A brief report of this month with some images of both rare and more common bird species. The month of April was relatively cold and wet this year, with a few warmer days towards the end. The bird migration is lagging behind but will certainly pick up in the coming days. Most summer visitors have returned, though some species are still barely or not at all visible.
A special mention goes to the Ross's Gull, discovered on April 23 and finally seen by multiple observers on April 25. After April 26, the bird seems to have departed.
This marks only the fourth sighting for Texel.
A group of no fewer than ten Glossy Ibises on April 27 is noteworthy. The Eurasian Hoopoe also made an appearance again in April, with at least two different individuals observed.
The wader migration is also beginning, and nearly every year a few rare species appear. A Marsh Sandpiper has been present in the Waal en Burg polder since April 29. In this nature reserve, displaying Ruffs can also be seen at the moment! At the time of writing, the third Red-necked Phalarope has been reported.
