Birding Sunday 29-March 2009
Kromslootpark, Almere
It seems almost as cold now as it did in January when the canals were frozen, or maybe it’s my eyes, which run with tears at any temperature (and a little wind) below 15 deg C. This does pose a problem at times when I wish to face into the wind and catch a glimpse of a singer and all I see is a watery shimmering image as if every bird brought great emotion to me causing me to whell up in tears. No, no nothing of the sort, simply some inherited allergy to cold wind.
Chiff chaffs as if they had never been away and as if they had always been here, that’s what meets and greets when I open the car door this morning. Often the first bird you hear when the car is parked and the door is opened sets the tone for the day. In January it was the great tits, then in Feb, the Song Thrushes, now the Chiff chaffs. Don’t they have any other utterance other than their namesake?
Great tits, jays (more solitary than groups as was the case some weeks ago), Meadow tits, Lapwing pair, Carrion Crows, Grey lag Geese, Blackbird, Coots, Tufted ducks, long tailed tits, Reed buntings, is this sounding monotonous, just like last Sunday? Copy paste. Look there goes another birder; maybe this is my friend Van de Berg, from de Haven. Sure enough, I caught up with him. His tally this morning, sparrow hawks, buzzards, and such like, and an over flying flying great egret. I mentioned my suspected sighting of an Osprey yesterday (Saturday during the hockey match in Zeist) No too early he said. I am not so sure as I got a good look at the two black markings on the undersides of the wings, and it was nothing like a harrier or buzzard, or kite. So I mark that one down as a sighting then, though uncorroborated. Must rush I said. Irish dancing competition in Geldrop this morning, must wake the kids and get them going.
Sure enough later on as I sped towards home, I met a buzzard, more Reed buntings, and a high flying great egret. Chaffinch in the same place as last week, a robin also in the same place, Chiff chaffs everywhere, well at least 8 of them. It looked liked the gadwells were down in number, together with the pair of swans (there are 2 pair as far as I can see in the park) they paint a serene sight, content to tolerate even living in harmony together. A pattern is starting to appear like painting by numbers. The disappearance of the song trushes, which some weeks ago were dominating the soundscape, has given way to a less melodious fellow who only sings his namesake. How about that the great spotted woodpecker in exactly the same place as last week, what did I say about pattern.
Van de berg (the man I met earlier) said he was waiting and hoping for his first “FITIS” or willow warbler of the season. I too. How many more this morning in Holland were keeping their ears peeled for the falling leaf, decrescendo, of the much loved Spring guest to the barbarous north. I have to say that I too this morning was disappointed in my expectation, and must wait a while longer to hear him. Van de Berg also mentioned a Kleine Plevier or little ringed plover, which he saw last week in one of the flooded plains which I must admit I missed, distracted maybe by the 4 X lapwing circling in the same area. here were also...
Grey heron
Nonnetjes (Smew) one duck and two drakes, flew away very quickly.
2 Black and white or pied or whatever they are called wagtails
wrens - maybe 3 or 4
blue tits but quiet
Hedge sparrows
The goldies were not so obvious I must say so these are a no no. Last week there was a cloud of them. but they move from copse to copse and one may well miss them. On the other hand they could have moved on.The homeward bound leg of the journey promised little except the predictable, when a small, darting metallic blue, scythe like winged bolt, caught the side of my eye. There it was, and though they saw “one swallow does not make a summer,” this barn swallow, certainly made my day, if not my spring or summer. Happy Holidays. Neil J Bourke 29-March- 2009
zondag 29 maart 2009
zondag 15 maart 2009
Birding 15-March-2009, Kromslootpark, Almere
15-March-2009
Kromslootpark, Almere.
