Humes Warbler in Groningen

For several days now, a Humes (Yellow-browed) Warbler has taken up residence in Beijum, Groningen, in the garden of a fellow birder.
Today, after visiting Ter Apel, we spent some time watching and photographing the bird. Below one of the 'better' pics of this rarity.

Bohemian waxwing

Yesterday i heard a bohemian waxwing, bombycilla garrulus, during lunch break at the martini hospital.

Schiermonnikoog

Just arrived from a midweek (monday-friday) on the Frisian island of Schiermonnikoog.

Arriving on the Island we walked to the village, birding along the Wadden Sea and in the Bancks Polder. Lots of migrating birds, mainly Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis. And, of course, the usual geese in the mentioned polder. Among these geese, the larger number of which were Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Branta bernicla, a Black Brant, Branta nigricans. (picture below).

Also in the polder there was an opportunity to photograph this Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula.

Arriving in the village, in a small park at the back of the church, I heard a Yellow-browed Warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus, calling. Soon it was apparent that there was not only one present, but another individual was with it. Photographing the warblers, though, was not a good posibility (see picture below).

The next morning we walked and birded the area around the village (and in it). Loads of thrushes, some Reed Buntings and other Passerines. The two Yellow-browed Warblers still present at the church park. Photographing them was still a major head ache.

That opportunity arrived when we found another one close to the Vredenhof, a war cemitry close to the central large bunker on the isle.

 There were two other Yellow-broweds along the Reddingsweg, making the total of the day five. Not bad at all (as the species is one of my favorites).

Wednesday (the 10th) we spent bicycling (and walking) at Kobbeduinenen and at the beach close to De Marlijn (a beach 'restaurant'). Birding was nice but not with any good birds in particular. I spent some time photographing species I hadn't 'done' before (and some landscapes). 

From top to bottom:

Landscape as seen from the bunker looking at the southeast.

 

Sanderling, Calidris alba, at the beach.

 

Eider, Somateria mollissima, flying over sea (two pictures).

 

Thursday was our last full day at the island. We spent it, again, bicycling and walking. Though it was a very nice day, we didn't see any good species. I took some pictures of a Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo.

Delfzijl again

This day I went to the northeastern parts of the province again, Carel Coenraadpolder (cacorapo) and Delfzijl. I did some bracketed photography in Cacorapo and bird photography in Delfzijl. In Delfzijl I photographed Common Tern, Sterna hirundo, Arctic Tern, Sterna paradisaea and Common Ringed Plover, Charadrius hiaticula. It turned out that the picture of the plover was nearly a copy of what I took nearly a month earlier.

Abova another picture of Common Tern.

Blauwe Stad and Midwolda

I went out the door rather late today. Sometimes I just drive around without any real goal as to where I want to go birding/photographing. Today I visited Kropswolderbuitenpolder and saw two Whiskered Terns, Chlidonias hybridus. Too far off to take pictures. I didn't try to get closer.
I drove on to Blauwe Stad, in the environment of Finsterwolde. It's a big lake, where I earlier on this year saw a Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina. I saw, and photographed it again. Here I also took some pictures of flying gulls. Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus pictures were the only ones worth the trouble of uploading to the main site.
I drove on a little further to Midwolda. Here I took some pictures of Mute Swan, Cygnus olor, Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica and a male Montagu's Harrier, Circus pygargus. The latter a new species on vliegend spul.
Below some (other) pictures of (from top to bottom) Lesser B-b Gull, some other creature of the flying kind, Barn Swallow (twice) and Montagu's Harrier.

Delfzijl

Today I went to Delfzijl again, and its surrounding areas (such as Termunterzijl). I didn't see that much special, and the weather was cloudy, rainy and rainy. Not very great for photographing birds, but I managed to take some of Black Redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros and Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius. The latter was a new species on the main page.
Below a few (other) pictures of both species.

Reed Bunting at Ezumakeeg

Today I spent some time again in Lauwersmeer, at both the Friesland and Groningen 'sides' of the area. I didn't spot any rarities or something. Saw some Ferruginous Duck, Tadorna ferruginea, though. And I took some pictures of a male Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus. Three of the photographs went to the main page, one other is repeated here.

As I have this weekend free from work, chances are that I'll have other new post on this blog.