And that makes it so fascinating. For each month of the year it is possible to indicate which species you can expect but the reality is often different. In the month of October, the numbers are always impressive high.

On October 6, 4 Leach's Storm Petrels were seen very well on the Wadden Sea at the Volharding. This autumn since October 9th, Parrot Crossbills are seen on Texel. There is a small invasion of this northern species in the Netherlands. Regularly about 10 birds are observed in the state forests around De Koog. Spread over the island Yellow-browed Leaf Warblers can be heard and sometimes seen.....

Over the past few weeks, there have been seen several Red and Red-necked Phalaropes. On 15th of October a Great Northern Loon in summer plumage, showed itself very nice but unfortunately far away  on the Wadden Sea at the Iron Cape. Striking is the large number of Grey Wagtails seen over the past few weeks, flying over but also often patchy birds. Hawfinches also went well. A flying group of 9 birds was special. The last days, the migration of Thrushes has started well. Redwings, Song Thrushes and Blackbirds, in particular, migrate massively.

Grote Gele Kwikstaart / Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea, 1e winter, De Cocksdorp. Texel, 12-10-2017

Grote Kruisbek / Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus, 1 ad ♂, Staatsbossen, Texel, 09-10-2017

Highlight of autumn (until now) is the excellent discovery by Koen Stork of a Western Black-eared Wheatear. The bird was discovered on 19 October in polder Waal and Burg. It is a new Texel species and the third record for the Netherlands!

Westelijke Blonde Tapuit / Western Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica, 1e cy ♂, polder Waal en Burg, Texel, 19-10-2017