A deceptive sunny morning with respect to the cold. I nearly left my warm scarf and hat in the car, but was I glad I took them with me. My gait was steadfast but not hurried as there was much to enjoy and digest. Angry grey lags welcomed me to leave as I arrived. Unperturbed I pressed on and was met with even more geese and a lone lapwing, a first this year (2009) in the park. Coots and Tufted abound as usual. A robin, singing at last. Blue, great and long tailed tits, voor geen goud….Corvids, Carrion Crows watching me. Are Jays and magpies corvids? No Hooded, no Raven, no Jackdaws, they only like houses. Song thrushes, many singing. Wrens making a comeback, so silent in January, are not any more. Deep down in undergrowth hidden from prying eyes but not from prying ears. What is that I hear, it couldn’t be, but it is time they were back, yes indeed a Chiffchaff. Loud and clear, high as can be. A clear sign to the winter, your days are numbered. Blackbirds also deep in undergrowth emit a strange single note so unlike their song, no song just a warning. Water hens, goldies, greenies, they are everywhere and yet so hard to see. A repetitive chirp, new kid on the block I would say, far seeing glasses to the rescue, yes, another sign, on the highest twig on the highest branch on not the highest bush, nevertheless a Reed bunting in practice, and another, and another how many is that now…a female skulks in the reeds, scared in a new land. The second lake holds 120 Tufted duck. Will they all stay for the summer holidays? One widgeon amongst them. Where are all the mallard gone? A high pitched single note, first strong then getting weaker, what does that mean? Well if it is noted along a stretch of water I would tend to think of a kingfisher. No sighting though. Must ask Wim. Also about that mysterious nondescript brown bird which say 2 weeks ago flying away from me, the size of a skylark, today 2 of them, tree top height, straight line, what is it? Could it be a tree lark. Definitely not singing like a lark.
Jus round the corner a frenzied Kingfisher darts back up stream well above head height, to where the first doubts were sown. See there you go, not so bad after all. The gadwell lake (later on in the park) holds 25 gadwell. There are no other ducks with them. S the tufted duck and the gadwell agree to disagree, and are living apart now. Quite a sizeable flock I would say, a pure race indeed. Once again where are all the mallard gone? Two buzzards dancing together in the air, their presence a give away by the short “plaintive mewing” (as described by Kirkman & Jourdain – British birds) though I have been fooled by Jays plaintively mewing as well especially in the early part of the year. But what is that in the sky near them, and heading my way, is it a harrier, viewed from almost the same position as two weeks ago? No it is a goshawk, hunting up and down the wooded south section of the park, and there is another one, following the first that has landed in the meantime, I mean in the meantime in the tree. So large, so graceful powerful, dangerous. I have to go back and look, no need they are coming back over my head, ranging, stopping, off again. Phew, what a sight, clearly one larger that the other, a pair, not exactly “baltzing” but jointly hunting. While the binoculars are pointing skywards time for some more observations, lesser black backed gull, cormorants, and I think curlew. Heading on back home, a lone startling passes by. More Reed buntings in a separate field of rushes. A lone greenfinch resplendent in the low morning sun chirrs on top of a bush. Extra virgin olive oil. My lone lapwing is still on the plain, calling to who ever would like to hear. Could this be a nest. To be continued.
Kromslootpark, Almere.
A deceptive sunny morning with respect to the cold. I nearly left my warm scarf and hat in the car, but was I glad I took them with me. My gait was steadfast but not hurried as there was much to enjoy and digest. Angry grey lags welcomed me to leave as I arrived. Unperturbed I pressed on and was met with even more geese and a lone lapwing, a first this year (2009) in the park. Coots and Tufted abound as usual. A robin, singing at last. Blue, great and long tailed tits, voor geen goud….Corvids, Carrion Crows watching me. Are Jays and magpies corvids? No Hooded, no Raven, no Jackdaws, they only like houses. Song thrushes, many singing. Wrens making a comeback, so silent in January, are not any more. Deep down in undergrowth hidden from prying eyes but not from prying ears. What is that I hear, it couldn’t be, but it is time they were back, yes indeed a Chiffchaff. Loud and clear, high as can be. A clear sign to the winter, your days are numbered. Blackbirds also deep in undergrowth emit a strange single note so unlike their song, no song just a warning. Water hens, goldies, greenies, they are everywhere and yet so hard to see. A repetitive chirp, new kid on the block I would say, far seeing glasses to the rescue, yes, another sign, on the highest twig on the highest branch on not the highest bush, nevertheless a Reed bunting in practice, and another, and another how many is that now…a female skulks in the reeds, scared in a new land. The second lake holds 120 Tufted duck. Will they all stay for the summer holidays? One widgeon amongst them. Where are all the mallard gone? A high pitched single note, first strong then getting weaker, what does that mean? Well if it is noted along a stretch of water I would tend to think of a kingfisher. No sighting though. Must ask Wim. Also about that mysterious nondescript brown bird which say 2 weeks ago flying away from me, the size of a skylark, today 2 of them, tree top height, straight line, what is it? Could it be a tree lark. Definitely not singing like a lark.
