Iceland Gull

one of the many that invaded the Netherlands last week @Wijk aan Zee

the recent storm resulted in millions of shells and starfish on the beach. many 1000's of large gulls have gathered in a huge feeding frenzy

same bird (a first-winter)

Another day at the office

But almost immediately after I left Kornwerderzand there was this strange bird flying above the Afsluitdijk. It reminded me shortly of a Green Sandpiper with the white belly and black underwings but the erratic flight soon confirmed it to be a pratincole!
The next exit was a few kilometers away so I needed some minutes to turn and take the secondary road but luckily the bird was still there, hunting for insects above the dike. No real camera so only some records shot with the phone, but it was really close! There was direct sunlight on the underwings frequently and they were clearly black; Black-winged Pratincole!

After a few minutes I lost the bird when I was checking if there were any useful images on the phone.

Afsluitdijk km 98.4

update soon

busy times, crashed computer and other priorities
Below is a Common Loon at Quabbin Reservoir, Boston, from last June.
Several of these brilliant birds showed really close, more soon!

and more Red-footed Falcons!

Another 4; a migrating female almost hit my car close to Makkum and late in the afternoon we found 3 hunting birds during an excursion along the IJsselmeer-coast (on the Makkumer Noordwaard, together with at least 2 Ospreys!).

more falcons from Fochteloerveen

Interesting small Kestrel with short rounded wings and short tail, this falcon also hunted on dragonflies while migrating east.

Apparently the length of the outer primaries are diagnostic for Common Kestrel, but it looks rather smaller (lesser:-)

Falco vespertinus

It is party again at Fochteloerveen! The easterly winds have brought Red-footed Falcons and this evening at least 9 were present! (8 females and 1 male). More images soon, also from Helgoland last weekend. Again without albatross.. 

Eemshaven

Impression of yesterday afternoon at Eemshaven, the early migrants start to arrive! The few bushes left in the area were occupied by many Robins, Chiffchaff and few Song Thrush, Redwing, Goldcrest and Firecrest, and some of them were confiding tame.

Chiffchaff with 2 Robins in the background

Chiffchaff

This Chiffchaff appeared very grey, almost like a Garden Warbler. The bird did not call so cannot be identified with certainty but it looks very Siberian.

same bird, note the blackish feet

Firecrest is always nice!

different bird in better light

note the flaming colour of the centre crown

Goldcrest

same bird

and then 2 Cranes approached from the south, luckily they could gain some height before crossing the windmills

Cranes really do not like flying over the sea but the strong southern wind forced them to cross the Wadden Sea. They left towards Borkum