Menno van Duijn

Saturday, 24 January, turned into one of those birding days where everything seems to fall into place. I was guiding Tony from Scotland on a Birding Netherlands trip. The original plan had been to look for the Spectacled Eider that had been taken into care, but we decided to go ahead anyway and see what the country had to offer.

On January 13th 2025 a Spectacled Eider was found at the IJzeren Kaap Texel where it remained till June 11th 2025. It returned at this same site on October 7th after apparently have molted it's primary molt out at the Wadden Sea.

Last winter, we travelled to the Arctic coast of Norway—right when seabirds return to claim their nesting spots for the coming breeding season. Arriving early is everything up here; if they don’t secure a spot in time, the competition will.

In October a selection of Autumn storms pushed some ocean wanderers close to shore. I visited the harbour entrance of Rotterdam, the Maasvlakte where a Sabine's Gull had been reported (will follow later) but once this gull moved away I spend some more time with the Little Gulls that were also foraging in the surf, a dark cloud casted a nice dark reflection on the water creating a contrast with these bright Little Gulls.

Red-breasted Mergansers are fascinating birds, and I absolutely love them. I already have a good collection of photos, but there are still many shots I’d like to take, for example, the males displaying.

With another autumn storm, Benjamin, arriving, there was once again a great opportunity to photograph seabirds. On October 29th, I hoped to spot one or more Little Auks that had been reported, but unfortunately none appeared during the time I had available in the late afternoon.

Great Skuas are the bomb. They rule the seas and are f.... bas ass! Skuas chase other seabirds to regurgitate their food but if you fail to do so with a Great Skua on your tail, then you're on the menu. Great skuas have a hawk tip at the end of their bill like many bird of prey and shrikes do, this is to bite and break the neck of their victim. 

On a pelagic organised by " Dagje in de Natuur" fellow local-birder Gijsbert Twigt found the eight Bonaparte's Gull for the Netherlands on the 27th of September.

I live in a seaside town and local say those who will always want to be close by the sea have salted blood. I think that's why I also just love seabirds and especially those one can only see during a storm. The strong wind, pounding waves and still skuas, shearwaters, petrels and gannets manage these conditions with elegance.

From 17-26 March 2025 Hans Overduin and I visited Morocco. A similar trip from previous year I undertook with Saskia but now staying longer at a selection of sites to get better photos.Trip report is progress, see the first days here

Whilst a Spectacled Eider drew crowds from far and beyond to Texel another duck tried to entertain the crowds in the south of the country. It couldn't rely on its name, starting with common, nor it's plumage being all black so what could he do to compensate?

At primary school kids used to call me "Tufted Duck"  because of me being a birdwatcher and having punky hair. Being a true bird nerd I knew it wasn't a correct comparison, as male Tufted Ducks had a long tuft at the back of the head whilst my spike hair was pointing all directions.