TOH Big Year 2021

A slight detour to see some Eurasian Tree Sparrows followed by a quick scan over a pond to see some duck species. We checked a barn for Barn Owl but didn’t see anything. Next we tried Grey Wagtail. First stop didn’t produce. The next stop did; however, we didn’t find a Grey Wagtail. Instead we found a Green Woodpecker which can always be difficult to find. We also found a Firecrest and a group of Crossbills.

34. Eurasian Tree Sparrow

35. Stock Dove

36. Mute Swan

37. Eurasian Sparrowhawk

38. Eurasian Wigeon

39. Gadwall

40. Northern Pintail

41. Northern Shoveler

42. Common Reed Bunting

43. Tufted Duck

44. Common Pochard

45. Common Wood Pigeon

46. Grey Herron

47. Tundra Bean Goose

48. Common Moorhen

49. Common Firecrest

50. European Green Woodpecker

51. Red Crossbill

52. Fieldfare

53. Great Cormorant

Back to the White Throated Dipper, which we dipped again. Willem was sharp and found two Rooks on a distant field. Good job Willem!

54. Rook

55. European Herring Gull

56. Black-headed Gull

Next stop was an easy Tawny Owl. The Middle Spotted Woodpecker which was reported in nearby patch of forest was a lot harder. After some time we found a woodpecker. Willem got brief views and thought it was the sought after Middle Spotted. When I try to get it in view, suddenly multiple woodpeckers fly off from the tree we are watching. We identify two as Great Spotted Woodpeckers but can’t find a Middle Spotted Woodpecker. Disappointed we return to the car.

57. Tawny Owl

58. Eurasian Collared Dove

59. Eurasian Coot

Before we set course to the Lauwersmeer there are two targets on schedule in Groningen. This time we see both and we also spend a little time to see Great Crested Grebe and Common Merganser.

because we are ahead of schedule we take a detour to try another White Throated Dipper which we already saw in October. Sadly, we dipped the Dipper for the third time today. A moment of happiness occurred when we see a White Stork from the car while driving on the highway.

60. Mew Gull

61. Common Merganser

62. Great Crested Grebe

63. Peregrine Falcon

64. Red-crested Pochard

65. Eurasian Magpie

66. Great Egret

67. White Stork

68. Northern Lapwing

69. Common Starling

70. Common Kestrel

At the Lauwersmeer we see some nice species like Whooper Swan, Bewick’s Swan, Water Rail, Little Grebe, Hawfinch, Little Egret and a group of Twites.

71. Bewick’s Swan

72. Whooper Swan

73. Water Pipit

74. Bearded Reedling

75. Common Shelduck

76. Barnacle Goose

77. Water Rail

78. European Golden Plover

79. Hen Harrier

80. Common Goldeneye

81. Eurasian Teal

82. Hawfinch

83. Little Grebe

84. Song Thrush

85. Ruddy Turnstone

86. Common Eider

87. Eurasian Oystercatcher

88. Great Black-backed Gull

89. Eurasian Curlew

90. Brant Goose

91. Little Egret

92. Twite

We leave the Lauwersmeer for a stop at Peasens. There is a beautiful salt marsh area outside the dykes hosting a lot of scarce and beautiful wintering birds. We find some waders and the spectacular Short Eared Owl Is our one hundredth species of the day.

93. Eurasian Rock Pipit

94. Grey Plover

95. Dunlin

96. Purple Sandpiper

97. Eurasian Skylark

98. Red Knot

99. Common Redshank

100. Short-eared Owl

101. Snow Bunting

102. Bar-tailed Godwit

The last daylight hour is again spend in the Lauwersmeer.

103. Common Snipe

104. Horned Grebe

105. Smew

The bird looks slightly smaller than the surrounding Eiders. U can see the white patch at the flank and the light head which makes it an adult bird. The bird seems to have black shoulders (also compare to the adult male eider in the top right of the video) which excludes other types of eider.

I was hoping to get better views of the bird when we would sail out of the harbor and get closer to the birds. Unfortunately this didn't happen. After some time I couldn't relocate this bird. The other Eiders were on a big distance from the boat so checking them was hard and i didn't managed to see the King Eider with certainty. This meant I had to wait till the return trip for another shot.

