Early May 2026, IFBR organized a Bird Trip in the Netherlands. With seven members and three professional guides, we saw and heard 122 bird species during the week. The trip was organized by IFBR President Fred Dijkers and IFBR board member Pieter Schut. We were guided by Janus Verkerk and Gerard Ouweneel and on Texel also by Lieuwe Dijksen.

We travelled via the delta in the south of the country - Tiengemeten Island, the Biesbosch and Zeeland - past the Oostvaarderplassen in the center of the country and finished the trip on the bird island of Texel in the Wadden Sea in the north of the Netherlands.

Special bird species included Black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), which is the National bird of the Netherlands, Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), Red Knot (Calidrus canutus), Ruff (Calidris pugnax), Black Tern (Chlidonias niger), Sandwich Tern (Thallasseus sandvicensis), Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), which is the IFBR symbol, White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Baikal Teal (Anas formosa) - a rare sight in this part of the world.

We also spotted a Black-necked swan (Cygnus melancoryphus) in the wild. The black-necked swan is originally found in the southern tier of South America.

In the evenings, our guides Janus Verkerk and Gerard Ouweneel gave lectures about projects in the Netherlands for the Little Owl and the Pygmy Goose. A wonderful experience for all participants.