After the increasing number of sightings in Europe it was finally happening in the Netherlands. Sven Valkenburg was the lucky one to find this first winter (2cy) Pacific Diver at Neeltje Jans, the first for the Netherlands.
The bird was discovered on the weekend but I was only able to visit it on Wednesday morning. After I picked up Hans Overduin at the Hague we arrived at sunrise on the site. We checked harbour per harbour but finally after an hour Rob ter Ellen relocated the bird on the far end of the eastern harbour.
It was actively foraging and covered large distances so in 20 minutes the birds got closer and moved to another part of the harbour. We quickly drove to the other side hoping the bird would continue it's way so we could quickly get ahead. We crawled down the rocks, sit and waited.
Suddenly it appeared nearby and after the second dive even submerged right in front of us!
A washing and cleaning session followed and then it flew off, gaining hight and crossing over the dike to the North Sea side. We relocated the bird in the west harbour but due to the presence of many Harbour Seals the bird got spooked and flow back again to the east side.