Meanwhile on Vlieland a European Shag was waiting for me. A rare bird in the TOH, although sightings seem to increase over the years. When sailing along the island to the ferry dock I briefly saw a Shag just outside of the marina. It dove and I couldn't relocate it. After we docked I quickly went to the marina. At first glance it appeared to be empty, but after a few minutes a Shag appeared and gave very nice views. Although difficult because of it regular diving I managed to get some nice video shots.

Suddenly my attention was drawn by two birds flying into the marina. One of them produced a sound I recognized as the song of a Grey Wagtail. I song I rarely hear in the field. the birds were very fliery and hard to video, but i managed to get a short video. Sadly I didn't recorded the song.

Now it was already time to take the ferry back to Harlingen. It was windless and the Wadden Sea was flat like a mirror. A beautiful sight. It raised my hopes of seeing the King Eider on my way back. After a short while I saw a Long-tailed Duck. A scarce wintering bird in the TOH.

After a little more than an hour sailing the pier came in sight and I started scanning for the King Eider. Loads of Eiders were close to the ferry and I could scan them really well. Despite this I didn't managed to find the King Eider. Hopefully it returns so I can get another chance.

Meanwhile Jeroen and Merel had found a Dusky Warbler in the Grote Wielen, a nature area near the city of Leeuwarden. This place is on my way home so I gave it a try. I stood there waiting for one and a half hour but didn't hear, nor see anything sadly.

106. Common Scoter

107. European Shag

108. Grey Wagtail

109. Long-tailed Duck

Next target on the list was the Snow Goose. In the area where the bird was reported we couldn't find the large group of geese that were supposed to be here. We drove around for some 30 minutes without succes. We decided not to search for the Lesser Whrite-fronted Goose and set course to the northwestern part of the province to search for a Rough-legged Buzzard. This winter this species is pretty scarce compared to other winters. We manage to find one of these beautiful birds while it's hunting.

After that we tried the Richard's Pipit, but failed to relocate it. In the same area a Pale-bellied Brant was also reported so we checked the groups of geese again. In the last group in the area we finally found it.

Next stop: the other side of the island, where our hotel and two other targets were located. We first checked in to our rooms and then set out to search for the Siberian Chiffchaff. We couldn't find it and at some point had to shelter for the rain. Also the Black Brant that was photographed in the area wasn't there today. With two dips we returned to the hotel and did some shopping for evening snacks.

After a good night sleep and some episodes of the serie "the fall" which we are following, we gave the Siberian Chiffchaff another shot. At first glance this effort also seem to fail, but when we returned by the tandem I noticed a small grey/white bird flying in and landing neer some bushes close by. When I got there I soon relocated the bird and it turned out the be the Siberian Chiffchaff. I already hat put my camera into the bicycle bag so I ran back and got my camera. The bird was still there but it was foraging in the undergrowth and was hard to see, let alone photograph. I managed a couple of shots of which this one is the best.

On our way back to the other side of the island we stopped in Ballum to get another chance at seeing the Black Brant. It wasn't there though, so we cycled on. Somewhere along the road we stopped and while I was waiting for my girlfriend I decided to check the Barnacle Geese in the opposing field to see if the group also contained some Brant Geese. Fortunately it did, but sadly the Brant Geese were all the way back in the field and hard to get a good view of, especially when foraging close to each other. Then suddenly a Black Brant walks into view! I try to get some evidence using my phone and the scope, but because of the large distance this isn't easy. After some trying I do manage to get a video.

We walk back and decide to check another part of the area for some nice wintering birds.

As we get back to the car Willem checks if any special birds have been reported yet. He finds a report of the Eagle Owl so we decide to get there right away. Upon arriving we see another car standing near the farm where the owl is supposed to be. We then see the owl fairly easy sitting in a tree. The man sitting in the other car approached us and asks if the owl is there. We thought he had already seen it cause the car was parked near the tree where the bird was in. We show him the bird, take some photo's and move on to the harbor to see wether the Red-necked Grebe or Velvet Scoter are still present.

