Wild Goose Chase Thu 26th Mon 30 th Nov 2015

Transcription

1 Limosa Holidays Trip Report Holland: Wild Goose Chase Thu 26th Mon 30 th Nov 2015 (Photos, clockwise from top left) Dark-bellied Brent Geese (and Starling) take flight Tundra Bean and Whitefronted Geese feeding on arable land A lovely Tawny Owl roosting in a chimney stack Some of the many Sanderling roosting at Brouwersdam Geese and a windmill classic Holland! A close-up view of a Long-eared Owl on our first afternoon all photos by tour participant Jo Latham, wildlifephotocards.co.uk report compiled by tour leader: Arnoud B van den Berg 1 Limosa Holidays

2 HOLLAND Wild Goose Chase Tour Leader: Arnoud B van den Berg with Jo Latham, Angela Owens and Jean Parrott Trip Diary We had sunny weather during the first days of our long weekend of birding in the Netherlands but the weather in the last two days was not as good, being mostly cloudy with several hours of rain. Temperatures were high for the time of year, ranging between 6C and 12C. The first day, Thursday 26/11, was the best for weather: sunny without any wind. On Friday 27/11, it was clouded with a southwesterly of 3-4 Beaufort. On Saturday 28/11, the skies were blue with a strong southwesterly of 4-5. Sunday 29/11, in contrast, was wet and more windy, with a gale force, and rain in the early afternoon. Monday 30/11 began nicely, dry without wind, but from 11:00 it started raining again and southwesterly winds increased in force. The windy weather resulted from Storm Claudia that affected Britain as well. The sunrise was after 08:00 and sunset before 16:30. So, each day, we had breakfast at 07:00 and our dinner started at 19:00. 26th November Highlights: Long-eared Owls, Lesser White-fronted Goose, White Stork, Tawny Owl, Black Woodpeckers, Little Owl After we had found each other at the various arrival halls of Schiphol airport, we drove to the nearby Hoofddorp town. At the Japanese garden in the local park, Haarlemmermeerse Bos, we watched two Long-eared Owls, and found birds like Rose-ringed Parakeets and Longtailed Tits. We returned to the airport and proceeded further east past fields with 10,000s of Lapwings to the small Waverhoek reserve near Mijdrecht. Amidst a high number of various waterfowl, we discovered by sound a calling adult Lesser White-fronted Goose with a Swedish ring; the bird was photographed in a flock of Greylag Geese and Teal. Bearded Tits showed themselves in some open reeds, and we looked at flying flocks of White-fronted Geese and a few swimming Pintail. We continued to Loosdrechtse Plassen and had a simple but tasty lunch at the Vlinders restaurant in Loenen. The high numbers of Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Pochard in the Holland lakes were impressive. An adult White Stork was foraging close to the road. A Tawny Owl watched us from a chimney in the green suburbs of Bussum. From here, we drove non-stop to Harderwijk, to the town of our hotel, where we walked into a beech wood to watch the roosting trees of Black Woodpeckers; probably due to the bright weather, the local pair hesitated to enter their holes, and they kept on calling, giving us good views. The day was not at its end yet as we decided to try our luck for Little Owl; just before dark we found one, perched on a small barn. Shortly after 17:00, we entered our comfortable hotel. 27th November Highlights: Red-crested Pochards, 2 Smew, Bittern, 3 White-tailed Eagles, Hen Harriers, Great Grey Shrike, 2 Willow Tits, 100+ Hawfinches After breakfast, we first looked at the woodlands around our hotel, but then decided to spend as much time as possible in the Flevoland reserves. A short stop at Harderbos presented us with views of a few male Red-crested Pochards and our first two Smew. We continued to Dasselaarweg near Zeewolde where Arnoud had seen some 100 Hawfinches in the preceding week. Upon our arrival, a local caretaker told us he had only seen one individual that morning. It did not discourage us to walk on to a far corner of a campsite, to discover the first few Hawfinches foraging on the ground with a flock of Redwings. The longer we stayed, the more Hawfinches turned up and after a while a steady stream of more than 100 birds appeared from a couple of oaks with plenty of leaves. Some were perching on treetops for a while and others started foraging on the ground, or flew further. Other birds included Siskins and a few Bramblings. 2 Limosa Holidays

