The last week of April and the first week of May are usually excellent bird watching days.

The Wadden Bird Festival held on 6th and 7th May with a Big Day on Saturday caused many fanatic birdwatchers on the island.

(A Big Day is a contest involving contestants, often in small groups, to find the highest number of bird species within 24 hours.)

On May 6 about 190 birds were seen (source: waarneming.nl)

A wide selection of the many species observed in the last few weeks; Ospreys (a few dozen), Black Kites, Red Kite, Pallid Harriers (probably 3 different birds), Dotterels (max 12 ex in 1 group), Spotted Crake, Wrynecks, Red-rumped Swallows, Iberian Chiffchaff and Ortolan Bunting.

The European Turtle Dove, an increasing species, was heard in some places. Icterine Warblers, Common Redstarts, Streaked and Pied Flycatchers and a remarkable number of Wood Warblers (10+) were seen. The last species is in some years a very scarce migrating bird and incidental breeding bird on Texel.

Ortolaan / Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana, ad ♂, Oudeschild, Texel, 08-05-2017

Draaihals / Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla, De Cocksdorp, Texel, 29-04-2017

Steppekiekendief / Pallid Harrier Circus macrourys, 2e cy, Tuintjes, Texel, 04-05-2017

Fluiter / Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix, ♂, De Koog, Texel, 09-05-2017