20221016 Delta

Trip report from Max Waasdijk guiding a half day private tour at the delta south of Rotterdam

We started the day at the Brouwersdam, where fortunately it just got dry after a wet ride from
Den Hoorn. Unfortunately it was still very windy and chilly, but that did not spoil the fun.

Various Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings, Oystercatchers and Eurasian Curlews walked across the blocks.
Where the airspace was filled by migrating Common Chaffinches and Meadow Pipits.

Around the Plompe Toren it turned out to be very quiet, but still added some new day species in the
form of Northern Wheatear, Cetti's warbler, Eurasian Wigeon, European Golden plover, Firecrest and
White Wagtail. A hunting Northern Goshawk caused the necessary panic, but soon disappeared behind the dike. In the street along the dike we were lucky and we saw House Sparrow, Eurasian
Wren and Dunnock at 2 meters next to the car in the same bush.

The Prunjepolder was really full of Wigeons, Common Teals, Northern Lapwings and Golden Plover.
The last two gave some fantastic air shows! From the tower in the middle of the area we could finally
write both, Little and Great White Egret and we heard the only Common Kingfisher of the day calling
from the creek near the farms. A small pond on the outside of the area turned out to be a true wader
walhalla where we saw Common Greenshank, Little and Temminck Stint, Wood Sandpiper and Ruffs
foraging.

Via some small roads we drove back to the Brouwersdam, where it had become almost windless and
sunny by now. While enjoying a bowl of kibbeling we enjoyed at least 2 Harbour and 5 Gray seals
that were hunting in the sluce.

We ended the day in Ouddorp where the bushes were unfortunately very empty and we mainly saw
Robins. The last large group of (Barnacle) Geese was also checked for a Red-breasted Goose, but
unfortunately it was not in it today.