The grebe and scoter are nowhere to be found so we move on to the Bantpolder to try the Little Stint that has been around for some time now. Not a rare bird, but in the winter it is very scarce in the Netherlands. Sadly we dip this bird too. Next stop is the Ezumakeeg. In the summer a wader heaven. In winter there can be good amounts of ducks. Today is no difference. We tried to find a Green-winged Teal of American Wigeon which have been found here in earlier years. This day none of the rare ducks can be found. We do see a Western Marsh Harrier which is an increasing wintering bird in the Netherlands.

Next we try the Little Bunting that has been foraging in a garden in Drachten. After looking for an hour we still haven't found it so we decide to move on to the forrest of Beesterzwaag. We hope to see a Middle-spotted Woodpecker. This fails, but the Tawny owl is in the same tree as were I saw it last year.

In nature reserve the Onlanden which is near my house there has been a Great Grey Shrike wintering. I can't find it however. Next I decide to look for Grey Partridge. On the way there I see a nice White Stork.

The partridges are hidden in a field, but I find them easily.

Today I wanted to look for a Ferruginous Duck and a Great Grey Shrike. The duck is in the area for at least nine years now. Sometimes it is very easily found but it can be hidden as well. I first try the Holtveen where it was last reported on January 4th. It had frozen in the night so there was a layer of ice on the pond. The ducks where all in a hole in the ice but the Ferruginous Duck wasn't one of them. I also failed to locate the Great Grey Shrike.

I did spend some time to photograph some forrest birds.

After checken the Smidsveen and the Davidsplassen without a Ferruginous Duck I was planning to drive home through the Fochtleloërveen, but I saw a message on my phone telling me a Ferruginous Duck was found at Wildervank. Arriving at the location Wim Nap had just arrived and started searching but hadn't located the bird yet. Together we searched and pretty fast I found the bird we were looking for.

Because it was still early and fairly clouded there wasn't much light to work with so I got to the bike store and took off to the beach of West aan zee so I could start looking for the gull. Edwin would check the Noordvaarder so I didn't also have to go there. In the marine harbor however, I found a Common Murre sitting on the dike. It wasn't shy so I took some photo's

Next stop was West aan zee. There were lots of gulls on the beach, but not the one I was after. I did find a Razorbill and tried to take some record shots, but it was just to far away. What helps better is taking a video.

Next I tried the beach near Midsland aan zee but also failed there. Then to Hoorn, but no Glaucous Gull there also. The last stop for me was the heartbreak hotel. Still no Glaucous Gull but some good numbers of Common Scoters on a pretty flat sea. I started searching for maybe a Surf Scoter but found a Velvet Scoter. Also a pretty nice bird to get some evidence of for my big year. Photo's didn't work so I made a video again.

Now my attempt at finding a Glaucous Gull had officially failed and it was time to head back to the ferry. Along the way stopping at a supermarket and at Midsland to check some Pink-footed Geese

When I arrived at the harbor I had 30 minutes to spare. I dropped of my bike and decide to try and get a video of the Common Loon. In the same area there was also a European Shag.

01-20

The next day was goose chasing all over again. In the area around Slochteren a Snow Goose was reported. It was reported on the 14th, 16th and 17th. The reports on the 16th and 17th were in a different place then the report of the 14th. I started searching the location of the latest reports but couldn't find the Snow Goose. Next I went to the other location but nothing there also. Out of options I pointed my attention into finding a Lesser White-fronted Goose that was reported in december not far from where I was now. Upon arriving I see lots and lots of geese. Thousands of Barnacle Geese and Greater White-fronted Geese. After some searching I found a nice Red-breasted Goose. A nice self-found bird and the first self found rarity of the year (not counting the Long-tailed Duck as a rare bird).

Sadly I couldn't find any Lesser White-fronted Goose here. So after hours of checking I decided to give the Ring-necked duck of Appingedam another shot. I tried three different ponds but couldn't find it.

01-21

The next day I had an appointment in Hardenberg. On the way there I detoured to try to get evidence of the Dusky Warbler from Exloërveen, because I failed in that the last time I was there. In the 45 minutes I stood there the Dusky Warbler didn't show.

