20240602 Zuid Holland

Terry and his wife enjoyed their honeymoon trip to Amsterdam and wanted a day out of the city to see the country and it's wildlife, we managed to see 86 species of birds.

The day started in the dunes with a walk for songbirds. We had excellent views of a Common Redstart, Stonechats, Whitethroats, Woodlark and a Red fox with three cubs. A walk in the woodland area produced Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Spotted Flycatcher, European Robins and Chaffinches .

Next stop was a small marshland where, despite the wind, could hear a Savi's-, Icitrine-, Garden- and Willow Warblers, seeing them was more of a challenge.

We moved to a large wetland that was productive with Red-crested Pochard, Red-crested and Common Pochard, White and Yellow Wagtails and a selection of waders like the Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Little Ringed Plovers and a pretty summer plumage Grey Plover. 

After we slightly headed back towards Amsterdam but visited the pretty country side around Nieuwkoop where we saw Purple Herons, Great Egret, White Storks and Black Terns which was a nice end of the day before being returned to Amsterdam by the guide Menno van Duijn.