3 After more than an hour, we drove into the vast agricultural fields of Flevoland along Ibisweg until we came close to a wet field offering excellent views of 1000s of Tundra Bean Geese with many Greater White-fronteds and Greylags and some Barnacles. Angela found a Bittern secretly walking in the reeds of a canal. Then, we continued to the Oostvaardersplassen reserve further west, where we remained the rest of the day. After watching two distant Whitetailed Eagles, 10,000s of Barnacle Geese, some day-active extremely confiding Red Foxes, herds of Red Deer, Tarpan horses and Aurochs, and a pair of Whooper Swans, we went to the visitor centre's restaurant. During an excellent lunch, overlooking the Keersluisplas lake at the entrance, we watched yet another White-tailed Eagle and a Sparrowhawk. In the afternoon, we had a stroll into the reserve, listening for calling Water Rails, and watching a Great Grey Shrike with prey, a few Willow Tits, a Short-toed Treecreeper and a male and female Hen Harrier. Everywhere in Flevoland (as in the rest of the country), Great White Egrets were numerous, and we watched our first male Goosander at Knarsluis. When we started to drive back to the hotel, at 16:00, it became dark and started to rain. 28th November Highlights: Greater Flamingos, Spoonbills, White Stork, Black-necked Grebes, Avocets, Ruff, Red-throated Divers, Slavonian Grebes, Guillemots, Black Guillemot, Great Skua. The Saturday was our day for geese and wader watching in the delta area in the southwest. Along our 1h30 drive, the best bird may have been a White Stork roosting on a highway's lamppost. Our first birding stop was along the extensive Grevelingen lake near Battenoord, where a large flock of flamingos consisted not only of feral Chilean Flamingos from the German breeding site (established in 1980), but also more than 10 presumably wild-origin Greater Flamingos. At the western end of Philipsdam, we watched more than 10 Black-necked Grebes and several feral Black Swans. At the eastern end, we found an adult White-tailed Eagle still roosting in the tree it had been reported from the previous afternoon; it flew off while we were observing, presenting us with some photographic opportunities. South of Philipsdam, the sea tide was rising. We searched between 1000s of foraging Oystercatchers to find wader species like Curlews, Grey Plover, Knots, Sanderlings and Bartailed Godwits. Further west, we entered the bird-rich wetlands along the southern coast of Schouwen, at Wevers and Flaauwers Inlaag. Highlights were a nice flock of more than 50 Avocets, several foraging first-winter Spoonbills, quite a few Little Egrets, huge roosting numbers of Golden Plovers, Lapwings and Curlews, large flocks of dark-bellied Brent Geese and Barnacle Geese, a handful of Pintails and some Ruff. At lunchtime, we had an applepie stop at Heerenkeet restaurant. From here, we drove further west along the Oosterschelde sea coast past Plompetoren and Burghsluis to see more Brents and Barnacles, and a perched Rock Pipit. In late afternoon, our final stop was at the windy North Sea side of Brouwersdam, where we watched two nearby Guillemots, a few Slavonian Grebes, our only Lesser Black-backed Gull, a few Scandinavian Herring Gulls, and three Grey Seals. Further away, Red-breasted Mergansers and Goldeneyes were common and two Red-throated Divers flew past. Driving along the dam, we came wonderfully close to roosting Oystercatchers, Turnstones and Sanderlings. At the end of the dam, Jo spotted a distant Black Guillemot and Jean a swimming first-winter Great Skua. At dusk, we returned to the northeast past some 20 km of extensive harbour works of Rotterdam and via Utrecht to our Harderwijk hotel. 29th November Highlights: Red-crested Pochards, 100 Goosanders, 10+ Smew, White-tailed Eagle, Long-eared Owl, 1000 Pink-footed Geese, Peregrine, Caspian Gull Because of the wild weather with strong winds and periods of rain, we decided to bird from the car, driving north along the borderlakes of Flevoland (Veluwemeer, Vossemeer and Ketelmeer) towards the geese areas of western Friesland. We started with some improved 3 Limosa Holidays

