2003

2003 was only nine days old when the first rarity appeared, a male Canvasback Aythya valisineria discovered at Castricum (Noord-Holland) by Cock Reijnders from Castricum. On May 1st an Audouin's Gull was discovered in Zeeland, the second new species for the Netherlands (I missed that one, it stayed only for two hours!), the third new species was a Trumpeter Finch on May 31st, the fourth a Blue Rock-Thrush and the fifth was an Orphean Warbler! With 5 new species in one year is 2003 the best year, only equalled by 1967, 1974, 1986, 1987 and 1995 (cf Zeldzame vogels van Nederland / Rare Birds of the Netherlands by A.B. van den Berg & C.A.W. Bosman, 2001)


Group of birders (most right is me!) at the Canvasback (photo by © Leo Boon from www.cursorius.com)

Canvasback (now considered to be most likely an escape)
Trumpeter Finch
Blue Rock-Thrush
Orphean Warbler


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