Little Terns breed in various places on Texel with varying success. These colony breeders literally push boundaries and choose their nesting sites on shell beaches close to the waterline. Unfortunately, this often goes wrong when a combination of high tide and strong winds occurs. The result can be that all nests are washed away by the high water. They often try again at another location. The number of breeding pairs each year varies from a few dozen to several hundred.
Short-eared Owls are mysterious, beautiful birds and are typically seen on Texel in every month of the year. However, this does not mean that they always breed. In recent years, unfortunately, they have only occasionally bred on Texel. A few decades ago, it was different, with up to twenty breeding pairs at times.
In contrast to the Short-eared Owl, the European Nightjar is doing well as a breeding bird on Texel. In recent years, the number of breeding pairs has hovered around ten. These birds are mainly active in the late evening and night. They are particularly vocal in May and June. However, sightings during the day are rare. The bird in the photo was found outside the breeding area in a private garden.