4 views of Red-crested Pochards at the Harderbroek reeds. There was an amazingly large and dense flock of 10,000 Coots in the centre of the lake. Further north, we came across numerous Mute and Bewick's Swans. At the south end of Vossemeer, more than 100 Goosanders and up to 40 Smew, including six males, were fishing. We watched how a police boat accidentally flushed an adult White-tailed Eagle. The numbers of waterfowl was as impressive here as in other lakes with countless Coots, Tufties and Pochards. In the centre of the Swifterbant town, we photographed a roosting Long-eared Owl. From here, we crossed the length of the Noordoostpolder (Northeast Polder), the northern third of the new Flevoland polder province, and we drove all the way to the town of Sneek before we turned towards minor roads into the meadows of Friesland. Within a minute, we came across a beautiful large and rather confiding flock of some 1000 Pink-footed Geese. As it started to rain, we decided to have a picnic lunch inside our car at the lookout of Workumerwaard, with many 100s of roosting Curlews and Golden Plover, a handful of flying Snipe, and a hunting Peregrine. When driving to and from Workum, we passed 10,000s of Barnacle and Whitefronted Geese but could not find any other goose species. In the afternoon, we had a postlunch applepie stop at Riis, and continued south along the IJsselmeer coast to find, e.g., even more Barnacle and White-fronted Geese flocks, some 10 female Smew, and an immature Caspian Gull trying to carry away a big fish. 30th December Highlights: Crested Tits, Tawny Owl, 3 White Storks, 2 Ruddy Ducks, 5 Glossy Ibises After our last breakfast and before checking out of our hotel, we had a longish walk in the nearby Veluwe wood to have great views of several Crested Tits, many Goldcrests, two Coal Tits, and some Nuthatches. Then, on our way by car to the airport, we first stopped at Arkemheen and Schuitegat near Nijkerk to see more Goosander, four Smew, Golden Plovers and Curlews. Further west, we stopped at Bussum to photograph our Tawny Owl, and drove past three White Storks at Loosdrecht and two Ruddy Ducks in a flock of Tufteds and Pochards. We returned to Waverhoek for a picnic lunch; from here, we drove down to Nieuwkoop for our final birds, five Glossy Ibises foraging in a wet meadow. Arnoud B van den Berg Systematic list of bird species recorded (n=125) Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus I Heard on 26/11 at Waverhoek and a total of six seen at three sites in Zeeland on 28/11. Tundra Bean Goose Anser serrirostris rossicus In the early morning of 27/11, a flock of 50 flew over the hotel. Later that morning, we watched more than 1000 foraging on a wet agricultural field along Ibisweg, Almere; they were together with Greylag Geese and Greater White-fronted Geese. On 28/11, 50 were seen at Battenoord. Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhychus On 29/11, we watched a group of more than 1000 foraging on meadows near Blauwhuis, Friesland. Greylag Goose Anser anser Seen on every day and numerous. Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons albifrons Seen on every day and numerous. Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus On 26/11, one was well seen and photographed when calling amidst Greylag Geese and various ducks at Waverhoek, Utrecht. Dark-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla On 28/11, many 100s were seen in the Zeeland province at, eg, Grevelingenmeer, Philipsdam and Schouwen. 4 Limosa Holidays

5 Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis Seen on every day and numerous. On 27/11, more than 5000 were foraging at Oostvaardersplassen, Flevoland. On 28/11, more than 1000 were seen in quite a few areas of southern Zuid-Holland and Zeeland. On 29/11, huge flocks totalling some were present between Workum and Makkum, Friesland. Black Swan Cygnus atratus I On 28/11, three pairs were seen at Grevelingen near Battenoord and Philipsdam. Mute Swan Cygnus olor Daily seen and numerous, especially at the lakes between the former sea coast and Flevoland, north and south of Harderwijk, mixed with high numbers of Bewick s. Bewick's Swan Cygnus (columbianus) bewickii On 26/11 (distantly), 29/11 and 30/11, 100s were present at Veluwemeer between Harderwijk and Flevoland. Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus On 27/11, two were calling and seen at close range before flying off along Praamweg, Oostvaardersplassen. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus I Common and seen on every day. Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Common and seen on every day, the most (100s) on 26/11 (Loenen/Loosdrecht) and 28/11 (Zeeland). Gadwall Anas strepera Common and seen on every day. Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Numerous and seen on every day except 27/11. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Common and seen on every day except 30/11. Northern Pintail Anas acuta At least two males were seen at Waverhoek on 26/11. On 28/11, more than five were present at Wevers Inlaag, Schouwen. On 30/11, two males were found at Arkemheen. Eurasian Teal Anas crecca Common and seen on every day, with highest totals of 1000s on 27/11 and 28/11. Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina At Harderbos, three males watched amidst reedbeds on 27/11 and seven males on 29/11. Common Pochard Aythya ferina Numerous and up to seen on every day, in mixed flocks with Tufted Duck. Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Numerous (even much more so than Common Pochard) and seen on every day. Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Common and seen on every day. Highest totals were noted on 28/11 (50 at Brouwersdam) and 29/11 (Vossemeer). Smew Mergellus albellus On 27/11, two females were present at Veluwemeer opposite Harderbos. On 29/11, six males and 30 females were noted at Vossemeer and Ketelmeer. On 30/11, one male and three females were seen at Veluwemeer near Arkemheen. Goosander Mergus merganser In Flevoland, one male was seen at Knarsluis on 27/11, more than 100 at Vossemeer near Elburg on 28/11, and one male at Veluwemeer near Arkemheen on 30/11. Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Common with more than 50 on 28/11 in brackish and saline waters around Schouwen (Grevelingen, Oosterschelde, Brouwersdam). Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis I Two female-types were swimming amidst diving ducks at Loenderveense Plas near Kortenhoef on 30/11. 5 Limosa Holidays

