Tern invasion!

Scroll down for the Albatross - A special event is happening close to Groningen also; flocks of Whiskered and White-winged Terns have settled for breeding! More Terns, Greenish Warbler, Lesser Grey Shrike and Albatross later:-)

Black-browed Albatross - update

It showed well again today!
The story; some days ago a BB-Albatross was seen at the Northern tip of Denmark; Skagen. With the large seabird-colony at Helgoland as an attraction we speculated about the bird visiting the island. Of course this was not serious and we were to busy with Blyths Reed Warbler, Lesser Grey Shrike and that (for sure!) rare Bunting. And then yesterday morning at 7:00 Gotthard Krug saw and photographed the Albatross very close at Jugendherberg, but he lost it behind Dune with some Gannets. Due to communication problems the news only got out at 9:00 and from that time outlook posts were installed at Kringel, the cliffs and Jugendherberg. Only at 17:00 the the bird was relocated, flying in front of the cliffs, just as we were inhouse warming up after a long day in cold stormy winds... Luckily the bird showed well later that evening, see previous post.

This morning the Albatross was more frequently flying along the cliffs, and landed even on the back side of Lange Anna! I saw it above land at Kringel and it cruised also over the Fanggarten. Black-browed Albatross, a stunning addition to the Helgoland-list!!

would you believe this?! Albatross above Lange Anna!

incoming!

above our heads!

Helgoland - Black-browed Albatross ! ! ! !

I am still speechless, full story later!

The Bunting - Belegfotos

Helgoland - female Black-headed Bunting

This bird stayed for only half an hour at Kringel but is probably still somewhere on the island. I will add some more pictures later which may confirm the ID beyond doubt (this plumage is very difficult to tell from Red-headed).

Helgoland - Lesser Grey Shrike

Draadplaat - most pictures of a bird on a wire are horrible, but this species is OK with it. This beautifull Lesser Grey Shrike cruised Oberland and NEGelande today. More later!

Dotterels!

After a long rainy saturday the sky cleared in the evening. And to my surprise there was a small flock of Dotterel close to Bantpolder, and rather close to the road! (digiscoped)

Top-Of-Holland Birding Day

The yearly race to find the rarest bird in Groningen, Fryslan, Drenthe (TOH). And the gathering of the same team that toured Texas in winter 2000/2001. We (Bas, Symen, Sietse and I) had the perfect plan; while I prepared the boat in Lauwersmeer, they would have an early check on the miniature-Ezumakeeg in Lemmer which has yielded surprises in the past. On Lauwersmeer we would have the opportunity of checking places were no other team could go, with special focus on Night Heron. This species was surprisingly high rated with 5 points and could easily win the race!

checking the other side of Oude Robbengat, many Swifts!

In the end we did not find Night Heron, but much enjoyed the day with the pair of White-tailed Eagle, twitched the Dotterels in Kollumerwaard, where an Ospey thermalled into the clouds, and we saw the 9(!) Black-winged Stilts in Ezumakeeg.

Osprey at the Dotterel-site

digiscope

Earlier this week I joined the vessel which is monitoring fish for our project at Kornwerderzand, and gave an interview to the regional press Omrop Fryslan. The pictures show a Sea Lamprey; a strange prehistoric fish which sucks blood from it's host. I succeeded in not being it's host that day!

Sea Lamprey. Thanks to Ben Griffioen for the left picture

PS Returned my D7100 and for a little more I bought second-hand D300 and D700. Do not believe reviewers stating these camera's are outdated, they are excellent performers and quality build, only extreme cropping needs megapixels. Think again if you think you need a D800 for landscape or portraits. I will show when my lens is repaired.

One year ago @Lauwersoog