After my appointment in Hardenberg I drove to Sneek, because the day prior a Glaucous Gull was photographed in the area. It was accompanied by seven Caspian Gulls and a Great Black-backed Gull. In the surrounding area thousands of Common Gulls where foraging the fields. I searched the groups to see if the Glaucous Gull was among them, but sadly no.

Then I went to the area the bird was actually reported. Lots of ducks and a single Great Black-backed Gull, but not even one Caspian Gull. I did however see a very beautiful male Smew.

After searching the entire area without finding any other large Gull I had to admit to myself it was going to be yet another dip.

01-22

The next day Jannie and I decided to go for a little walk in a nearby forrest. I had some hopes of finding a Middle-spotted Woodpecker that was reported in that area. We only heard some Great-spotted Woodpeckers. On our way back we took a slight detour through the Onlanden. We hoped to get a glimpse of the Great Grey Shrike that is wintering here. Luck was finally on our hand as I find the bird perched on a Cattail. I took some photo's

The shrike sees something in grass, flies of and lands in the field. It quickly flies on, seemingly empty-handed and lands on top of a bush a little further along the road. I drive there and get a nice video of the bird.

01-23

This winter I volunteer in a medicine research. On the 23rd I had to be in the research facility at 1:15 PM. On the evening of the 22nd word got out a Taiga Bean Goose was found two days prior. Taiga Bean Goose is now a very rare bird in the Netherlands. The bird was found by Rik Wever near Onstwedde. Sadly he didn't report the bird right away. Had he did I would probably already have seen the bird which would be a very good bird for the year list. Now the task was upon me to try and find the bird back myself. Gijs, who also is a volunteer in the same research had already texted me if I wanted to go. So we decided I would pick him up at 8:00 AM. Arriving at his home everything was still dark so I called Gijs and it turned out het had missed his alarm. It didn't took him long before he was ready so a little after schedule we arrive in the area the bird was reported. There were little groups of Tundra Bean Geese scattered in the area. We checked each and every group, found four Pink-footed Goose and some orange-billed Tundra Bean Geese.

After checking all Geese in the area we decide to give up and try a nearby Hooded Crow. At first this also seems to fail, but as we are about to leave I see the crow flying and landing in a tree. So I dip all the birds that are new for the year list, but manage to see a bird I had already seen.

Next I wanted to give the Snow Goose another try, because Willem Wind reported he may had seen him the day before. He saw a white Goose in a group of Tundra Bean Geese while driving his car. The Geese weren't in the same field anymore and in the surrounding area we also couldn't find any bean geese. So I put the location near Slochteren in google maps. On the way there we see a large group of geese in a field and amongst them there is a white goose. We quickly park the car and I get out my scope. Looking through my scope I see it is the Snow Goose!

I text some birders I re found the goose but get a message in return telling me there is also a Snow Goose in the area wearing a small green ring around its right foot. I knew there was a blue phase Snow Goose in the area which is an escape, but I didn't know there was also an escape white phase Snow Goose. I started filming an sadly saw this was the bird wearing the ring, making it an escape and so its not countable. And so the big dip continues.

On my way back home I made a slight detour to try the Red-necked Grebe at a recreational lake in Hoogkerk. Because the lighting was very nice I had hopes to get some nice pictures. Sadly the bird swam on the opposite side of the lake so I could only get a very distance phonescope shot.

Because the light was so good I spent some time photographing some common birds.

Next I watched some gulls on a roosting site nearby and found an adult Caspian Gull.

Next we tried to find the Woodcock Snipes I found there earlier but sadly they weren't in the same spot. I would like to get a photo, but this has to be done another time. Lastly we tried the pair of Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, but again failed to locate them.

02-05

On February fourth, the day after we dipped the treecreeper the bird was reported again, so the next day I went in full force. I went in the morning and before I went there, I visited a supermarket to buy some bird foods.

After arriving at the feeding place it started to drizzle. There was already some food on the ground and good numbers of Great and Blue tits were feeding. The lighting was really bad but I tried to get some pictures of birds I didn't had photo's of this year anyway, like this Stock Dove.

I got accompanied by this cute looking Eurasian Red Squirrel

Then, out of the blue, the Eurasian Treecreeper appeared for a brief moment. Just long enough to conform its identity and take some photo's.

