Limosa - Birdwatching and Wildlife Hoildays Worldwide

This was the 12th Limosa Holidays winter tour in Holland, the 9th in November-December. The tour produced a group's total of 118 bird species and nine mammal species.

The following areas were visited:

-25 November: Gelderland: because of a several hours' delay in the flight from London, due to fog, the only birding on the first day was in forest north of Harderwijk;

-26 November: Gelderland & Flevoland: walking in the forest; in late morning, we passed through Zeewolde in Flevoland; lunch overlooking Oostvaardersplassen; in afternoon, we had a walk in the willow forest; we returned to the hotel at Harderwijk for dinner;

-27 November: Flevoland, northern Noord-Holland & western Friesland: morning, overlooking Oostvaardersplassen, then we drove across IJsselmeer, with a stop at Trintelhaven, through to Middenmeer; lunch at Den Oever and, in afternoon, we were walking over the mudflats north of Den Oever and the meadows of the Wieringen; we had a coffee-and-applepie break on the Afsluitdijk connecting Noord-Holland and Friesland; in late afternoon, we passed goose meadows and arrived at our second hotel in Galamadammen at dusk;

-28 November: Friesland: in morning, we visited the Heech meadows; then Anjum and the Lauwersmeer reserve, having lunch at Lauwersoog harbour; we returned to the Galamadammen hotel after dusk;

-29 November: Friesland, Flevoland & southern Noord-Holland: we followed the Gaasterland coast to Lemmer, and crossed Flevoland to the Lepelaarsplassen reserve; by midday, we visited IJmuiden, where we had lunch before leaving to the airport at 14:00.

Rarities found during the tour included two Snow Geese and three White-tailed Eagles. Other favourites were four Red-crested Pochards, many Great White Egrets, an adult male Rough-legged Buzzard, an adult male Merlin, a close-range Water Rail, a flushed Woodcock, a dense flock of 200 Avocets, close-range Purple Sandpipers, many Long-eared Owls and one Short-eared Owl, Black Woodpeckers, two Great Grey Shrikes, Bearded and Crested Tits, Crossbills, and twice a confiding flock of Snow Buntings.

The nomenclature in the list follows the decisions of the Dutch committee for avian systematics. The number (1-22) before a species' name is a measure of frequency and relates to the number of winter tours in 1991-2004 during which each species was seen.

22 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
On 27/11, at least 20 were seen at Den Oever and at the beginning of Afsluitdijk. On 28/11, in Friesland, one was noted.

22 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
Daily seen in high numbers at all wetland sites, both in fresh water and at sea.

22 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis
Daily seen, in all areas, often roosting in flocks or flying past. Also frequently perched on posts along roadsides. Abundant in Flevoland.

10 Great White Egret Casmerodius albus
This species is still increasing in numbers since it bred for the first time in 1978. From 1998 onwards, it has been seen on all winter tours and even on most days of each tour. On 26/11, more than 10 were seen at Oostvaardersplassen and, on 27/11, more than 50 were counted in this area, from both Praambult observation posts, including groups of more than 10. Also on 27/11, one was watched at Workumerwaard, Friesland. On 28/11, three were present at Ezumakeeg, Lauwersmeer.

21 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Daily seen. A numerous bird of ditches and meadows. Also present in suburban areas.

12 Black Swan Cygnus atratus
On 27/11, four birds were seen just before dusk in a group of Mute Swan near Koudum, Friesland. This species is a regular breeder in the south-west (Zeeland).

22 Mute Swan Cygnus olor
Daily seen, usually in small groups in grasslands, often in mixed flocks with other swan species.

22 Bewick's Swan Cygnus bewickii
Seen on four days. The largest flock of more than 200 was present in the Wieringermeer near Middenmeer on 27/11. Quite a few were seen at Oostvaardersplassen on 26/11 and 27/11. A flock of 50 was roosting on the mudflats near Den Oever on 27/11. Several were seen at Lauwersmeer on 28/11. On 29/11, we enjoyed good views at Lepelaarsplassen, Flevoland, where seven individuals were swimming in the same pool as 20 Whooper Swans.

