of May has now started. Most breeding birds are already back again. The sounds of Cuckoo, Sedgewarbler and Grasshopper Warbler can be heard in many places in the dunes. As almost always, more rare species were seen in recent weeks. From 11 to 23 April, a Pectoral Sandpiper was present in polder Waal and Burg. The drake King Eider was still seen on the North Sea between post 9 and 15. Two Common Cranes were present from 24 April to 2 May and were observed in several places. On 27 April two Black-winged Stilts walked in polder Waal en Burg. Other interesting records of last two weeks are Black Kite, Osprey, Bee-eater, Wryneck and Dotterels(max 28 ex.). In coming weeks, more beautiful species will undoubtedly be found on the island of Texel.

Gekraagde Roodstaart / Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus, ♂, De Cocksdorp, Texel, 12-04-2018

Gestreepte Strandloper / Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos, polder Waal en Burg, Texel, 15-04-2018

Steltkluten / Black-winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus, polder Waal en Burg, Texel, 27-04-2018