6 Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata On 28/11, two singles were flying amidst the waves off Brouwersdam, Zeeland. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus At Brouwersdam, a total of four was seen on 28/11. Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis On 28/11, more than 10 were foraging and diving at the eastern side of Grevelingendam. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus On 28/11, a flock of 11 was present in a mixed flamingo flock at Grevelingenmeer near Battenoord. They were loosely associated with a flock of Chilean Flamingos and one or two Caribbean Flamingos standing at a distance of less than 100 m. Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis In a flock at Grevelingenmeer near Battenoord on 28/11, we counted at least 35. These birds are feral and breed since the early 1980s in a small colony in Germany, always spending their non-breeding time in (often inaccessible) wetlands in the Netherlands. Caribbean Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber One or two individuals were seen in the mixed flock of Greater and Chilean Flamingos near Battenoord on 28/11. White Stork Ciconia ciconia On 26/11, an unringed adult was foraging in a meadow near Loenderveense Plas. On 28/11, one was roosting on a lamp post along the highway to Gorinchem. On 30/11, three ringed individuals were foraging in meadows near Kortenhoef. Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia On 28/11, a total of 10 to 15 was seen in wetlands on Schouwen, most of them first-years at Wevers Inlaag and Kerkwerve. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus On 30/11, we found a foraging flock of five in a wet meadow near Nieuwkoop, Zuid-Holland. Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris On 27/11, Angela spotted one individual walking at the edge of reeds along a canal at Ibisweg, Almere. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Common and seen on every day, also present in urban areas. Great Egret Ardea alba Numerous and seen on every day in all inland areas, with the highest daily totals on 27/11 (40+) and 29/11 (100+). Little Egret Egretta garzetta On 28/11, a total of 20 was found on Schouwen, Zeeland. Continental Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Common and up to 10 seen on every day. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus On 29/11, one was chasing Golden Plovers at Workumerwaard, during our picnic lunch. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla On 27/11, an adult perched on a distant tree top while an immature flew past at Hoge Praambult; at our lunch at Kitsweg, an immature was present on a tree across Keersluisplas. On 28/11 at 11:00, we found one perched in trees at Philipsdam; a few minutes later, it was photographed when flying west over Krammer. On 29/11, an adult was flushed by a boat along the shores of Vossemeer. Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus On 26/11, one was noted at Uithoorn. On our walk into De Driehoek, Oostvaardersplassen, an adult male and a female were seen on 27/11. Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus On 27/11, one flew past our lunch restaurant at Oostvaardersplassen. On 29/11, we found two singles on our way north from Flevoland. 6 Limosa Holidays

