Sunday, December 24, 2017

The Netherlands summer 2017: Geese

It became cold. That is not a bad thing for birding in winter. But my body isn't used to these temperatures yet. I feel more comfortable at home, tidying up old files, like these summer photos.

In Isahaya birders stopped for just one bird, in the Netherlands they run away. Geese are everywhere and there are way too many! There are about 9 kinds, here are just the 3 most common:

 Barnacle Goose (Brandgans)





In city parks Egyptian Goose (Nijlgans)





 Greylag Goose (Grauwe Gans)







Not to forget the domestic ones and the hybrids!





Of course there are swans as well. Most common: Mute Swan (Knobbelzwaan)


in the canals


in the cities


in the nature reserves, too


With a young Spoonbill on the left

The Netherlands summer 2017: Spoonbills

In nature reserve the Blauwe Kamer it's always fun to watch the spoonbills at their roosting site. Lots of activity, specially in the nesting season

Eurasian Spoonbill, Phatalea leucorodia, LEPELAAR






Newborns with pink-colored bills vying for a morsel of the latest feed




rivalry 









The Netherlands summer 2017: Thrushes and some more

The most common of all Thrushes, anywhere in the world I thought. Till I came to Japan

Common Blackbird (Merel) male



female



male again



young male



juvenile female 



My favorite bird in the Netherlands: Song Thrush (Zanglijster) singing his heart out





Great Cormarants (Aalscholver) on the river Rhine







Always many rabbits, specially at dusk...



 ...but I saw only 1 hare


The Netherlands summer 2017: Woodpeckers etc

Back to the sandy soils of the east:

Eurasian Jay (Vlaamse Gaai)








Great Spotted Woodpecker (Grote Bonte Specht)


Middelste Bonte Specht










Left: European Green Woodpecker (Groene Specht)    Right: Black Woodpecker (Zwarte Specht)




When I was looking at the Green Specht a family of 4 Roe deer came running along





 Mr Pheasant (Fazant)


and his offspring