Flowers and eider ducks of Vlieland island

After the North Sea coast of Vlieland on 1 October 2015, we returned to the Wadden Sea coast. Where these flowers grew: thrift. Its name in Dutch is ‘Engels gras’, English grass.

From 1937 till 1952, this plant was pictured on British threepence coins. Though, unlike in Dutch, in English its name has no connection to England.

This photo shows the meadow with thrift flowers, close to the Wadden Sea.

And this photo shows the Wadden Sea itself.

Gradually, low tide started. Sand banks became bigger and bigger as the sea water receded. The sand banks attracted dunlin and other birds.

Two young male eider ducks swam past. Then, they rested on a sandbank. A female eider came to join them.

An oystercatcher looked for food in the shallow water.

So did a redshank and a curlew.

Another young male eider swam past.

We had to leave. Around sunset, we went back to the Wadden Sea. Where we saw this redshank and this black-headed gull in winter plumage.

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