7 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Numerous and seen on every day; the maximum number noted was 40 on 27/11. Water Rail Rallus aquaticus On 27/11, a pair was heard at Kitsweg, Oostvaardersplassen. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus One to 20 seen and heard on every day except 28/11. Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Abundant and seen on every day, with a huge flock of more than at Veluwemeer. Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Numerous with 1000s along the sea shores of Oosterschelde and Brouwersdam, Zeeland, on 28/11. Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta On 28/11, a few singles and a flock of c 50 was present at Wevers Inlaag. Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Abundant and flocks of 1000s or more were seen on every day. Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria Flocks of 100s were seen on every day except 26/11, with highest numbers at Wevers Inlaag, Schouwen, on 28/11 and at Workumerwaard on 29/11. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola On 28/11, one was found along Philipsdam. Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago On 29/11, a handful flew overhead at Workumerwaard. On 30/11, one flew past Arkemheen. Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica On 28/11, 10 were foraging at Oosterschelde along Grevelingendam. Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata On 28/11, more than 1000 were seen on Schouwen, eg, foraging at Oosterschelde along Grevelingendam and roosting at Wevers Inlaag. On 29/11, a total of 2000 were flying in to roost at Workumerwaard. On 30/11, a roosting flock of more than 300 was found at Arkemheen. Common Redshank Tringa totanus Common along Oosterschelde, Zeeland, on 28/11 with at least 50. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres On 28/11, some handfuls were walking along Brouwersdam. Red Knot Calidris canutus On 28/11, more than 100 were foraging at Oosterschelde along Grevelingendam and Philipsdam. Sanderling Calidris alba On 28/11, c 10 were foraging at Oosterschelde along Philipsdam and a few roosting flocks of up to 200 were photographed on Brouwersdam. Dunlin Calidris alpina On 28/11, a distant flock was present at Oosterschelde along Philipsdam. On 29/11, a flock flew past Workumerwaard. Ruff Calidris pugnax On 28/11, four were foraging amidst Northern Lapwings at Wevers Inlaag. Also on 28/11, a flock of c 50 flew past Plompetoren, Burghsluis. Great Skua Stercorarius skua In the afternoon of 28/11, Jean found a first-winter swimming along the northern side of Brouwersdam; later it flew past and was photographed. Common Gull Larus canus Locally numerous in meadows (100s to 1000s on 26/11, 29/11 and 30/11). One was present at Brouwersdam on 28/11. Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Five were seen in Zeeland on 28/11. On 29/11, one was present at Vossemeer, Flevoland. Herring Gull Larus argentatus argenteus/argentatus Numerous in Zeeland on 28/11, with a few Scandinavian L a argentatus. Also on 30/11. 7 Limosa Holidays

8 Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans On 29/11, two adults were seen at Veluwemeer. Also on 29/11, an immature was found at Sondelerleien west of Lemmer, Friesland, trying to eat a huge fish. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus graellsii Our only Lesser Black-backed was a third-winter graellsii at Brouwersdam on 28/11. Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Common to numerous and seen on every day. Common Guillemot Uria aalge On 28/11, two were swimming together along Brouwersdam, Zeeland. Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle On 28/11, a distant one was found by Jo along the northern side of Brouwersdam. Feral Rock Dove Columba livia domestica I Noted on every day. Stock Dove Columba oenas Seen on every day but not in high numbers except in Zeeland on 28/11, when a foraging flock was found in a field. Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Common in suburban habitat and noted on three days. [Common Barn Owl Tyto alba] On 26/11, a dead corpse was seen along the highway to Harderwijk. Tawny Owl Strix aluco On 26/11 and 30/11, one showed beautifully in a chimney at Bussum. Little Owl Athene noctua At dusk on 26/11, one was perched on a barn at Hierden. Long-eared Owl Asio otus On 26/11, two were seen at a Japanese conifer in a park near Hoofddorp, close to the airport. On 29/11, one was present in a pine in a garden in the centre of Swifterbant. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis On 26/11, one flew past and perched in reeds at our picnic spot at Pampushaven, Flevoland. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Common in the Veluwe forest on 26/11, 27/11 and 30/11. Also seen at Oostvaardersplassen on 27/11. Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius In the late afternoon of 26/11, both a male and a female were quite vocal and visible when flying about before entering their roosting holes. Green Woodpecker Picus viridis On 26/11, one was noted at the Haarlemmermeerse Bos park of Hoofddorp. Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri On 26/11, four were seen at the Haarlemmermeerse Bos park of Hoofddorp. Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor On 27/11, one flew past with a prey at the northern side of Keersluisplas, Oostvaardersplassen. Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius Common and seen on most days, being common at the Veluwe woods and Oostvaardersplassen on 27/11. Common Magpie Pica pica Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula Rook Corvus frugilegus One was seen at Loenen on 26/11. On 29/11, common in south-western Friesland. Carrion Crow Corvus corone 8 Limosa Holidays