As sudden as it appeared it was also gone again. I wasn't happy enough with the photo's I got, so I decided to wait till it would show up again. Sadly the drizzle was worsening and my umbrella was still in the car. When walking to my car I encountered Anne van der Wal who also wanted to see the treecreeper. I gave him some information and told him I would be back soon. After returning with my umbrella it had started to rain a lot harder. We had to wait for a little more than an hour before it started to get dry again. Just when the rain stopped Wim van Zwieten and Dirk Kooistra arrived. Suddenly I see my peanut butter getting inspected by a Middle Spotted Woodpecker. Wim and Dirk just arrived at the right moment.

A nice surprise, but not the bird I was searching for. Accepting the Dip I went on to try the Dusky Warbler. On the way I checked the ditches in the hope of finding a Jack Snipe. The Dusky Warbler should be on the terrain of group accommodation de Branding. It was mostly seen in the vegetable garden. I searched thoroughly but didn't hear or see anything looking like a Dusky Warbler.

After the second dip I wanted to check the dredge depot near the marine harbor. Maybe the Richard's Pipit was there. Upon arriving I noticed a flock of finches which gave me a little hope. Between the finches were some Bramblings. After taking some photo's I noticed a larger and more buffish bird in the group. It landed between some bushes. Hoping for the Richard's Pipit I was sharp with my camera. As soon as I located the bird I started shooting. Disappointment followed as it turned out to be a Skylark.

In the meantime I was getting colder and colder. I lost the fun and decided to head back to the ferry. At 1:30 p.m I was back on the ferry to the mainland. Going to Schiermonnikoog with these weather predictions had been a mistake.

I had some spare time and decided to give the Eurasian Treecreeper another try to get some better photo's. When I arrived Lodi Nauta and Daniel Boer were already there. They hadn't seen the treecreeper yet so we waited. In the meantime getting some photo's of a couple of forest species I didn't yet had photo's from this year, like Eurasian Nuthatch and Coal Tit.

After waiting some time a treecreeper approached. We failed to get decent pictures and couldn't identify the bird. We followed it as it moved from tree to tree. After about 20 minutes of following it we finally managed to get some decent photo's. It most likely was a pretty white Short-toed Treecreeper. It definitely wasn't the Eurasian Treecreeper seen earlier at this spot.

Some days earlier Martijn Bot heard and Eurasian Treecreeper singing near the parking place. I asked Martijn on Whatsapp for the precise location. Lodi, Daniel and I went there and listened if we could here a Eurasian Treecreeper there, but we failed. Daniel decided to get back home. Lodi had his car parked elsewhere so together we walked to the feeding place again for one last try. We didn't see the treecreeper (although we probably heard one calling and singing one time), but we did find a nice Black Woodpecker.

A few meters ahead we noticed two birds just outside of the reed bed. They turned out to be two Water Rails. I took a couple of pictures and then we left the birds shortly after. It is a fantastic experience for birders to see these birds foraging in the open. Especially with the beautiful blue sky and nice sunshine on the snowy ground. But we have to remember the birds aren't foraging in the open for no reason. Due to the frozen ground and the snow they have to loose there shyness in order to find the necessary places at which they can still find food. For us this meant we could enjoy the bird, but only for a minute or two before moving on.

Next we wanted to see it there were any holes in the ice were we could find some ducks or maybe a Bittern. On the roadside we see something dark on a bump in the reed. We stop and see it is another Water Rail. Again, after taking some photo's from the car we continue our way.

We couldn't find any holes in the ice so our next stop was going to be the holiday park Robbenoort. We now a roosting spot for two Long-eared Owls and I would like to get a picture of it. Before we enter the park we see a car parked near a ditch with some open water. We check to see if there are any snipes in the ditch and manage to see a Common Snipe.

Not the hopen for Jack snipe, but as the saying's going: "you can't have everything". Behind the holiday park there are also a couple of ditches. In the past you could always find a Kingfisher there, but not this time. We do find some more Common Snipes though. Walking back we suddenly see a Green Woodpecker, but it's gone before I manage to get a picture. The Long-eared owls are easily found. We find two this time after I could only find one the last couple of times a looked.

