Spending the yearly vacation this time in the Netherlands, it was possible to look for birds as well. While looking for information on birding in Holland, we came across www. http://waarneming.nl/ and www.birdingholland.com, a website for guided birding in the Netherlands. Very helpful is the website http://vogelkijkhut.nl although not all sites – especially the newly created ones – are described.
Target birds
No real target birds in that time of the year. An early returning migrant on the “wrong” side of the Atlantic Ocean would be good. No great expectations.
Weather
The weather was mostly dry with a lot of sun. A bit of rain in the middle of the 2 weeks and a lot of wind on the last days. The temperature ranged from 15º to 25º Centigrade.
Accomodation
During our stay in the Netherlands, we were located in the Bungalow park EUREKA. The bungalows of the Eureka holiday park are not as tightly packed with rather big gardens and space between. Also it is not next to a loud highway or within the centre of roaring tourism as you may find it further to the south. We looked for something near the nice birding places. We booked a rather large house directly from the owner at a reasonable price.
Best Birding Sites
Zwanenwater
This reserve is probably one of the most famous sites in Noord Holland with its various bird viewpoints. The lookouts are best reached on a circular route of 4.5 kilometers. There is a floating bird watching hide on western site. From this is a look at the northern lake to the north, east and south. Due to the small holes you can look through with binoculars only. The wooden hut on the other side of the lake provides a glance in the direction of north, west and south. On the water you will be able to see different species of ducks. From a panoramic hill, you can see a spoonbill colony. This is possible from a derelict windscreen – screen for bird watching – too, which is located in a quite remote area reachable only with boots on a muddy path through high reeds and grass. A telescope is advisable for the Zwanenwater anyway.
De Putten
A nice albeit little wetland, visible from the Hondsboscheweg from Petten to Camperduin. A good selection of waders and terns should be observed
Breakwater dam north Camperduin
One oft he few sites nearby where you are close to off-shore feeling. Good for gulls and the only site for whimbrels in the 2 weeks
Dunes at Hargen aan Zee, Schoorlse Duin
excellent dune habitat with a fine selection of passerine birds, flowering and seeding plants attracts mainly finches, the site for the Common Rosefinch
De Flieger, Egmond aan den Hoef
A beautiful located lake in dune habitat. Grazed with big mammals (horses and ancient cattle) will be more productive in spring and late summer. But already quite a fine selection of water birds
Het Wildrijk, Sint Maartensvlotbrug
A speciality in this open countryside. A densely wooded stretch of forest with mainly oak and maples, but also some old beech trees and holly (Ilex sp.). Full with birds of the woods and their youngs
Nollen van Abbestede, Callantsoog
A nice wetland, visible from the Duinweg north of Callantsoog. A newly established extension showed to be very productive with an excellent selection of waders and ducks. The plover site – with many youngs. The site of the Lesser Yellowlegs
Duinreservaat Noordholland, Castricum
Big and excellent Nature Reserve with dune habitat, woods and open watercourses (some for water works). A good and extensive system of trails provides access (by foot and with bicycle) and several hides provide seluded observation opportunities. This is really one of the most beautiful dunes of the Netherlands. A cold beer you get at Johanna’s Hof. The visitor center Hoep is located near Castricum. The observation tower Kruisberg near Heemskerk should be fine for the observation of migrating birds in fall.
Heemskerker Noordbroekpolder, Heemskerk
An extensive wetland with meadows, newly established north of Heemskerk. Best visited from the Noordermaatweg. Again an excellent selection of waders and ducks. The site of the Glossy Ibis.
The birds in taxonomic order:
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
On various ponds in dune reservats, with youngs. Not really common, no ind. in the ditches of the meadows (as are in wintertime)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
Some on Zwanenwater lakes, 1 Ind. On the sea near Camperduin
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Abundant, big colonies on Zwanenwater and waterworks near Castricum
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
1 ind. In De Putten
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Abundant and quite “tame”
Great Egret (Casmerodius albus)
Only 1 ind. in Nollen van Abbestede the last day
Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris)
Heard only, 1st day in Zwanenmater, min. 2 ind.
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
1 ind. Heemskerker Noordbroekpolder, seen on 2nd of July still there on 4th of July
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
Only few, highest no. on last day when approx. 15 ind. were flying over beach at Callantsoog
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
common
Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
abundant
Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus)
1 ind. On Zwanenwater canal together with Greylag Goose
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Some on Zwanenwater
Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)
3 ind. on Zwanenwater
Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus)
Few pairs on flooded meadows (e.g. De Putten),
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
Very common on flooded meadows (De Putten), only some on Zwanenwater
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
Some pairs on Zwanenwater
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Very common, mainly Zwanenwater
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
Quite common on flooded meadows (Nollen van Abbestede), with youngs. All in non-breeding plumage; only some on Zwanenwater
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
1 male on flooded field near Callantsoog
Garganey (Anas querquedula)
1 male non-breeding plumage on 2nd lake Zwanenwater
Common Teal (Anas crecca)
common on the last days only, on flooded meadows (Nollen van Abbestede). All in non-breeding plumage; if present, in quite good numbers
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
some on Zwanenwater
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
some on ditches between wet meadows, few on Zwanenwater
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)
Only observations of rows of Eiders over the sea
Western Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Only 1 female on Zwanenwater
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Seen every 3rd day circling in the air, 1 female with prey in canopy of Het Wildrijk
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
1 ind – probably female – hunting low over dunes out of pine forest southern end of Zwanenwater
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Not very common, if seen, then circling in the air
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
common
Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo)
Hunting over 2 bigger ponds in dune reservats, probably for dragonflies.
Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix)
1 family with at least 6 chicks in remenants of dunes near agric. Fields close to Callantsoog
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Quite common on fields
Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)
Heard only, Zwanenwater edge of reeds
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Few, Zwanenwater often hiding at edge of reeds
Common Coot (Fulica atra)
abundant
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
abundant
Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
Abundant, very aggressive with youngs
Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
Common on inland wetlands, youngs seems to be older
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
Common on inland wetlands, quite aggressive with youngs
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Very common on inland wetlands, very aggressive with youngs
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
Quite common in De Putten and Nollen van Abbestede, Callantsoog
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
6 ind. seen on Breakwater dam north Camperduin on 7th day
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
abundant
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
1 ind. in De Putten the 2nd day
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
The Mega! 1 ind. in Nollen van Abbestede
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Only 1 ind. on flooded field near Callantsoog on 12th day
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Several ind. In reserve Nollen van Abbestede, surprisingly rare on seashore
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
Some – not more than 3 ind. – in De Putten and Nollen van Abbestede, Callantsoog
Mew Gull (Larus canus)
common
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)
Some, on inland wetlands
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
Abundant, by far the most common gul
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
Several, on inland wetlands
Common Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
Common, mainly inland
Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)
Quite a few, together with Common Tern on De Putten all days, seen hunting over the sea
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
Abundant, often seen hunting over the sea
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
Few ind. together with Common Tern on De Putten the 2nd day
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)
1 ind. together with others Terns on De Putten the 5th day
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
Quite common on fields with other Pigeons
Stock Pigeon (Columba oenas)
Mostly in pairs, not uncommon on fields mainly with other Pigeons
Common Wood-Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
Common in gardens
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Common in gardens, almost always heard; the background noise
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
In the first days more often heard/ seen than after, best site: Zwanenwater dunes
Common Swift (Apus apus)
common
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
Almost daily in the garden in Bungalow park, young birds
Eurasian Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Should be quite numerous, but seen only twice in the Duinreservaat Noordholland near Castricum aan Zee
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
abundant
Black-billed Magpie (Pica pica)
abundant
Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
abundant
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
Very common
Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Common, but only heard over fields
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
Only seen on 1st lake Zwanenwater, mostly young birds fed by adults on wires near floating hide
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Common, best seen on 1st lake Zwanenwater, mostly young birds fed by adults on wires near floating hide with Sand Martins
Northern House-Martin (Delichon urbica)
Occasionally, if seen, numerous
Great Tit (Parus major)
Common in gardens, often young birds fed by adults
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Common in gardens, often young birds fed by adults
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Several flocks, often with young birds fed by adults
Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Common in gardens, often young birds fed by adults
Common Grasshopper-Warbler (Locustella naevia)
1 ind. showed up near flowering plants in Dunes at Hargen aan Zee, in the parking lot Schoorlse Duin
Savi’s Warbler (Locustella luscinioides)
In reed bed in Zwanenwater, no other records
Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
Only heard, quite common especially in transition zones reed – willows in Zwanenwater
Eurasian Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
Common in Zwanenwater
Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina)
Only heard, best near Groet Polder bei Bergen
Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)
Quite common, seen only in willow/pine thicket in Zwanenwater
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Abundant, mostly heard
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
Seen only in Het Wildrijk, should be numerous in gardens, too. But maybe wrong season for good observation
Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)
Common, frequently showed up near flowering plants in Dunes at Hargen aan ZeeLesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)
Much more often heard, than seen, several ind. showed up near flowering plants in Dunes at Hargen aan Zee, in the parking lot Schoorlse Duin
Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Abundant throughout
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Beautiful song heard often in Zwanenwater, seen only in the Duinreservaat Noordholland near Castricum
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
Common in gardens of Bungalow park, a bird of dusk and dawn
Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)
Quite commonly heard in De Flieger, Egmond aan den Hoef, only 1 ind. Seen shortly
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
1 ind. On trail in Zwanenwater
Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
2 females near a dune pond in the Duinreservaat Noordholland, Castricum
European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
Several territories throughout, 1 pair showed up frequently near flowering plants in Dunes at Hargen aan Zee, in the parking lot Schoorlse Duin
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
1 ind. Male in the parking lot Schoorlse Duin
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
abundant
Hedge Accentor (Prunella modularis)
Common in garden in Bungalow park
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
abundant
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
Surprisingly rare, only 1 juvenile in Nollen van Abbestede
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
Abundant on meadows
Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)
1 male singing in reeds in Zwanenwater, 1st lake
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
European Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
Common, several ind. showed up near flowering plants in Dunes at Hargen aan Zee, in the parking lot Schoorlse Duin
Eurasian Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)
The most common finch, showed up often on flowering plants in Dunes at Hargen aan Zee, in the parking lot Schoorlse Duin
Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)
1 pair showed up near flowering plants in Dunes at Hargen aan Zee, in the parking lot Schoorlse Duin
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)1 pair flying overhead in the garden of Bungalow park at 1st day
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)At the entrance of Nollen van Abbestede
In total 109 species of birds. Not bad for two weeks