A little shag in Amsterdam

After success with our quest to see the Spectacled Eider on Texel on 18th February, Steve Smith and I stayed on the island that night which presented us with more options on how to spend the following day. At some point the plan was to end up at the naturepark in Lelystad where a long-staying Pygmy Cormorant would be my second 'world tick' of the trip, before Steve would put me on a train to Amsterdam to meet the family. 

Drake Smew, Den Helder

Drake Smew, Den Helder, 19th February

Drake Smew, Den Helder

The morning dawned bright and breezy and after a hearty breakfast we headed back to Lancasterdijk to see if the Eider was any closer. It wasn't and the wind was fiercely cold on the exposed seawall, so we made the decision to head for the ferry to the mainland, pausing only to photograph wildfowl from the warmth of the car.

Soon after leaving the ferry at Den Helder, we were parking up in a layby to look for a small flock of Smew based on a tip-off from David Bradnum. The birds were quite close in a narrow channel and by using the car as a hide we were able to get some decent photographs. It's a long time since I'd seen a flock of Smew, and we're lucky to get even one in Dorset these days, so it was great to see some display and courtship behaviour from the frisky drakes. After enjoying this spectacle we headed south-east to a novel road atop an impressive dyke, the Houtribdijk, which spanned a 20km+ stretch of sea from Enkhuizen to Lelystad.

Smew, Lelystad

We stumbled across this bird whilst looking for the Pygmy Coromorant

A view of the open upperwing

We were soon arriving at the naturepark where the Pygmy Cormorant had been wintering and enjoying the comfort of a large visitor centre full of stuffed bison, beaver and other creatures, but hopes of a quick result with the little shag were dashed when it was found to be absent from its favoured lake. We continued anti-clockwise around the lake enjoying good views of a redhead Smew and just as we were at the farthest point of the lake, news broke that the Pygmy Cormorant had been relocated on another lake just to the north. We retraced our steps and were soon watching the bird perched distantly on the edge of the lake. 

Drake Smew, Den Helder

These drakes seemed to be displaying in synch

Such beautiful birds!

No sooner than I had obtained a couple of record shots than the bird took off and started flying away from us but then banked and headed our way. I feared the Canon R7 I was using at the time would let me down with a flight shot so I quickly switched bodies to my trusty 7D mark ii which captured a few half-decent frames as the bird flew overhead.

Pygmy Cormorant, Lelystad

Quite a distant view...

...but closer as it flew over us

Much as I would have liked to have lingered, I had promised to meet the family in Amsterdam by 1600 and it was now close to 1500 - but I made it in good time thanks to Steve dropping me off at the station door, a kind local lady helping me to fathom out the ticketing system and efficient Dutch public transport which whisked me to Amsterdam's central station within the hour. 

Note the short bill of the Pygmy Cormorant...

...and the long tail

My second new bird in two days