone after the nesting season. So I'm happy you still got to see one and even managed an artistic flight shot.It would make for a very nice wall poster, I think!

[Kitsafari]

beautiful goldcrest and treecreeper!

 

The owl is a worthy contender in the EBC race.

[xelas]

4 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

but you couldn't claim it as an ECB as it's unidentifiable!

 

Really? Try harder, Dave. Spots on wing, long wings, even whiter feathers on face are visible ...

We have both seen the bird with and it was unmistakenly an Eagle Owl.

I am pushing to reach "one bird per calendar day" target; I have no doubts that our gap is already filled with Kruger birds, and more .

 

1 hour ago, Galana said:

It's modern art.

More like impressionism; been to VanGogh museum in Amsterdam and it must have left a strong impression