That's what I call Twitching!

My dad asked me if I would like to come with him to Groningen (a remote area in the northern part of Holland were I seldom have been). At first I didn't feel anything for the plan but when news broke that a Dusky warbler was spotted near the town of Groningen I immediately said yes.

So off we were on Sunday morning around 08:00... I really did need that sleep so I often fell asleep in the car.
After a 2 hour drive we arrived at the town Groningen, I forgot to tell that I had brought my bike with me so I could get everywhere!
The first thing I heard was a singing Song thrush followed by an Oystercatcher and some ducks.
This arrea was completely new for me so I really just followed my nose. My nose never lets me down and after an half hour or so I arrived at a spot called Vinkhuizen, since a few years a Siberian Lesser Whitethroat is wintering there.


I found the bird straight away and it showed really well.
I made some pictures with a camera I borrowed and was almost ready to go when 2 other birders arrived, I made quick chat with 1 of them and he told me that the Dusky warbler was showing well.
When I was seconds from leaving this guy (from Norwegian origin) told me that he was driving past the spot where the Dusky was set so he could drop me off if I wanted, the bike seemed no problem but it was in the first place (very small car...).
The damn thing just didn't seemed to fit in the car but after a lot of pushing and trying we finally got it right.
We chatted about vagrants and rarities and the drive that would have taken me 1.5 hour just took me 15 minutes!
When I arrived I immediately started looking for the bird and I wasn't the only one, 4 other birders were looking to including one guy that was already searching for 2 hours!
After I searched all along the campsite I started to look in the garden of a house near the camping.
When 3 birders arrived (and almost immidiately left) they told me that the bird was most commonly found in the North Western part of the site.
When I started to search these bushes together with an other birder we found the bird!
It was calling frequently and showed well for a few seconds!
After chasing it (in a good and loving way) for half an hour we lost it but after some time I re-found the bird in the garden and now it was showing really well.


After I made some pictures I was satisfied and left (being there for 2 hours).
I made a quick visit to the same Whitethroat and started cycling back to the spot were my dad should pick me up.
When I was almost there I heard a familiar sound, 9 Waxwings were calling from a large tree but when I wanted to make a picture they flew away in South Western direction.
On the way back to 't Gooi I saw some Rooks along the road.