20230923 oostvaardersplassen half day

On Saturday 23rd if September I meet Mark at the train station at Almere. Via the Oostvaardersdijk we head to the Oostvaardersplassen. Already on the road Mark is surprised with the number and mix of different bird species.

We stop at a parking lot to scan the wetland and IJsselmeer. We already notice there's some good migration of Meadow Pipits and White Wagtails and among them a Grey Wagtail is calling whilst flying overhead.

At the visitor center we see many Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Robins before we continue our walk. A Short-toed Treecreeper was on the wish list and we manage to find one despite the foliage. Just before we enter the hide a brown long tailed bird flies by and perches on the fence which turns out to be a juvenile Red-backed Shrike! From the hide we scan the area and see up to three White-tailed Eagles.

The next hide overlooks a lake with a large mudflat where several species of waders are foraging including a Little Stint and a flock of Spotted Redshanks. In the ditch in front we regularly hear the Bearded Reedlings and mange to see a nice male.

Next stop is a park at the west end of Almere where we manage to relocate a pair of Ferruginous Ducks. We do hear the Kingfisher fly by the the high reed prevents us a blue glimpse. We end up with 76 species of birds for a morning tour!