After an absence of four weeks I'm back on Texel. The month of July was as always a fairly quiet 'bird month'. Although vagrants like Alpine Swift, Pacific Golden Plover and Caspian Tern were seen. The former species was undoubtedly the best but unfortunately was seen and photographed by only one observer.

At present, the waders do well. Greater numbers of species such as Redshank, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Dunlin, Red Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit are observed in different places. The best places to see these species; Utopia, De Volharding, De Bol and De Slufter (northern view point). At De Bol, the last days a Red-necked Phalarope is present.

August started well with three Black Storks. A Snake Eagle which flew over De Cocksdorp on August 6 was only the third ever on Texel. On 10 August, the first juvenile Barred Warbler of autumn was seen. Meanwhile, many songbirds have already begun their annual journey to their wintering grounds. The coming months will undoubtedly be interesting for birdwatchers.

Zwarte Ruiters / Spotted Redshanks Tringa erythropus, De Cocksdorp, Texel, 29-08-2014

Groenpootruiter / Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia, De Cocksdorp, Texel, 30-08-2010