Continued strong easterly winds combined with warm clear weather led to an unprecedented supply of birds from the south. Especially in the first decade of this month, large numbers of raptors were seen. Dozens of Ospreys, Black Kites, Kestrels and Red-footed Falcons were seen on the island in different places. Also Eurasian Sparrowhawks, Merlins, Red Kites, some Montagu's Harriers and 'ring tails' crossed to Vlieland.

Other noteworthy observations are 4 White-winged Terns at Utopia (May 8), a group of no less than 19 European Bee-eaters over De Vijver van Jochems (May 10), a Red-rumped Swallow at the Lighthouse (May 10), two Iberian Chiffchaffs (5 and 8 May) and a Red-breasted Flycatcher in De Tuintjes (May 8). The absolute highlight was the amazing discovery of a Great Knot on May 13 by Diederik Kok. The adult bird in breeding plumage was discovered in the afternoon on De Volharding in a group of thousands of Bar-tailed Godwits and Red Knots. The next day the bird was rediscovered here and seen by hundreds of birdwatchers. Great Knot is a breeding bird of Eastern Siberia and winters along the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula till Australia. This is the second record for the Netherlands. In 1991 the species was first seen in The Netherlands. For the Texel avifauna this means the fourth new species in 2016.

Kleine Vliegenvanger / Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva, De Tuintjes, De Cocksdorp, Texel, 08-05-2016

Visarend / Osprey Pandion haliaetus, 1 ad, De Robbenjager, De Cocksdorp, Texel, 10-05-2015

Roodstuitzwaluw / Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica, Vuurtoren / Lighthouse, De Cocksdorp, Texel, 10-05-2016