Greetings,
I've just returned from the pleasure of 13 days in the
Netherlands. About half of the time was spent doing
cultural things, as it was my first visit there, and
about half was birding. I got around by train and bus
(Haarlem, Apeldoorn in order to bird Veluwe National
Park, then Delft, The Hague and back to Haarlem with a
day-trip into Amsterdam), by bicycle (in Veluwe) and
had a very enjoyable time. I was travelling lightly,
with just a "travelpack". My birding focus was late
fall birds, and I had a "wish list". Most of the
time, I was on my own, but for 2 days, benefited from
the birding expertise of Mark Kuiper whose company,
NatuurBeleven, is based in Amstelveen, ner Amsterdam.

In 4 days by myself, I had found 7 Life Birds (Greylag
Goose, Green Woodpecker, Redwing, Ring Ouzel, Crested
and Willow Tits, and Firecrest) 2 days with Mark got
me 7 more; 3 in Flevoland (Bearded Tit, White-tailed
Eagle and Spotted Crake), an easy drive from Amsterdam
in his van, and 4 in Friesland in the north
(Pink-footed and Bean Geese, Eur. Golden Plover and
Rook). As I had spent very little time in Europe
previously, my "wish list" was pretty basic. My
reason for going to Holland so late in the season was
the chance for a Red-breasted Goose with the thousands
of Barnacle Geese, and the slimmer chance for Lesser
White-fronted Goose. Besides, except for Amsterdam,
Holland is virtually "tourist-free" in late November.

If any of you happen to be passing throuth Amsterdam,
or can arrange 1 to 3 days there on the way to
somewhere else, and would like to make the most of
your time by utilizing some expert guidance, I
heartily recommend Mark Kuiper. He will pick you up
at your hotel, the airport, or wherever, and has a
Swarovski 'scope. I had a terrific 2 days with him,
and had the pleasure of seeing birds and birding areas
that I would not have managed otherwise. His website
is:
http://www.globalxs.nl/home/m/markui/Dutch_Birds.htm.


Jo Ann MacKenzie
Surrey, B.C.

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