9 Willow Tit Poecile montanus In the afternoon of 27/11, two were well seen along Kitsweg, Oostvaardersplassen. Coal Tit Periparus ater On 30/11, two were watched in pines at Leuvenumse Bos near the hotel. Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus On 30/11, we found at least four pairs at Leuvenumse Bos near the hotel. Great Tit Parus major Common and seen on almost every day (not 28/11). Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Common and seen on almost every day (not 28/11). Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus europaeus On 26/11, a few flew past at the Haarlemmermeerse Bos park in Hoofddorp. Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis On 27/11, one flew overhead at Hoge Praambult, Oostvaardersplassen. Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus On 26/11, several were showing well in reeds at Waverhoek, Mijdrecht. On 27/11, a few were heard at our walk in De Driehoek, Oostvaardersplassen. Goldcrest Regulus regulus Abundant in Veluwe pine woods near Harderwijk on 26/11, 27/11 and 30/11. Northern Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Common and seen or heard on every day except 28/11. Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea Common in Veluwe woods on 26/11, 27/11 and 30/11, also at the Harderwijk hotel. Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla In the late afternoon of 26/11, two were seen at Hierden. On 27/11, we had close views of one at Kitsweg, Oostvaardersplassen. On 30/11, one was heard at Leuvenumse Bos. Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris Common Blackbird Turdus merula Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Small numbers were seen. On 27/11, five at an orchard west of Zeewolde in Flevoland. On 28/11, two were seen at Grevelingendam. On 29/11, one flew past at Kortenhoef. Redwing Turdus iliacus On 27/11, more than 20 were foraging at the Dasselaarweg camping. On 29/11, a flock was seen at Riis, Friesland. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos On 26/11, two of us watched one flying past at dusk in Hierden. European Robin Erithacus rubecula Common and seen or heard on every day except 29/11. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Locally common and noted on four days. Dunnock Prunella modularis On 27/11, one was seen at Dasselaarweg, Zeewolde. Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis On 27/11, four were foraging along Ibisweg, Almere. Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta Only a few were heard, eg, at Oostvaardersplassen on 27/11. Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus One perched on the roadside along Oosterschelde near Burghsluis, Schouwen, on 28/11. Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Common and seen on every day (except 26/11). Brambling Fringilla montifringilla In Flevoland, one was seen at Harderdijk and several heard at Dasselaarweg, Zeewolde, on 27/11. 9 Limosa Holidays

10 European Greenfinch Chloris chloris On 27/11, several were heard in flight at Kitsweg, Oostvaardersplassen. Siskin Spinus spinus Common and heard on every day except 28/11. Four were seen while foraging at Dasselaarweg, Zeewolde, on 27/11. Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis On 27/11, a flock of 10 was seen in flight at Ibisweg, Almere. On 29/11, a flock of 35, with a few Chaffinches, landed on the ground near Vossemeer, Flevoland. Linnet Linaria cannabina On 28/11, one flew past at Wevers Inlaag, Schouwen. Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes On 27/11, we enjoyed the presence of more than 100 (!) individuals foraging, perching and flying in loose flocks at Dasselaarweg, Zeewolde. Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus On 26/11, one was seen in reeds at Waverhoek. On 27/11, one was heard at Keersluisplas, Oostvaardersplassen. Mammals Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Foraging singles were noted on 28/11 and 30/11. Red Fox Vulpes vulpes On broad daylight of 27/11, twice a confiding individual was encountered at Oostvaardersplassen. Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus On 28/11, three were seen at the outlet of Brouwersdam, Zeeland. Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus On 27/11, two were seen in Flevoland. In Friesland, three walked in a field with Barnacle Geese near Parrega. Red Deer Cervus elaphus On 27/11, 100s in herds were seen at Oostvaardersplassen. Tarpan (Konik Wild Horse) Equus caballus I On 27/11, herds were seen and heard at Oostvaardersplassen. Aurochs (Heck Wild Cow) Bos taurus I On 27/11, herds were seen at Oostvaardersplassen. On 28/11, several were present at Volkerakdam. {Wild Boar Sus scrofa} On 26/11, 27/11 and 30/11, many rootings were seen at the Harderwijk woodlands. {Northern Mole Talpa europaea} Diggings were noticed on all days. 10 Limosa Holidays