21 Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
Seen on three days. Common in Flevoland, where several families were seen on 26/11 and 27/11. On 29/11, 20 were roosting at Lepelaarsplassen.

22 Tundra Bean Goose Anser serrirostris (also known as A fabalis rossicus)

On 26/11, a flock of 10 flew over at Harderbroek near Zeewolde, Flevoland. On 27/11, we found a flock of 100s at Wieringermeer.

16 Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus
On 28/11, beautiful flocks of 1000s were seen at close range near Heech (Heeg) and Oudega. On 29/11, 60 were present in a large mixed flock of White-fronted and Barnacle Geese along the Gaasterland coast at Rijs.

22 Siberian White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons albifrons
In Flevoland, 10 were present along Praamweg on 26/11 and distant groups were seen at Oostvaardersplassen on 27/11. Several were present at Wieringermeer on 27/11. Abundant in Friesland on 27/11, 28/11 and 29/11, with 10.000s.

22 Greylag Goose Anser anser
Numerous in Flevoland on 26/11 and 27/11. Also present in Wieringermeer on 27/11 and at Lauwersmeer on 28/11.

11 Snow Goose Anser caerulescens
On 28/11, at Bantpolder, a white and a blue morph Snow Goose were found in a huge mixed geese flock.

16 Greater Canada Goose Branta canadensis
On 27/11, 10 were present in a large group of Tundra Bean Geese at Wieringermeer. On 28/11, one was found in a group of Pink-footed Geese.

22 Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis
Daily seen from 26/11 to 29/11, and abundant. Amazingly large flocks of 10.000s were present at Workum and Anjum, Friesland, on 27/11 and 28/11.

21 Dark-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla
On 27/11, we watched a beautiful flock of 200 at close range at Stroe on Wieringen. On 28/11, four were present with Barnacle and White-fronted Geese near Anjum.

22 Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus I

Daily seen in small numbers, in all wetland areas.

22 Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
At Ezumakeeg, Lauwersmeer, more than 100 were present on 28/11. On 29/11, again more than 100 were swimming at IJsselmeer near Lepelaarsplassen.

22 Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope
Numerous and daily seen on fresh water and in ditches, with numbers higher than those of Mallard.

22 Gadwall Mareca strepera
Common and daily more than 100 were seen on fresh water.

22 Common Teal Anas crecca
Largest flocks of 100s were seen at Oostvaardersplassen on 27/11 and at Lepelaarsplassen on 29/11.

22 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Common and daily seen.

21 Northern Pintail Anas acuta
On 26/11 and 27/11, at least 50 were among Eurasian Wigeons at Oostvaardersplassen. On 28/11, three males and a group of 10 were seen from hides at Ezumakeeg, Lauwersmeer. On 29/11, 30 were swimming with Bewick's and Whooper Swans at Lepelaarsplassen.

20 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
On 26/11 and 27/11, at least 20 were seen at Oostvaardersplassen. On 27/11, a flock of 50 were foraging on the mudflats at Den Oever. On 28/11, 100s were present at Ezumakeeg, Lauwersmeer. On 29/11, more than 20 were at Lepelaarsplassen.

10 Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
On 26/11, three males and a female were present in a huge flock of Common Pochard and Tufted Duck north of Zeewolde.

22 Common Pochard Aythya ferina
Daily seen and numerous.

22 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Daily seen and numerous.

21 Greater Scaup Aythya marila
On 27/11, a female and a subadult male were swimming close at Trintelhaven, while several were seen in a distant flock. Also on 27/11, in the late afternoon, a huge flock of more than 1000 were present at Afsluitdijk.

22 Common Eider Somateria mollissima
On 27/11, c 10 were present at the harbour of Den Oever. On 28/11, more than 20 were seen at the Lauwersoog harbour. On 29/11, a subadult male was swimming at the southern pier of IJmuiden.

15 Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
On 29/11, a female was swimming at the southern pier of IJmuiden.

