20230521 Oostvaardersplassen

After a short drive out of Amsterdam we arrive at the first spot of the day and are welcomed by the call of the Cuckoo. Two males are chasing a brown morph female. Good that we do see them because both Mike and Karen need to see the bird to add it to their joined list so we’re up for a challenge.

The singing Blackcaps, Garden, Cetti’s, Sedge and Reed Warblers all have to be seen so we spend some effort in seeing them properly. While we’re scanning the area from a hilltop a male Honey Buzzard flies by at eye level from behind us.

On the lakes we observe Little Grebe, a pair of Garganey, Northern Lapwing, Common Shelducks and Common Pochards.

At the ackers toward the next stop we drive slowly to look for Yellow Wagtails. A Common Whitethroat get’s our attention and in the top of that bush a female Red-backed Shrike is looking at us for a two seconds before she flies off. We manage to see the Yellow Wagtail and have to settle with a Nightingale flying from one to the other song post.

Next stop is the visitor’s center of the Oostvaardersplassen for a toilet break and a walk into the reserve. As we’re observing a pair of White Wagtail, a Hobby swoops over our heads. 

From the hide we scan the area with the telescope and count at least 6 White-tailed Eagles.

A summer plumage Grey Plover is an unexpected surprise when suddenly a White-winged Tern passes through the view!

The last stop is close to where we started but at this site you need the light in your back in the afternoon. A foraging Spoonbill is the first bird we see from the hide and there are many ducks on the partly flooded fields including Garganey, Eurasian Teal, Gadwall and Northern Shoveler. 

The wader migration is almost over but still we see a Greenshank among the breeding Common Redshank, Northern Lapwings, Avocets and our national bird the Black-tailed Godwit.