29-05-2022 - Collared Flycatcher
The goal of the day was actually a Balkan Subalpine Warbler that was reported yesterday on Vlieland. How different would the day be to go expired.
As mentioned, a Balkan Subalpine Warbler was discovered on Vlieland that we wanted to have on the annual list. Alwin and Donny also felt like it and we agreed on a carpool spot near Breukelen. We wanted to be in Harlingen around 7 o'clock so that we could take the 9 o'clock boat to Vlieland. With the condition that the Balkan Subalpine Warbler should first become seen. If he was not seen before 9 am but later, a later boat was still an option.
On the way to Harlingen we had a lot of rain and on arrival in port we looked for a Greater Scaup that hanged around here for some time. It was really cold and there was a strong wind. The Greater Scaup was not found and we went to explore the harbor area. Apart from a few Black Redstarts, this yielded nothing. Slowly it became 9 o'clock and there came no report of the Balkan Subalpine Warbler. We decided to drive to the Lauwersmeer and look for species ourselves.
A lot of swallows flew at the Lauwersmeer and that was a great moment to take out my brand new 100-500mm lens. This lightweight combination was perfect for capturing the little acrobatic swallows. Also swifts were photographed relatively easily. Furthermore, there were not many birds and we now drove to the Bochtjesplaat.
Here I continued to photograph the swallows present and Alwin, Donny and Maartje searched the mudflats. Also nothing much special here. We were going to drive on to the Eemshaven when a report was received from a Collared flycatcher at the very south tip of Limburg. There wasn't even a long hesitation and we decided to try the Collared Flycatcher.
We drove back to Breukelen where we continued with 2 cars. Around 3.30 pm we arrived in the Eyserbosschen near Eys. The Collared Flycatcher had not been seen since 1.00 pm. There were still a few birders on the spot but they soon left too.
We were convinced that the bird must still be there and we decided to wait. It was Alwin who found the Collared flycatcher 6.00 pm. A few hundred yards away he heard the bird singing. The bird moved to the original spot and it song was heard frequently and occasionally we saw him.
The bird was passed on through the reporting systems and it was not long before several birders arrived. Pleased with the sighting Maartje and I drove back to Uden. Alwin and Donny stayed in Limburg to look for Garden Dormouses. With the Collared Flycatcher, our annual list has increased to 297 species.