The pier in Ijmuiden, a coastal the city west of Amsterdam, is a well-liked sea-watching web page within the Netherlands because it lets in one to get additional out than from the seashore. It is a superb web page within the wintry weather months particularly, when seabirds together with geese, divers and grebes are relatively dependable right here. I’ve visited Ijmuiden as soon as earlier than, however because of robust wind the pier was once closed all through that discuss with. I used to be due to this fact desperate to discuss with this common birding web page once more, and having the ability to mix it with my shuttle to Texel (which I lined right here in my ultimate put up) made it all of the extra handy.
I arrived within the past due morning to sunny and windy climate, however thankfully the wind wasn’t robust sufficient to warrant remaining of the pier. It kind of feels that this position isn’t just common among birders however many people the usage of the appropriate climate to get into the recent air, because the peir was once relatively busy in puts and kite surfers crowded the near-shore waters south of the pier.
Sooner than the beginning of the pier, Eu Robin, Eu Stonechats, Eurasian Greenfinches, Eurasian Linnet, Not unusual Starlings and Not unusual Chaffinches foraged amongst some rusty steel buildings, whilst a Nice Crested Grebe was once diving round within the small harbour. A big flock of Dunlins and Sanderlings tried in useless to discover a calm spot to leisure as they have been both scared through kite surfers from the waves or other folks at the seashore.
The beginning of the pier straight away produced two of Ijmuiden’s standard species, Pink Sandpiper and Rock Pipit. The previous was once a lot more cautious than Ruddy Turnstones, and it appeared that fewer folks have been round than on my earlier discuss with. Alternatively, Rock Pipit was once quite common for the primary few hundred meters alongside the pier.
A nearby Pink-throated Diver was once pretty to look at. I’ve noticed this fowl time and again now however I nonetheless at all times take my time having a look at them, as even of their non-breeding plumage they appear very sublime. Two Not unusual Scoters have been additionally swimming round, whilst Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Nice Black-backed Gull, and the lovable Little Gull have been flying above. An excessively sublime Arctic Tern was once foraging with regards to the pier, the primary time I noticed this fowl in breeding plumage.
Additional out at sea, each Razorbill and Not unusual Guillemot have been swimming among the waves, as was once any other Pink-throated Diver. On the tip of the pier, a number of birders had arrange their scopes for sea observing and I spent a while right here as smartly. Maximum spots with excellent visibility have been taken alternatively, and the wind and sea spray didn’t make for essentially the most enjoyable atmosphere. After I spotted that even the Ruddy Turnstones attempted to seek out spots that safe them from the weather, I figured that I shouldn’t have to stick right here for too lengthy, and as I wasn’t too desperate to scan for far away seabirds, I quickly made my long ago.
To conclude the discuss with, I looked at the realm across the Kennemermeer, have been a number of duck species can occasionally be noticed. I handiest noticed the common lawn birds in addition to Goldcrest, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, and Not unusual Pochard. Somewhat content material with this haul of birds for the morning, I made my as far back as Amsterdam.