22 Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Seen in small numbers from 26 to 29 November. On 26/11, only one was seen at Oostvaardersplassen. The highest number of more than 60 was noted at IJsselmeer at Pampushaven and Lepelaarsplassen on 29/11.

22 Smew Mergellus albellus
Seen in small numbers on every day. On 25/11, two females were swimming with Mallards at Harderbroek. On 26/11, a total of 12 were seen in Flevoland, including two males. On 27/11, a total of 10 was noted for Flevoland and Den Oever. On 28/11, more than 10 were found at Lauwersmeer, including one male. On 29/11, one female was seen at Lepelaarsplassen.

22 Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
On 27/11, c 20 were present at Den Oever. On 28/11, 10 were seen at Lauwersoog. On 29/11, at least one was swimming off IJmuiden.

22 Goosander Mergus merganser
On 26/11, twice two females were swimming at Oostvaardersplassen and a flock of eight females flew overhead. On 27/11, c 10 were seen along Houtribdijk and c 10 were present at Den Oever. On 28/11, more than 10 were noted for Lauwersoog. On 29/11, an adult male was observed at the IJsselmeer near Lepelaarsplassen.

7 Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
On 27/11, a female was swimming along the reeds of Bovenwater along Knardijk, Flevoland.

10 White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
On 27/11, between 09:00 and 10:00, we observed three individuals from Oostvaardersplassen. First, two birds appeared in distant tree tops, of which one had a white tail. One by one, these birds flew away in northerly direction, meanwhile causing quite a stir with 1000s of waterfowl to take off. A third individual also appeared in one of the distant trees but after a while it had disappeared again, presumably having flown in a southerly direction.

22 Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus
On 26/11, a female was hunting along Praamweg. On 27/11, a male and a female were seen over Oostvaardersplassen.

20 Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis
On 27/11, a male-sized individual flew past our car at Ooievaarsweg and an adult was perched on a distant pole in the open Oostvaardersplassen area. On 28/11, one flew past Ezumakeeg.

21 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
On 26/11, one flew over Zeewolde. On 27/11, one was at Lauwersmeer. On 29/11, a male landed on a fence at Gaasterland.

22 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
Daily seen and very common, easily more than 30 per day (even more than 100 noted for 27/11).

21 Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus
On 26/11, a distant individual was hunting above Oostvaardersplassen before it landed on a dike. A beautiful adult male was giving close views along Praamweg, both on 26/11 and 27/11.

22 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Daily seen in small numbers of about five per day.

10 Merlin Falco columbarius
An adult male perched for more than 30 min in a tree at Grote Praambult on 27/11.

22 Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus I

Noted twice: six foraging in a grassland at Wieringermeer on 27/11 and two in Flevoland on 29/11.

7 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
Heard several times at close range on 26/11 (Oostvaardersplassen) and 29/11 (Lepelaarsplassen) in Flevoland. One was watched at close range from a small Oostvaardersplassen hide in the afternoon of 26/11. On 28/11, one flew past the hide at Ezumakeeg.

22 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Daily seen and common.

22 Common Coot Fulica atra
Daily seen and numerous, with some very large flocks in Flevoland.

22 Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
More than 50 were present on the mudflats at Den Oever on 27/11 and at Lauwersoog on 28/11. On 29/11, c 10 were seen on the beach of IJmuiden.

17 Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
On 27/11, a dense foraging flock of at least 200 were present on the mudflats at Den Oever.

12 Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
On 27/11, 10 were foraging on the mudflats close to shore at Den Oever.

20 Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
Numerous and daily seen in all areas, also on the mudflats at Den Oever, often in mixed flocks of 1000s with Lapwing.

22 Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
Numerous and daily seen in all areas, also on the mudflats at Den Oever, often in mixed flocks of 1000s with Golden Plover.

13 Knot Calidris canutus
On 27/11, a dense though distant flock of 100 was foraging on the mudflats at Den Oever.

15 Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
On 29/11, four individuals were foraging with Turnstones on concrete blocks of the southern pier at IJmuiden, presenting close views.

