The Netherlands summer 2017: Riet putten

On to the clay grounds, the last post of birds in the reed fields and this is what I was after:

Bearded Reedling (Baardman)

I had never seen these birds and I was not leaving without at least a glimpse. The timing was absolutely wrong - the birds stay down, close to the ground in summer - but look what I got: a juvenile male! (I'm so proud)

Not the spectacularly marked adult male, have to back for that one day.

Other birds there were the Bluethroat (Blauwborst) 

Many Sedge Warblers (Rietzangers) Note the dark eyeline

 2  European Reed Warblers (Kleine Karekieten)

1 Marsh Wardbler (Bosrietzanger)  Doesn't have yellow coloring on inside of feet

1 Chiffchaff (Tjiftjaf)

Pfff, difficult.

Holland 2016 - 5 The Weerribben

Giethoorn and nature reserve the Weerribben are best visited by boat. Great for a social event!

In the wetlands: Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea, Purperreiger)

Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica, Blauwborst)

Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus, Rietgors)

And to everybody's joy a very friendly family of Mute Swans (Cygnus olor, Knobbelzwaan)

  

Far away in one of the water fields was a  Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus, Fuut) carrying babies on its back.

Every country has children who like catching water creatures during the holidays