Today I celebrate my 48th birthday but that does not stop me to be in the field. Also today, the Kamperhoek is on the program followed by a visit to the Eempolder.
Today I celebrate my 48th birthday but that does not stop me to be in the field. Also today, the Kamperhoek is on the program followed by a visit to the Eempolder. At 7.15 o’clock we're back at the Kamperhoek. The sky looks threatening with thick clouds. There is a weak southeast wind and cold to feel. The local White Wagtails are still present but there are not many birds migrating. A Merlin flies over at high altitude and this is my first this year. A Caspian Gull comes from the IJsselmeer, there is one more later. There are still flocks of White-fronted Geese coming over and today we count 1558 birds. 3 Long-tailed Tits do various attempts to cross the Ketelmeer. The birds climb to great heights and then turn back again to the safety of the treetops. Eventually they the birds leave. Blue Tits and Great Tits are also counted. A local Peregrine strikes a Jackdaw which he eats at one of the pylons. Later that morning the wind takes on in force and the migration almost comes to a stop. For a complete list of of the counting click here.
At 12 o’clock we drive to the Eempolder. We have a second try for a Pied Wagtail. Also today there are thousands of Geese and among them a Red-breasted Goose. The whole polder is searched but there are hardly any Wagtails let alone a Pied Wagtail.