The grey heron
Of the eight heron species that occur in the Netherlands, the grey heron is the best known. And with some thirteen thousand breeding pairs, it is also the most common heron species in our country.
The house sparrow
The house sparrow has been the most counted bird in the Netherlands during the Garden Bird Watch for 23 years. Will this species be able to continue to hold the leading position? The species is on the Dutch Red List as 'sensitive'.
Tawny owl
It may be hard to imagine, but some birds already have young. Like the tawny owl (Strix aluco). You may have never seen this owl. But you may have heard it more times than you think.
The king of winter
The wren, one of the smallest birds in Europe. And with an enormous sound volume! The male maintains several females and nests. So, a very energetic bird.
Blackbirds
Did you participate in the Big Garden Birdwatch at the end of January? Or does that take place at a different time in your country or perhaps there is no such event organized? In my previous English blog about the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) I wrote that in many countries garden birds are counted every year.
Counting birds
In the coming weeks, garden birds will be counted all over the world again. In the Netherlands, the chaffinch has been in the top six for years.
Oystercatcher
The oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) is increasingly visiting the city to breed. While it is originally a true coastal inhabitant who, driven by various causes, sought and found a new habitat in the inland.
Birds with beards
The bearded reedling (Panurus biarmicus) is a beautiful reed bird with a distinctive sound, which adapts itself in winter to the food supply.
Peace on earth
The time of peace on earth has arrived, including Christmas cards with the lovely robin. Although, lovely? Read about its true nature in my blog.
Underwaterbird
The dipper is a rare bird in the Netherlands that forages for food while swimming and walking across the bottom of a fast-flowing stream.
Praying before meals?
This time we shine the spotlight on one of the prettiest (in my opinion) and most graceful (that too is personal) birds of prey of the Netherlands: the kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). Well known by many, I assume, because it’s a very common bird. Although this bird is currently experiencing a decline in numbers, the kestrel used to be the most common bird of prey in the Netherlands.
