Although the year 2000 is probably the best year in Dutch twitching history, it did not bring me new species until July. Several Alpines Swifts eluded me again and I had already seen species like Snowy Owl, Franklinīs Gull, Alpine Accentor, Rock Thrush, Booted Eagle, Spanish Sparrow, Black-headed Bunting, Black-winged Kite, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Isabelline Wheatear, Isabelline Shrike, Spotted Eagle and Surf Scoter in the past. However I saw the mother of all bird species, the Philippine Monkey-eating Eagle in February on the Philippines. And finally in July I saw my first new species in The Netherlands since January 1999, the spectacular Cinereous Vulture of Ferwerd, Friesland.