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.