Jul 28, 2026

Back home and back in business

 After a few weeks of holidays and work (and bad weather), I chose to go to Herdla today. And it was the right choice. When I came, Ann-Kristin Østgård had just found a Sanderling, which is always a difficult bird to get in Hordaland. Otherwise, five fine Black-tailed Godwits were flying around and up til ten Bar-tailed Godwits were present. Rather quality than numbers today!

Further, good numbers of Sand Martin and White Wagtail, with both Blue-headed Wagtail and Pied Wagtail still present!


the five Black-tailed Godwits

juvenile Sand Martin


Jul 16, 2026

Second week of the holidays: Butterflies, Dragonfies and some birds

 During my holiday, I went with my friend Eric Koops to Limburg in the southeast of the Netherlands to see butterflies and dragonflies. It was a success with lots of rare ones. I managed to see 6 new butterflies and 5 new dragonflies! Just see the pictures below😊


me photographing Marbled White

Eric photographing Mazarine Blue




Marbled Fritillary Brenthis daphne



Marbled White Melanargia galathea




Large Checkered Skipper Heteropterus morpheus


Small Skipper Thymelicus syvestris


Painted Lady Vanessa cardui



Purple Emperor Apatura iris





Mazarine Blue Cyaniris semiargus



Short-tailed Blue Cupido argiades



Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages



Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens (upper male, lower female)


Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo


Keeled Skimmer Orthetrum caerulescens




Southern Skimmer Orthetrum brunneum (upper female, lower male)

Green Snaketail Ophiogomphus cecilia


Small Pincertail Onychogomphus forcipatus


Dainty Bluet Coenagrion scitilum


Scarce Chaser Libellula fulva


Lesser Emperor Anax parthenope

And some on the island of Schiermonnikoog


Niobe Fritillary Fabriciana niobe



Purple Hairstreak Favonius quercus


Speckled Brown Pararge aegeria


Grayling Hipparchia semele


Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola


Common Bluetail ischnura elegans


Common Bluet Enallagma cyathigerum


Stock Dove


one of the young Barn Owls (photo with mobile phone)


young Crow


Litte Grebe with pullus on the Berkenplas at Schiermoonikoog


young Chaffinch in our garden


Blackcap at the drinking station in our garden

And it wouldn't be complete without a few sounds😊

🎤 Western Barn Ow begging juvenile

🎤 Icterine Warbler call

🎤 Spotted Flycatcher call