This photo shows an eared grebe. One of a couple swimming in the lake south-west of Egmond Binnen village, in the coastal sand dunes nature reserve.
As this photo from the hide shows, highland cattle joined the grebes in the water.
After my earlier blog post, still 20 May 2020 in the sand dunes nature reserve. We walked away from the lake, just south of Egmond aan Zee village. Just to the south of that lake, in the next lake, were these three mallards dabbling, and a gadwall duck swimming behind them.
Further away, a little grebe swimming.
On a bush above the lake, this common whitethroat singing.
An oystercatcher flying.
Meanwhile, the mallards were still dabbling.
The gadwalls had moved to another part of the lake.
As we walked back, a brimstone butterfly.
This photo shows wild pansies which we saw on 20 May 2020 in the sand dunes nature reserve, on the day after 19 May.
As we start walking, a blackbird sings. And a chiffchaff.
A cuckoo calls.
A brimstone butterfly.
A wood warbler sings.
We arrive at the hide where we saw little grebes in the lake. This time, we see only a coot couple with their youngsters. The littles grebes are audible, not visible.
A small, but noisy flock of starlings.
Nightingales sing.
A male chaffinch sings from the top of a bush.
Small heath butterflies.
We arrive at an area with many wild pansies.
And other plants adapted to this sandy environment.
Rabbit droppings.
We arrive at a lake, not far from Egmond aan Zee village.
Swifts, house martins and barn swallows flying around.
Two little grebes swimming.
And a coot.
Stay tuned, as there will be a sequel to this blog post!
After yesterday, we went again to the sand dunes nature reserve on 19 May 2020. We saw this little grebe.
As we started our walk, a nightingale sang.
A lesser black-backed gull flying.
Four stock doves.
Great spotted woodpecker sound.
A chiffchaff sings. A great cormorant flies.
A robin. A whitethroat on a bush.
Swifts flying.
We reach the hide.
In the lake behind the hide, coots and two little grebes swim.
One of the little grebes finds some food: a leech.
A great tit calls.
As we leave, a speckled wood butterfly.
We walk on. We arrive at the lakelet of the white water-crowfoot flowers.
The flowers are still there, and so is this edible frog.
This June 2019 video says about itself:
Singing Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) in Heemskerk, the Netherlands.
This is a common and widespread typical warbler which breeds throughout Europe and across much of temperate western Asia. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, and winters in tropical Africa, Arabia, and Pakistan.
After yesterday, again to the coastal sand dunes nature reserve on 18 May 2020.
A cuckoo calls. A nightingale sings.
A common whitethroat on a treetop.
We arrive at the lakelet.
At the lakelet, a willow warbler sings.
The white water-crowfoot flowers are still there.
A bit further, a great tit.
A stonechat on top of a bush.
Two meadow pipits flying.
A great cormorant flying.
A common blue butterfly on a wild pansy flower.
Unfortunately, when this photo was taken, the butterfly was gone.
A barn swallow flies. Three northern lapwings fly.
A buzzard flying.
A blackbird sings.
Two swifts.
Finally, a meadow pipit on a pole.
Still 17 May 2020 in the coastal sand dunes nature reserve. At the pond with edible frogs during their mating season …
.. and white water-crowfoot, where the frogs deposit their eggs on.
Bluebells flowering.
A bit further, wild pansies growing on the sand dunes.
As we walk back: a grey heron at the second lake.
A greenfinch. A robin.
A swift flying.
Finally, again a meadow pipit on a pole.
Yesterday evening, this bird in Egmond Binnen village: a weathercock.
And another bird: this blackbird.
After yesterday, today again to the coastal sand dunes nature reserve.
A dunnock sings.
Two goldfinches on a bush.
Two barn swallows flying at the little lake. Also coots with youngsters.
A tree pipit in singing flight.
We arrive at another lake, where flowers grow in the water: white water-crowfoot.
Some, not many, edible frogs there.
Also, other water plants.
A cuckoo calls. A willow warbler sings.
At the next lakelet, the one closest to the North Sea, are more white water-crowfoot flowers.
And many more edible frogs.
It is their mating season.
Edible frogs like to deposit their eggs on white water-crowfoot plants.
Edible frogs are called ‘green frogs’ in Dutch. Another Dutch name for them is ‘boerennachtegaal’, farmers’ nightingale.
Then, suddenly, this singing nightingale became visible. Usually, nightingales hide behind leaves and branches.
Stay tuned, as there will be a sequel to this!
This May 2017 video shows great spotted woodpeckers at their nest.
After this morning in the sand dunes nature reserve, in the evening a walk around a little lake there.
Up a tree, a great spotted woodpecker.
A cuckoo calls.
A nightingale sings.
Two carrion crows. A magpie flying.
A meadow pipit on a pole cleanses its feathers.
This 2017 video is about a nightingale singing in Bulgaria.
This morning, a walk from Egmond Binnen village through the coastal sand dunes nature reserve to the North Sea. We heard dozens of nightingale. There should be many nightingale nests in this area.
A chiffchaff sings.
A dunnock sings.
Two meadow pipits on the fence of a meadow.
White nettle flowers.
A cuckoo calls.
A blackcap sings.
A tree pipit does its mating flight.
Many wild pansy flowers.
A great cormorant flying.
Two northern lapwings flying.
In a small lake, many mating season edible frogs.
As we arrive on the beach, an oystercatcher.
We walk back. Two male chaffinches quarrel about territory borders.
In a deciduous woodland, a wood warbler sings.
This May 2016 video from Wales is called The Wood Warbler and its call.
Bluebells flowering.
A white wagtail walks on the road.
A grey heron lands near a lakelet.
This April 2020 video is about a song thrush singing in Norway.
This night, a robin sang in Egmond Binnen.
Early in the morning: a song thrush, and a dunnock.
