Birdwatchers across the Netherlands and beyond have been buzzing with excitement over an extraordinary visitor: a male Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri) spotted at Texel-Wagejot, Noord-Holland. This remarkable sea duck, native to Arctic regions, has drawn thousands of birders eager to catch a glimpse of a species never before recorded in the Netherlands.
The discovery of this adult male Spectacled Eiderat east of the Lancasterdijk on the eastern shore of Texel is a landmark moment in Dutch ornithology as well as for the Western Palearctic (WP). The bird was first found and photographed on January 13th by Elian Hijne. According to tarsiger.com, this is the first record for the Netherlands and only the fifth documented sighting in the Western Palearctic. Previous records include three occurrences in Finnmark, (Norway) and two in Svalbard.
This particular individual is believed to be in its third year, an assumption based on its plumage. Although observed at a distance too great for high-quality photographs, the bird was still seen well by numerous observers at the same location where it was originally found. The sheer number of birders and nature enthusiasts visiting the site suggests the rarity of this sighting. A local birder mentioned that several thousand people, both from the Netherlands and across Europe, have traveled to witness this Arctic visitor.
Is said, that the bird is best seen in the afternoon quite far out in the around the Lancaster tower monument. In the morning, this Eider is often absent and is said to arrive from the north on its preferred grounds.
The Spectacled Eider is a striking species of sea duck belonging to the family Anatidae. Males in breeding plumage exhibit an unmistakable appearance with their black-and-white body, greenish nape, and the characteristic white spectacle-like patches around the eyes, which give the species its name. Females are more subdued in coloration, displaying a mottled brown plumage for camouflage in their tundra nesting grounds.
Typically, Spectacled Eider inhabits coastal tundra regions of Alaska and eastern Siberia, where they breed in marshy areas near the Arctic Ocean. In winter, they migrate to ice-free waters in the Bering Sea. The appearance of a male Spectacled Eider so far south is highly unusual and may be attributed to vagrancy, possibly influenced by climatic factors or navigation errors.
This record not only highlights the importance of Texel-Wagejot as a key birdwatching location but also emphasizes the need for continued monitoring of rare and vagrant species. Such occurrences provide valuable insights into bird migration patterns and potential environmental changes affecting their natural ranges.
In order to meet the growing demand for top images of the rarer species of Palaearctic Bird-lens.com has specifically made trips to remote places. Additionally every chance is used, if a rare bird is around the homeground. This to do everything to ensure excellent photos of the Birds of the Western Palearctic. The yield of pictures also of rare Western Palaearctic birds is very good. There are other nice images of birds, that you will find behind the tab “Picture Shop“. Just give a notice if you need a picture of a bird which is not online.