Arctic summer @Lauwersoog

Most birders, including me, focussed on Ezumakeeg yesterday. Conditions are good with 150 Little Stints, 10 Temminks, a Pectoral Sandpiper and good numbers of Curlew Sands and other stuff. But lightning struck in Lauwersoog! A Brunnich's Guillemot was photographed in the harbour, and it was still present today along the dike, entertaining hundreds of birders.

The bird was unringed which should exclude the origin of a released taken-into-care bird. It might need some care however as it seems to be a little oil-stained and spent some time sitting on the dike. But later today it was swimming and diving actively again. If accepted this will be one of the major unblocking-events of the decade as the last and only "twitchable" Brunnich's Guillemot was seen in 1979! Interestingly this highly Arctic bird favoured exactly the same spot as Orca Morgan.

something is missing

Where are the summer vagrants?! Can't they find Ezumakeeg this year? OK, we got a Wilsons' Phalarope in spring, but there must be more. Some highlights from the past;

Lesser Yellowlegs, june 2008 Ezumakeeg

Pacific Golden Plover, june 2008 Ezumakeeg

Long-billed Dowitcher, may 2010 Ezumakeeg

Pectoral Sandpiper, april 2011 Ezumakeeg

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, may 2011 Ezumakeeg

EDIT: forgot one, at least. White-rumped Sandpiper, Ezumakeeg june 2009

Stints!

Cold and rainy but birdwise it is OK! I have been checking Ezumakeeg regularly last weeks and today more stints are arriving; I counted 22 Temminks and 31 Little Stints. The Red-necked Phalarope is still present but remains distant, and an adult Mediterranean Gull was present only very shortly.

The Barn Swallow is trying for a second clutch!

Ezumakeeg

Bad weather is good for waders! Wood Sandpipers, Little Stints and more Curlew Sandpipers are arriving. The Broad-billed Sandpiper has been present for several days but showed well in the evening sun (and even better in the shadow:-)

Ezumakeeg, waders!

Autumn has started, for real! Huge numbers of waders last days in Ezumakeeg with hundreds of Avocet, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff. Smaller but still good numbers of Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin and some Whimbrel, Little Stint and Golden Plover.

Rain!

Yesterday was exceptional, and although not the best timing for first flights, they managed. The cat however... More swallows later, below some impressions of Ezumakeeg. Can you find the Avocets in the rainstorm?:-)

At the very end of the day the Marsh Sandpiper returned in front of the hide, below some digiscoped images, in fading light unfortunately. But it was close!

BTW here is the solution of the "how-many-species-can-you-find" picture;

1 Black-tailed Godwit (that was the easy one!)
2 Lapwing (left of the centre, sleeping between the Godwits, and there is another one)
3 Dunlin (2, sleeping between the godwits on the left)
4 Curlew Sandpiper (the red one!)
5 Ringed Plover (yes they are!)
6 Mallard (male swimming, centre)
7 Shellduck (2 swimming)
8 Little Gull (2nd c-y flying upper left)
9 Black Tern (left of centre, flying in front of the reed)
10 Coot (the distant black birds with white bill)
11 Shoveler (male swimming on the far right)
12 Garganey (2 males sleeping just behind the Godwits, right of the Mallard)

Not safely to ID; the sleeping Sanderling in front of the Mallard and the preening Common Gull behind the Godwits on the right. And the ducks on the far left and right must be Tufted.

Swallow update

They are growing fast, actually it will only be a few days before they fledge!

June 13th:

June 16th:

June 17th:

June 20th: