PeterHG’s sixth. Wherever it may take us.

[PeterHG]

We continued to the island of Schouwen Duiveland for a short look-around there. There are some very good areas there, too, though they will be better in spring. We did get one addition there, though.

 

19 / NL 19. Little Egret. Zeeland 9/1. We do het its large cousin where we live, but we never see this one.

 

[PeterHG]

After that we returned to the dam for a last look there and awaited the sunset. No new ones, but we did see a male Goldeneye nearby.

 

[Soukous]

Stunning Merganser Peter, lovely Eider too.

[Zim Girl]

Agree, wonderful merganser and eider shots!

[elefromoz]

The Eider is weirdly handsome...

[Kitsafari]

a mega shot of the merganser!

 

Happy belated birthday!

[PeterHG]

Thank you, @Soukous, @Zim Girl, @elefromoz, @Kitsafari!

 

A little walk in the local park yesterday got me one more for the list.

 

20 / NL 20. Common Chaffinch, Amersfoort, 12/1

 

[PeterHG]

Today we took a walk along the shores of the IJsselmeer, a 15 minutes' drive from here. It was cold and windy, but we did see a rather uncommon visitor to the area among the Tufted Ducks

 

21 / NL 21. Greater Scaup (female) Arkemheen.13/1. Large numbers of them may be found in the northern parts of the IJsselmeer, but we don't see them here usually.

 

Edited January 13, 2021 by PeterHG

[PeterHG]

Further from the shore I saw a little group of striking black and white ducks land. 

 

22 /NL 22 Smew. Arkemheen, 13/1. I do hope they'll come closer on of these days they are beautiful birds.

 

 

Edited January 13, 2021 by PeterHG

[Soukous]

Scaup and Smew. Excellent.

They've both eluded me last year and this year (so far)

[PeterHG]

Our local lake also holds quite a few Tufted Ducks in winter

 

23 / NL 23. Tufted Duck. Amersfoort, 13/1.  It always amazes me, how its head can have either a purple or a green tinge, depending on the sunlight.

 

 

Edited January 13, 2021 by PeterHG

[PeterHG]

24 / NL 24. Great Cormorant. Amersfoort, 13/1. 

 

[Soukous]

I'm a bit confused by your numbering Peter.

Both Scaup and Smew were listed as 21, then the Tufted Duck is 32 / 23

[michael-ibk]

Wow, you are racing off Peter, can only see your dust! Great photos, especially love the Merganser. Some very cool species you are finding there, well done.

[PeterHG]

38 minutes ago, Soukous said:

Both Scaup and Smew were listed as 21, then the Tufted Duck is 32 / 23

I'm confused, too ;). I've adapted the numbers, thank you!

[Galana]

More great shots from the Netherlands. Love the Scaup and Smews.

 

Great hair do on the Cormorant.

Edited January 13, 2021 by Galana

[shazdwn]

You have so many good looking ducks in your area

[Zim Girl]

Great picture of the cormorant, it shows the 'scaly' feathers beautifully.

[Dave Williams]

I have never even seen a Smew,nice one.  

[PeterHG]

Thank you, @Soukous, @michael-ibk, @Galana, @shazdwn, @Zim Girl, @Dave Williams.

 

The weather is still pretty good, so why not continue while it lasts. Today I went for a walk in one of the wetland reserves in Flevoland, half an hour's drive from here. I had a few specific targets to look for, and I did find one of them. And added a few others.

 

25 / NL 25. Northern Raven. Flevoland, 14/1. After its reintroduction in the seventies they can be found in quite a few areas, but they are stil not common at all.

 

[PeterHG]

26 / NL 26. Redwing. Flevoland 14/1. A heavy crop as it stayed well away from the road.

 

[PeterHG]

27  NL 27. Hen Harrier. Flevoland 14/1. This female came swooping over the roof of the hide and I was glad I still managed to grab a shot before it disappeared again. 

 

[PeterHG]

28 / NL 28. Whooper Swan. Flevoland. 14/1. From the same hide I could photograph a couple of these winter visitors. They were my target bird for the morning. I saw a few in the same spot in December and fortunately they were still there. They took flight after ten minutes, possibly because people were walking along the footpath by the lake. Which they are allowed to do.

 

 

[elefromoz]

Magical final photo

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful.