Back in 2022, I stumbled across what has to be one of the greatest (and least known) natural spectacles of The Netherlands, namely the pre-migration gathering of tens of thousands of Wigeon near Gouda. I've been meaning to go back ever since but never got round to it until last week. It was a beautiful, spring day with my first butterflies of 2026 (a Peacock and a male Brimstone) on the wing and I could already hear the calls before I got to the largest and furthest lake, where all the birds had congregated.
The sound was phenomenal, especially whenever part of the huge raft would take flight and relocate to another part of the lake. Just as in 2022, it was impossible to estimate the numbers involved although I did try and got to around 12,000 before giving up; it was probably more like 20,000 or even more.
A pair of Red-necked Grebes, some Black-necked Grebes coming into breeding plumage and two, male Red-crested Pochard were nice distractions but it was difficult to take my eyes off the Wigeon show. Turn the volume up to watch the video - sorry for the snapping of the camera but a very few Dutch birders were also there to witness the spectacle.
A pair of Red-necked Grebes, some Black-necked Grebes coming into breeding plumage and two, male Red-crested Pochard were nice distractions but it was difficult to take my eyes off the Wigeon show. Turn the volume up to watch the video - sorry for the snapping of the camera but a very few Dutch birders were also there to witness the spectacle.
