We started in a small woodland south of Husum where our main target was Black Woodpecker. Although the birds were very vocal I only saw one as it flew over us, but it was a brilliant flight view. We also had Great-spotted, Middle-spotted and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, as well as two Cranes perched in a field adjacent to the woodland.
-Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Having got the morning off to an excellent start we then headed to the fields and saltmarsh north of Husum where we were looking for geese. We had over 10000 Barnacle Geese, 3000 White-fronted Geese, 1000 Greylags and a single Bean Goose sp. making for an incredible spectacle with so many birds. It was awesome. A nearby lake produced some common winter wildfowl as well as good numbers of Smew, including some stunning drakes.
-Barnacle & White-fronted Geese
We finished off by exploring the saltmarsh, looking for Shore Larks and Snow Buntings. We found plenty of both, although the birds were not particularly approachable. A flock of Corn Buntings was also nice, as was a flyby Hen Harrier.
-Snow Buntings
Species List:
Wildes Moor: Greylag Goose, Woodpigeon, Common Crane, Common Buzzard, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Eurasian Jay, Common Raven, Carrion Crow, Marsh Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Eurasian Blackbird, Starling, Chaffinch,
Beltringharder Koog: Greylag Goose, White-fronted Goose, Bean Goose, Barnacle Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Smew, Eider, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Grey Heron, Great White Egret, Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Skylark, Shore Lark, Common Starling, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Reed Bunting, Snow Bunting, Corn Bunting, House Sparrow,
