Waterdunen, Groede, Holland

Distant Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Tuesday 30 September

Time to make my way back home from Belgium and after saying goodbye to Marieke headed westwards to the Dutch coast to visit a couple of coastal sites starting with Waterdunen, a little west of Breskens on the Scheldt estuary. Fortunatley, an easy journey as not feeling too grand after a bad night.  However, things were to deteriorate upon arriving and finding a great shortage of birds. The main southwards/westwards migration only just under way but the lack of recent rainfall had left the whole area appearing very dry and definitely short of suitable habitat for the arriving birds.

Waterdunen Reserve, Groede

However, some birds there were and mainly Mallards but also a good number of Barnacle Geese interspersed with a number of Greylags. Spending some time at the first hide I was also able to pick out both a Kestrel and resting Osprey atop a distant small tree.  In the far distance a number of Carrion Crows along with a trio of Magpies before finding the lone Lapwing and a Little Egret.

Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis

A couple of Cormorants were resting at the side of the water and then, just beyond them, two Great Crested Grebes.  Checking the distant island as I crossed the bridge joining the main pools I found a large  resting Spoonbill along with a Curlew and Heron.  A Little Grebe was busy fishing on the water to the front. Making my way back to the car I also came across dozen Canada Geese and a handful of Shelduck.  And whilst the Woodpigeons continued to put in an appearance I suddenly had a single Common Tern glide past me as I was re-crossing the bridge.

Very distant Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia

Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia

Thinking I would go the long way round to the Breskens site to see if I could find the flooded field that held a large flock of birds, I was to prove unlucky.  But, on the other hand, approaching Oostburg I did come across a farmer ploughing his large field and accompanied by a great flock of what looked like Black-head Gulls but there, standing and watching as if no hurry to search for a meal, a pair of White Storks.  Just a shame no where to stop, never mind park, on the busy road.

Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis

Arriving in Breskens all that I could find was a large resting flock of mainly Barnacle Geese with a few Greylags to keep them company.  However, a little further along the road another chance sighting and a nearby layby allowed me to walk back and check the birds present which included Barnacle, Greylag and Canada Geese along with a number of Mallard, Teal and Shelduck.  But this I time I had the scope and was pleased to not only find a pair of foraging waders but surprised and delighted to discover that they were indeed Little Stints.

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Barnacle Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Spoonbill, White Stork, Osprey, Kestrel, Lapwing, Little Stint, Curlew, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow.

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