We then got a text from Robert he has to do more work than he anticipated and we have to cancel our quest to search for snipes on Ameland. As we drive by the same ditch where we saw a Common Snipe earlier we now see a Woodcock Snipe foraging on the ditch side. The my eye falls on a smaller snipe sitting still in the ditch. It turned out to be a Jack Snipe. A first for me to see up close like this.

I put out a text in a local app group that I had found a Jack Snipe in the Lauwersmeer and that whoever wants the location they can text me personally. One of the group admins disagrees and his opinion is that we shouldn't share any locations of snipes in this period. My opinion is that a lot of birders are looking for them. If everyone searches all the ditches they come by they will potentially disturb many more birds than if a location of one bird is giving out. For the reason of not getting to many birders on the same bird I had decided to give out the location this way so I could manage the amount of people receiving the location. So I decide to leave my message as is. Then I get a personal text of the admin with the request to remove my message. I'm in doubt, but decide to delete the message to prevent further escalation.

A potential new bird for the year list would be a Red-breated Merganser. The day before four birds were reported near the harbor. We can't find them however, but as its not a hard bird to get on the year list we didn't put in a lot of effort.

Hunger was kicking in so it was time to visit the supermarket. Willem buys himself some fish at the fish stand, but as I don't like fish I opt for some cottage cheese. I like cottage cheese a lot, but as dairy product have a negative effect on farm animals and nature in general I can't wait for a good vegan alternative. There are some alternatives already, but nutritional value wise not really comparable, and also a lot more expensive.

As we would like to see a Bittern we try the Ezumakeeg. When we arrive we see loads of cars parked. I ask myself if these are all birders who see something, but Willem suggests that it are probably ice skaters. Willem is right. The Ezumakeeg has completely frozen over and a lot of people are skating. We decide to walk to the other side of the Ezumakeeg. A place we normally don't get to see. As we are almost on the other side we suddenly hear the ice cracking so we back of. I find another way which lead through some reeds. I assume there is mud there instead of water, but boy was I wrong. As I step on the snow my foot goes right through and hits the water blow. From the knee down my left leg is soaked in freezing water. Desperately I try to keep my camera dry and crawl back on the ice. Soaked and cold we quickly walk back to the car. In the car the heathers are turned on to the max and I take out my wet shoe and socks. Luckily a have a pair of boots in the trunk and under my tracksuit bottoms a wore a pair of thermic pants. While my clothes are drying from the heathers we decide to do some birding from the car and slowly drive to Ternaard, checking all the ditches with open water that we encounter along the way. When we arrive at Ternaard I notice that my lens is fogged up on the inside. The lens is more than ten years old so maybe some water got in. Although I had saved my camera from hitting the water, I couldn't prevent it from catching some of the snow on the lens. Outside the dike of Ternaard we find a group of Shore Larks. A new year bird so I want a picture. Despite the fogged lens I manage to get a photo as evidence.

As we drive back to the Lauwersmeer I suddenly see something on the dike. It turnes out to be yet another Woodcock Snipe. Because my lens is fogged I can't get the pictures I want so we move on. The last place we visit this day is the Marnewaard. A lot of ditches there in which we hope to find a Kingfisher. After checking some ditches Willem finds a Kingfisher. With my lens being so fogged now it took me quite some time to get a picture on which the birds is barely visible. You can just barely see its white cheek. (Thankfully after a night in a warm home the fog has cleared from the lens).

After some time, while I'm in a conference call with colleagues the birds take off. I search the area for some time until it gets to dark. I find a couple of Tundra Been Geese with completely orange bills, but no Taiga anymore.

02-16

The next day the weather is better and thereby the lighting is also a lot better. I decide to try the goose once again to hopefully get some better pictures like Martin and Marnix did. When I arrive I notice two other birders who were already searching. Sadly the geese are much further away and because of the heat haze not better visible than yesterday. I decide to check the surrounding are to see if there are any flocks closer to the road. I find two small flocks without a Taiga. On toh.waarneming.nl I noticed reports of a Ruddy Shelduck in the area. Not a difficult bird to see in summer, but in the winter it's pretty scarce around here. The bird is in the exact same spot as it had been for the last two days, surrounded by a flock of Egyptian Geese. Just to be sure it's not an escaped bird like the Snow Goose I take a video which shows no rings on its feet.

