13 Nov 2008

11th november 1988 - Veersemeer

At breakfast time, two or three great tits are fluttering around the small trees at the camp­site. One even lands on the open camper door and looks in. Unfortunately the breadcrumbs we put out for them attracts one of the tame rabbits which had escaped from a pen near the camp reception. The tits are not too sure about this creature. It is about the size and colour of a domestic cat, yet it isn't quite the same. Sometimes a tit nips in and grabs a morsel from behind the rabbit's back, but eventually they looked elsewhere for food.

After a while the rabbit moves off and a great tit reappears. It views the situation from a low branch, then hops down onto a plate left outside for washing up, it looks into the van, hops along the door sill, picks up a piece of macaroni spilt from yesterday's supper and flew off with it ‑ cheeky sod!

The weather is generally damp‑looking again as we head for our last Dutch birding site. The Veerse Meer is another cut‑off part of the old delta, an island in the middle holds a nature reserve and the brackish water is attractive to waders and wildfowl. There are well sign‑posted minor roads along the north side of the Meer leading to picnic and parking places.

A mixed flock of lapwing, golden plover, fieldfares, woodpigeons and starlings moves restlessly from field to field as if there is a bird of prey about. Some of the lapwing weave and swoop amongst the flock in an erratic display flight, making a strange whiplash noise with their wings; a sound that is normally associated with their spring song flight.

Two curlew engage in some determined-looking marching up and down the beach. They appear to be male and female, judging from the very conspicuous size difference, but this display has nothing to do with courtship: it is purely territorial. Although curlew often feed in large flocks, some birds defend a feeding territory for at least part of the non-breeding season. An intruder into the territory is likely to be vigorously chased off, but border disputes like this are more ritualised.

The neighbouring birds walk side by side with head feathers slightly raised and tails angled down. Occasionally one or both birds make short runs and peck at vegetation, seaweed or shells, then con­tinue walking. Sometimes they stop and face each other, with one drawing itself into a very upright posture and flapping its partially folded wings at the other, who usually responds in kind. The female often initiates the display, and if she gets no response she goes in front of the male and repeats the action, as if trying to make a point, then twisting and tilting towards him and fanning her tail until he does respond. They walk up and down the shore, from the top of the beach down to water that is belly deep. When the dispute is over, after at least ten minutes, both birds resume feeding in their respective territories.

Now there is persistent light rain and we head on south towards Belgium.

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