21 Dunlin Calidris alpina
On 27/11, a high number was foraging on the mudflats at Den Oever.

14 Ruff Philomachus pugnax
On 27/11, a male was found in a flock of Tundra Bean Geese at Wieringermeer.

19 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
On 26/11, three were foraging on an islet at our lunch site of Keersluisplas. Also on 26/11, in late afternoon, we watched six individuals at close range from Oostvaardersplassen. On 27/11, six were flushed along the mudflats at Den Oever.

4 Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
On 26/11, one was flushed from the forest floor at Harderwijk.

16 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
On 27/11, more than 40 were foraging on the mudflats at Den Oever.

22 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
Numerous to abundant in northern Noord-Holland on 27/11 and Friesland on 27/11, 28/11 and 29/11.

22 Common Redshank Tringa totanus
On 27/11, a few were seen at Oostvaardersplassen and many on the mudflats at Den Oever. On 28/11, a few were heard at Lauwersoog.

22 Turnstone Arenaria interpres
On 27/11, one individual was present in an arable field with Tundra Bean Geese. On 28/11, 30 tame individuals were foraging at the harbour of Lauwersoog, frequenting quays and boats. On 29/11, more than 30 were seen at close range at the southern pier of IJmuiden.

22 Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
Numerous and daily seen.

22 Common Gull Larus canus
Abundant. Daily seen, in higher numbers than Black-headed Gull. Often foraging in flocks in meadows.

22 Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Common and daily seen from 27/11 to 29/11, in far lower numbers than Black-headed and Common Gulls.

22 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
Daily seen, though in much lower numbers than Herring Gull.

9 Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
Two adults were circling at the southern pier of IJmuiden on 29/11.

22 Feral (Rock) Dove Columba livia domestica I

Almost daily seen.

22 Stock Dove Columba oenas
On 27/11, common in Flevoland and Wieringermeer. On 28/11, three were foraging at Lauwersoog.

22 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
Numerous and daily seen, often in flocks.

22 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Daily seen in low numbers.

18 Long-eared Owl Asio otus
On 27/11, six roosting birds were found in a garden at Middenmeer. On 28/11, 19 roosting individuals showed well in a willow at Heech, together with one Short-eared Owl.

1 Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
On 28/11, one was present in a flock of 19 roosting Long-eared Owls in a willow at Heech.

22 Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius
In the late afternoon of 25/11, one was seen in a roosting hole while two others arrived at dusk, of which one was seen several times before it entered its roosting hole.

22 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major
Daily seen and common in all wooded areas, also at Oostvaardersplassen and Wieringermeer.

21 Skylark Alauda arvensis
On 27/11, a distant few were flying and foraging with Tundra Bean Geese at Wieringermeer.

22 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
On 27/11, one flew overhead at Praamweg.

14 Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta
On 26/11, one was seen at close range foraging in front of a small hide at Oostvaardersplassen. On 28/11, one was heard.

9 Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus
On 29/11, a total of six were seen on the concrete blocks of the southern pier at IJmuiden.

3 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
On 27/11, Val observed one at a farm at Wieringermeer.

10 White Wagtail Motacilla alba
On 25/11, two were flushed from the minor Trekweg road in Flevoland.

22 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
Seen and/or heard on every day.

21 Dunnock Prunella modularis
Heard on 26/11 at Oostvaardersplassen. On 29/11, one was seen at a feeder in Warns, Friesland.

22 Robin Erithacus rubecula
Seen and/or heard on every day.

22 Blackbird Turdus merula
Daily seen and numerous.

22 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
On 28/11, a total of 30 perched in high trees at Lauwersmeer. On 29/11, during lunch, 25 were flying above Kennemermeer at IJmuiden.

22 Redwing Turdus iliacus
On 27/11, more than 40 were encountered at Wieringermeer. On 29/11, c 10 were present in a garden at Oudemirdum.

22 Goldcrest Regulus regulus
Numerous on 26/11.

13 Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus
On 26/11, a flock was calling at Oostvaardersplassen, and several first-year individuals flew past at close range.

21 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus