On Saturday 2 October 2021, Ies Meulmeester and Hendrik Jan van Dijk were counting migrating birds at Boven-Hardinxveld ZH. At around noon Ies Meulmeester noted a large raptor above De Avelingen, a nature reserve in the Boven Merwede, a river that separates the provinces Zuid-Holland and Noord-Brabant. They identified the bird as a Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina. The bird flew slowly in southern direction, crossed the river and could be followed by alerted birders and was almost seen until dusk, but disappeared while crossing another river, de Bergsche Maas just south of Dussen NB. The next day searching was hampered by a large rain front passing the country, but at around 13:50 Bas Verhoeven rediscovered the bird along the Graafseweg in the Overdiepsche Polder north of Waspik NB in a ploughed corn field. There the bird stayed till dark in the general area and also the next day it could be observed very well by c 200 birders from all over the country as it was the third twitchable ever in the Netherlands. After studying the photographs, it turned out to be the same bird that had already be seen in Flevoland on 28 September 2021.
For me this was a most-wanted species as I had missed the bird in November 1984 at Berkheide, Katwijk ZH. I was there on 20 November 1984 with fellow birder Ruud Schenk in the early morning at the spot the bird was seen the previous day flying to and where it was supposed to have spent the night. Due to its miserable condition, it was believed it couldn't be far away. We were just meters away from a line of trees next to a small paved road towards a pumping house when suddenly some birders behind us claimed they saw the bird flying kilometers south, so we were overruled and being juniors we didn't dare to contradict these senior birders at that time. We went back to Wassenaarse Slag where the bird was supposed to be and seen the previous days. Nothing ever happened and later that day the bird was picked up dying. It was sitting under a tree next to the path towards the pumping station! Ruud and I were right all the time, but for us that knowledge came too late. In 2005 I missed another bird at Domburg Zld as well as I was one hour too late on 25 September 2005. Nevermind. After 37 years I got him!
3 October 2021, Overdiepsche Polder, Waspik NB. Note the brown median coverts contrasting with the blackish-brown greater coverts, separated by white spots; © Jan van der Laan.
3 October 2021, Overdiepsche Polder, Waspik NB. Note the yellow-browm nape patch; © Jan van der Laan.
3 October 2021, Overdiepsche Polder, Waspik NB. Note the white rump patch and the white wing flashes; © Jan van der Laan.
3 October 2021, Overdiepsche Polder, Waspik NB. Note the yellow-brown nape patch is conspicuous; © Jan van der Laan.
3 October 2021, Overdiepsche Polder, Waspik NB. The long trousers and legs are visible; © Jan van der Laan.
It was accepted as the 20th record for the Netherlands and the fifth record in 2021, the best year ever.
Go to the main-index, the 2021-index or the next new species, the American or Black Scoter?