Ackerdijksche Plassen

I Have been involved in a road accident that has left my left hand broken and withered.

I have only recently managed to visit my local spot rather than venturing further afield. Recent trips have however provided me with interesting sightings.
There are at least eght pairs f breeding AVOCETS, many of the more commoner waders also breeding(BLACKTAILED GODWIT, OYSTERCATCHER, GREEN AND REDSHANK), etc SEDGE WARBLERS in good numbers with a few NIGHTINGALES and GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS dotted around. A pair of BLUETHROATS were found yesterday as were a pair of HOBBYS displaying and hunting in the eary evening. A rather tatty female MARSH HARRIER drifted east over head, however the highlight recetly was yesterday when i disturbed a grounded female GOSHAWK, the bird flew away and was relocated five minutes later causing a stir in the CORMORANT colony, the bird circled and gained height quickly.

I'm seeing a kingfisher reularly, around half eoght every evening it flies over the studio calling as it goes. Also i have been hearing and seeing CUCKOOS at both the patch and here at the studio

10/05/10

Ackerdijksche Plassen, Nature reserve just outside Rotterdam,

WHEATEAR
WHINCHAT
WHITESTORK(At least 4)
COMMON BUZZARD
SEDGE WARBLER (15+)
GARDEN WARBLER
REED WARBLER
REED BUNTING
COMMON TERN
YELLOW WAGTAIL
COMMON SANDPIPER
AVOCET (10+)
HOBBY
SPARROWHAWK (WITH STARLING)

06/05/10

Oostvoornse Meer, A Coastal fresh water lake near the Hoek van Holland.

Alot of species today, with warm and windy weather an hours drive from the studio.
First bird of interest today was a male BLUETHROAT, on the edge of the car park.
Also present were other passerines listed below, mpst in good numbers, seen and heard throughout the day,

WILLOW WARBLER
CHIFFCHAFF
BLACKCAP
SEDGE WARBLER
CETTI'S WARBLER
NIGHTINGALE
REED BUNTING
WHEATEAR
ROCK PIPIT

Also present on the shore, surrounding area and in reed beds were;

CUCKOO
MARSH HARRIER (At lest four individuals, M+F)
COMMON BUZZARD
KESTREL

Wading and wildfowl birds were also in fantastic numbers,

COMMON SANDPIPER
GREENSHANK
REDSHANK
RINGED PLOVER
BAR-TAILED GODWIT
SPOONBILL
SHELDUCK
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (C60+)
RED BREASTED MERGANSER
GUILLEMOT

Many Gulls and Terns also

COMMON TERN
ARCTIC TERN
SANDWICH TERN
GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL
MEDERTERANIAN GULL
LITTLE GULL

05/05/10

A short trip in the car to the other side of the airport, where industrial waste land gives way to irrigated fields and meadows revealed many more species and only a kilometer from the studio. OYSTERCATCHER, REDSHANK, and BLACKTAILED GODWIT where are present in abundance feeding in the grass, displaying and chasing off local corvids.As well as HERRING, LESSER BLACKBACK, BLACK HEADED AND COMMON GULLS
COMMON BUZZARDS circled above and at least two WHITE STORK were seen flying over as well as a single SPOONBILL and also great views of a HOBBY.

REED WARBLERS, WHITETHROAT, BLACKCAPS and WILLOW WARBLERS, are very populus however there doesnt seem to be a sqaure twenty foot that doesnt have a calling or singing CHIFFCHAFF somewhere in it. Good numbers of SWALLOW and HOUSE MARTINS also SWIFT, However the bird of the day was a male YELLOW WAGTAIL in the fields, seen with at least one female present.

04/05/10

Local OYSTERCATHER and ferel BARNACLE GOOSE/CANADA GOOSE hybrid
present in some of the many roadside waterways here

02/05/10

A pair of White Storks perched on lamp posts above a busy main road opposite the garage

01/05/10

First day


WHITE STORK
COMMON BUZZARD
SPARROWHAWK
BLACKCAP
CHIFFCHAFF
GARDEN WARBLER
NIGHTINGALE
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER