On January 13, a very rare Spectacled Eider was discovered, prompting thousands of people to visit Texel. Many even made the trip multiple times. Birdwatchers from all directions traveled to the Dutch Wadden Island to see this iconic species. In addition to many visitors from the Netherlands, the first foreigners soon arrived. Alongside Europeans, people from other continents also visited Texel. What makes this sea duck so special?
This is mainly due to its distribution range, which is far from nearby. To see a Spectacled Eider, one would typically need to travel to Alaska or the far north of eastern Russia. A bird appearing in Europe, especially such a beautifully colored drake, is much more accessible for most people, with lower travel costs. Additionally, Spectacled Eiders are very rarely observed outside their breeding and wintering areas. Their wintering area is the Bering Sea.
The bird is often seen from a great distance, diving to the seabed for food or preening busily. With such an appearance, it naturally wants to look its best. Occasionally, it drifts closer to the shore. By now, this bird has been present for more than fourteen days, and it is likely to stay for a while longer. There is no shortage of food, and it seems largely unbothered by all the attention.
