Vismigratierivier!

With some proud I can present the image of a project I have been working on last months; the "Fish-migration River". The idea is to make a gradual connection between the salt Waddensea and freshwater IJsselmeer to facilitate the migration of various species of fish, and present breeding, resting and foraging habitat for birds. The Afsluitdijk is great for safety against flooding but has blocked the migration of many species of fish from the sea to IJsselmeer and Rhine. Full details (in dutch) here; http://www.rijkewaddenzee.nl/nieuws/nieuws/haalbaarheidsstudie-vismigratierivier-afsluitdijk-overhandigd

Meanwhile winter is here, with a thick snow cover. Birds are having a hard time and it feels really good to provide various kinds of birdfood every evening. I only need to wait for the weekend to see in daylight which birds are actually eating it:-)
Some weeks ago a Sparrowhawk did an unsuccesfull try to catch a sparrow and I had close views as it was sitting just next to the window. I looked rather fustrated as all the birds were hiding in deep cover.

The Greenfinches are still there, they really like the sunflower-seeds!

And some winter images from the archives, I am sure it is a good representative of Lauwersmeer last days.

Happy new year!

Sorry for the irregular posting but it is winter, days are shorts (and time also:-). The garden is still attracting many birds including a Woodcock which unfortunately did not return after I unintentionally flushed it, and yesterday a Peregrine flew over. Some weeks ago we had a spectacular view of 4 together over the office in Leeuwarden, my biggest "flock" ever!

And some pictures of some oldskool winter birding around the Afsluitdijk. Highlights were a Black Brant, 2 Long-tailed Ducks, Velvet Scoter and many Smew, 2 Bitterns (one at Den Oever, flushed by a walker, and one between Kornwerderzand and Zurich fighting the strong winds) and a surprising Waxwing somewhere in Harlingen. It does not happen very often that you find where you were looking for!

Best wishes for 2013!

garden birds

no rings unfortunately

Waxwings!

A second wave is spreading over the northern part of Holland. As self-found Waxwings are to be preferred above twitching we searched in Winsum, Baflo, Warffum, Den Andel and Eenrum. Twitching is second-best so we headed to Dokkum, had a quick stop at a Red-breasted Goose along the dike (which was flushed by a woman with barking dogs asking us if we were looking at Waxwings...)

But finally, in fading light, we enjoyed the impressive sight and sounds of a large group of Waxwings! (we counted 34).

Tit invasion

During autumn it was clear that both Great and Blue Tits were on the move. A big flock is wintering in Pieterzijl now and this weekend I had some time to check for rings. The number of birds is really amazing with regularly 10 Great and 10 Blue Tits together in the garden, the actual number is much higher but impossible to determine.

Some years ago I was able to read a metal ring of a Great Tit, and now there are 2 metal-ringed Blue Tits present. Their visits are irregular and short but still I managed to get some pictures of the birds, one is wearing a dutch ring but the other?? I think I have all the numbers but without the country of origin it is useless. If you think you know which text is written on the ring please contact me at roefmulder(AT)hotmail.com

Long-billed Dowitcher Bantpolder

The Peregrine on the pictures flushed all the birds 20 seconds after I arrived, thanks a lot!!! The Dowitcher did not return (high ISO digiscopes).

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