Next I try the harbor in the hope of seeing my first Red-breasted Merganser of the year. I find seven Common Merganser, but no Red-Breasted. I do notice a Harbor Seal with a catch.

At the sluices I try again, but fail. I continue my journey to Peasens to try and find a Short-eared Owl, a species I don't have a photo of this year. The owls are probably roosting, cause I can't find any. I try again at the pier of Holwerd. Here I follow a male Hen Harrier hunting, but then a small falcon charges from the ground and starts going after the Starlings. My first Merlin of the year!

The Ezumakeeg is my next stop. Last time I was here it was completely frozen over. This time the water is open again and hundreds to maybe thousands of Wigeons are present. Also striking are the numbers of Northern Pintails. I search the Wigeons and Eurasian Teals thoroughly, but nog American counterpart can be found. A female Common Stonechat on a wire next to the road is very cooperative, but sadly the light is fading fast.

02-20

this Saturday I had scheduled to search the surroundings of Harlingen for the American Wigeon that has been seen in the area the last two winters. This winter it hasn't been recorded yet, but that doesn't say anything. From what I heard it can be pretty hard to find sometimes. However Martin Olthof had reported a flyby Black Guillemot from watchpoint the Kustweg in the afternoon of the 19th. Maybe it would be smarter to spend the day at watchpoint the Noordkaap were it might still have to pass by. I review my changes at come to the conclusion that it would be very unlikely if I would see it, and I would rather spend the day looking than waiting.

On my way to Harlingen I see a Bittern foraging in a ditch near the highway. Nice! At 11 a.m I arrive at the ponds near Harlingen. I find a new year bird in the form of two Common Ringed Plovers. A lot of Wigeons are present, but nothing out of the ordinary. Marnix Jonker then reports a Lesser White-fronted Goose near Zuidbroek. A shame I drove all the way to Harlingen while a new rare year bird had been found on the opposite side of the TOH. But a rare new year bird has to be twitched as soon as possible so I'm of to Zuidbroek. When I'm almost there I get a text the group of Tundra Been Geese with the Lesser White-fronted Goose in it has flown away, but the group was supposed to have landen just a kilometer to the west. With good hopes I start searching, but after some time I come to the conclusion there are no geese in the are whatsoever. After driving around the area for some time I notice a group of geese flying over and I decide to follow them. Although following them was hard I succeeded and after about 15 minutes the group finally settles down. Sadly no Lesser White-fronted. I drive further and further away from the original site and check the groups of geese I find on my way. Almost three hours later and more than ten kilometers further I finally re found the bird. A rush of happiness falls over me. Such a nice feeling. This is what makes birding so great.

Our next stop wil be on of the locks in the Kolonievaart where we hope to find a Grey Wagtail. On the way there I see two Common Cranes standing in the field. While driving I try to give directions to Willem as best as I can, but Willem struggles to get eyes on the Cranes. Luckily he succeeds just in time. But as I don't have any photo's of Common Crane this year I stop te car and take a fast photo.

No Grey Wagtail at the lock so we move on to the Bankenbos. Here our main targets are Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Brambling, Common Kingfisher and Northern Goshawk. Sadly we can't find any of these.

51. Willow Tit

52. European Crested Tit

53. Coal Tit

54. Eurasian Wigeon

At the next lock we do find a Grey Wagtail, and even a Common Moorhen

55. Grey Wagtail

56. Common Moorhen

Next we try the ponds behind the info center. No Bearded Readling or Water Rail can be found, but we are delighted when we hear and see two Coots, a species Willem Couldn't find in January.

57. Stock Dove

58. Mew Gull

59. Rook

60. Black-headed Gull

61. Hen Harrier

62. Gadwall

63. Tufted Duck

64. Common Kestrel

65. Common Pochard

66. Common Stonechat

67. Great Grey Shrike

68. Grey Herron

69. Eurasian Coot

We walk a short while on the cycling road in the hope of finding Common Linnets, but nothing. At the pond near the entrance we do find two new ducks for our list.