Jus round the corner a frenzied Kingfisher darts back up stream well above head height, to where the first doubts were sown. See there you go, not so bad after all. The gadwell lake (later on in the park) holds 25 gadwell. There are no other ducks with them. S the tufted duck and the gadwell agree to disagree, and are living apart now. Quite a sizeable flock I would say, a pure race indeed. Once again where are all the mallard gone? Two buzzards dancing together in the air, their presence a give away by the short “plaintive mewing” (as described by Kirkman & Jourdain – British birds) though I have been fooled by Jays plaintively mewing as well especially in the early part of the year. But what is that in the sky near them, and heading my way, is it a harrier, viewed from almost the same position as two weeks ago? No it is a goshawk, hunting up and down the wooded south section of the park, and there is another one, following the first that has landed in the meantime, I mean in the meantime in the tree. So large, so graceful powerful, dangerous. I have to go back and look, no need they are coming back over my head, ranging, stopping, off again. Phew, what a sight, clearly one larger that the other, a pair, not exactly “baltzing” but jointly hunting. While the binoculars are pointing skywards time for some more observations, lesser black backed gull, cormorants, and I think curlew. Heading on back home, a lone startling passes by. More Reed buntings in a separate field of rushes. A lone greenfinch resplendent in the low morning sun chirrs on top of a bush. Extra virgin olive oil. My lone lapwing is still on the plain, calling to who ever would like to hear. Could this be a nest. To be continued.
Birding 1-March-2009, Kromslootpark, Almere
Also no report written on the day, so the memory fades along with the details. Viv was with me this time, and we had the pleasure of seeing a harrier (Hen Harrier I believe) and a buzzard at the same time in the air, circling above us in the sky. The distinctive slender wings and tail of the Harrier juxtaposed against those of the Buzzard. A telling contrast given the running claims of a walking partner of Viv’s who is claiming most buzzards to be harriers. The trots van Flevoland, de Bruine Kiekendief, an emblem is all too easy to dream into the silhouette of our more common “preyer”.
Birding 22-Feb-2009 Kromslootpark, Almere
Birding
22-Feb-2009
There was no report made on the last Sunday in February, (22nd Feb.) but certainly one thing stood out and that was the song thrush fall, whose full song echoed from every corner of the Kromslootpark. Being one of my favourite bird sounds I was enthralled at the variation, the sharpness of tone cutting through the morning chill. Who would stay and who would travel further northwards, there is surely not enough space for all of them. Then again the fertile soil that is the polders, has treasures untold, and the bird density in the “park” is tremendous.
Naturally great and blue and long tailed tits did abound as usual, though they had to work hard to make themselves heard. The grey lag geese and the meadow pipits remained a fixture of the plain nearest the car park. The jays continued their dance along the path before me, leading me on as if to a wonderful discovery, then dodging away laughing as if to say, only fooling!
22-Feb-2009
There was no report made on the last Sunday in February, (22nd Feb.) but certainly one thing stood out and that was the song thrush fall, whose full song echoed from every corner of the Kromslootpark. Being one of my favourite bird sounds I was enthralled at the variation, the sharpness of tone cutting through the morning chill. Who would stay and who would travel further northwards, there is surely not enough space for all of them. Then again the fertile soil that is the polders, has treasures untold, and the bird density in the “park” is tremendous.
Naturally great and blue and long tailed tits did abound as usual, though they had to work hard to make themselves heard. The grey lag geese and the meadow pipits remained a fixture of the plain nearest the car park. The jays continued their dance along the path before me, leading me on as if to a wonderful discovery, then dodging away laughing as if to say, only fooling!
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