Bingo!

Dotterels in evening light at Anjumerpolder. Pininfarina could not have drawn the design of these birds, wow! Meanwhile Ezumakeeg is full of Swifts again, they are back.

(last ones are digiscopes)

another amazing garden bird

After last week's Little Owl today was again a big surprise; a Grasshopper Warbler was hiding in the back garden! It took some patience to have better views of this extreme skulker but eventually it showed, just next to the house!

I have build a nestbox for the owl and broke a whole in the wall (but haven't checked since). And the Swallows have returned again!

More spring/Lauwersmeer soon

at last, spring!!

We had to wait long for it but finally migration has really started. Only last week the first Swallows arrived here in the north but today there were 100's migrating along the coast. Also good numbers of Meadow Pipit and it was good to see the Yellow Wagtails had returned between the sheep.

On the ground there was also many action and the few bushes that remain on Eemshaven held many Robin, thrushes (including 5 Ring Ouzel) and both species of redstart. I have actually never seen such a high density of Robins!

Yesterday an early Caspian Tern was at Ezumakeeg but the best records were at home; 2 loudly calling Mediteranean Gulls migrated over the garden yesterday and today I was even more surprised to find a Little Owl inside the barn! This is a very rare species here, and I feel obliged to drill a hole in the wall and put a nestbox. Enough to do next week!