On Monday 15 May 2006 John van der Woude observed a male Baikal Teal Anas formosa on a pond called the Geerplas near Langeraar ZH. At first he thought it had to be an escape, but when studying literature and reading that there were several birds reported in the winter of 2006-2006, he was less skeptic. Unfortunately, the bird was gone. However on Thursday 18 May, Leon Edelaar from Ouderkerk aan de Amstel NH discovered the bird at a small marsh on a meadow, called Landje van Geijssel, south of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. It was already in the late evening, so only birders living nearby made it before dark (I was 5 minutes too late!). Next day it had left the area. Luckily, on Sunday 21 May, the bird was rediscovered just north of Amsterdam at the polder IJdoorn, near Durgerdam NH. There the bird stayed till the next day, Monday 22 May 2006 and could be seen by many birders, including myself.
This record was accepted as the ninth record for the Netherlands and the first since 1962 (cf Dutch Birding 28 (4): page 255 & 260, 2006). Previous records were in 8/9 March 1909 at Hornhuizen Gr, March 1913 in Friesland, 22 January 1924 near Dordrecht ZH, 30 September 1941 at Piaam Fr, on 29 November 1948 at Damwoude Fr, from 23 October to 2 November 1952 at Bakkerswaal ZH, 25 August 1960 at Numansdorp ZH and on 22 December 1962 at Drimmelen NB (cf Rare Birds of the Netherlands by Arnoud B van den Berg & Cecilia Bosman 2001).
Now you can go to the main-index, the 2006-index or the next new species, Crag Martin?