A wonderful birding week (01-07 Feb 2009) organised by Cascina Picus and Skua Travels, 8 italian birders in a minivan, based on the beautiful island of Texel but visiting also other classic hot spots like Oostvardersplassen, Flevoland, Friesland, Lawuersmeer. Main birding guide was once more the excellent Andrea Corso and thanks to him we' ve also been able to meet and go birding with two of the most known and authoritative (and friendly and funny) dutch birders, Renè Pop and Arnoud van den Berg. Main target of the trip was obviously the northern ghost, the mythical Snowy Owl, and fortunately we' ve been able to observe this wonderful bird many times in good view and also in flight. The number of wintering geese, ducks and waders in Holland is truly stunning, and especially so for those of us who were witnessing such huge numbers for the first time; teh sight of hundreds of thousands of birds covering the fields and the coasts is just amazing!
Some interesting rarer species were present during our stay, including Rose-coloured Starling, Iceland gull (very very tame!), Glaucous Gull, Red-breasted Goose, Lesser white-fronted Goose, Black Brant (with a nigricans), along with the commoner Rough-legged Buzzard, Horned Lark, Violet Sandpiper and so on.
Holland in winter is a must for a european birder!
Nicola Scatassi
www.cascinapicus.it (with full travel diary, in italian, and photos at http://www.cascinapicus.it/index_file/viaggio_texel_picus.htm)
Skua Travels, Italy
Oca granaiola
Oca zamperosee
Oca lombardella
Oca lombardella minore
Oca selvatica
Oca colombaccio
Oca colombaccio americana
Oca facciabianca
Oca canadese
Oca canadese minore
Oca collorosso
Cigno reale
Cigno nero
Cigno minore
Cigno selvatico
Oca egiziana
Volpoca
Anatra mandarina
Canapiglia
Fischione
Germano reale
Mestolone
Codone
Alzavola
Moriglione
Moretta
Moretta grigia
Edredone
Quattrocchi
Pesciaiola
Smergo maggiore
Smergo minore
Starna
Fagiano
Strolaga minore
Svasso maggiore
Svasso collorosso
Svasso piccolo
Tuffetto
Sula
Cormorano
Tarabuso
Airone cenerino
Airone bianco maggiore
Garzetta
Cicogna bianca
Aquila di mare
Falco di palude
Albanella reale
Sparviere
Astore
Poiana
Poiana calzata
Gheppio
Smeriglio
Falco pellegrino
Porciglione
Folaga
Gallinella dacqua
Pavoncella
Pivieressa
Piviere dorato
Corriere grosso
Beccaccia di mare
Avocetta
Piro-piro culbianco
Pettegola
Chiurlo piccolo
Chiurlo maggiore
Pittima reale
Pittima minore
Voltapietre
Piovanello maggiore
Piovanello tridattilo
Piovanello violetto
Piovanello pancianera
Combattente
Frullino
Beccaccino
Beccaccia
Gabbiano comune
Gavina
Gabbiano reale nordico
Gabbiano dIslanda
Gabbiano glauco
Zafferano
Mugnaiaccio
Piccione torraiolo
Colombella
Colombaccio
Tortora dal collare
Gufo delle nevi
Martin pescatore
Picchio rosso maggiore
Picchio verde
Ghiandaia
Gazza
Taccola
Corvo comune
Cornacchia (nera)
Allodola
Allodola golagialla
Cincia mora
Cinciallegra
Cinciarella
Codibugnolo
Rampichino comune
Scricciolo
Pettirosso
Merlo
Cesena
Tordo sassello
Tordo bottaccio
Tordela
Basettino
Storno roseo
Storno
Passera scopaiola
Ballerina gialla
Ballerina bianca
Pispola
Spioncello marino
Fringuello
Peppola
Verdone
Lucherino
Cardellino
Fanello
Frosone
Passera europea
Migliarino di palude
Zigolo delle nevi
Total species list: 132