70. Northern Pintail

71. Northern Shoveler

72. Eurasian Teal

On our way to the village Ravenswoud we see some ducks and decide to check them. For my year list I check every Teal and Wigeon I see in the hope to discover a Green-winged Teal or American Wigeon. None of that, but our first inland Oystercatchers of the year are a new day bird. At the village we look out for European Collared Dove or Magpie, but without succes. Next stop is our regular place for Tree Sparrows. They are easily found. A new photo year bird for me is a female Bullfinch.

73. Eurasian Tree Sparrow

From the village Ravenswoud we move on to the little forrest also called the Ravenswoud where our main target is very appropriately Northern Ravens. Northern Ravens have been gone for a long time, mainly do to persecution. Since 2012 they are back as breeding birds in this forrest and almost every year we visit the fledged juveniles on our Big Days. We check the nest (from a great distance) to see if the female is already breeding, but we see nothing. Maybe the female is lying deep in the nest so we can't see her. We climb the stairs of the watchtower in the hope of getting White-tailed Eagle on the list as we did on our Big Day on January first. No eagles this time.

We move on to Smilde to get some groceries. On the way we check the fields for Grey Partridge. After the stop at the supermarket Willem directs us to a sand extraction lake which was unfamiliar to me. On the lake Willem finds a Great Crested Grebe and we finally hear a Common Linnet flying over

74. Common Linnet

75. Great Crested Grebe

A detour to Diependal (where I check all the ducks for their American equivalents again) is followed by another attempt to find a Eurasian Collared Dove or Magpie. Suddenly Willem shouts he sees a pair of Mute Swans.

76. Mute Swan

A thorough search in Ravenswoud and Veenhuizen doesn't deliver the dove or Magpie. We acquiesce in the fact we won't add these species to the day list. Our idea is to try the fields near Ravenswoud again in the hope to see Goshawk or Raven returning to their sleeping place. We are lucky and immediately I see a Northern Raven in one of the fields. Another bird is calling from the trees. I decide fo film the bird while its foraging. As I want to do this a Goshawk flies by and lands in one of the trees on the edge of the forest. I want to take a picture for my photo list but the bird flies of before I get the change.

We wait until dark with the idea of maybe hearing one of the partridges calling. We decide to give Barn Owl and Tawny owl one last try to get on the day list, but we are unsuccessful.

77. Northern Raven

78. Northern Goshawk

When I get back with the tripod I can't directly find the bird. I see other Jacob and Andre approaching so I tell them of my findings and together we continue the search. It didn't take me long to re find the bird in the small patch between the backyard and the fields. Jacob and Andre get onto the bird quickly. Before I get the change to take a video the Hoopoe flies of. After some searching Jacob re finds the bird at the same spot and finally I get a short change for a film before the Hoopoe decides to fly far away. After the bird is away for some minutes and doesn't return I decide to move on. A resident comes out of the house telling me he had just seen a Hoopoe near the spot we had seen it land. I try to re find the bird but fail.

After driving around in the Eemshaven for a while without finding anything I return to Groningen. I had heard that the first Black-tailed Godwits (our national bird) had returned to the Koningslaagte. The first Black-tailed Godwits of the year is always a special moment so I can't resist the temptation to take a look. The day before there was also a report of a Pied Wagtail which is a separate species from White Wagtail in the Netherlands. This would be a new year bird so it was worth the search. The godwits are easily found, but there is no Pied Wagtail between the White Wagtails anymore. From Andre I get the suggestion to check an area in the neighborhood where he had seen the first Spoonbill and Ruff of the year. There are three Spoonbills in the area, but I can't find any Ruffs. While checking the distant geese I notice a bird with a silhouette that resembles a Lesser White-fronted Goose. I can't see the exact pattern of white on the head, nor can I see if the bird has a yellow orbital ring. I take some phonescopes and a short film and send this in the Grunn Twitchers app group. First no response, but after the bird walks a little closer and I manage to get a better picture I get the confirmation it is indeed a Lesser White-fronted Goose. A nice new self found bird for the year.