erik
cheesehead
Monday night was the night. I decided to get up next morning at an early time and take the train to the Holterberg (Holtermountain - mountain for dutchies, probably small hill for people who have real mountains )
So the next morning i got up at 6 and took the 6.55 train. It had been raining since i left the house but i didn't want to give up, so i just went to the trainstation and took the train. In 15 mins i was in Holten, the station is located at the foot of the hill. I got out while the rain was still dribbling down. I immediately saw a Goshawk flying over and i thought: This is gonna be an awesome morning!! I walked on and as soon as i reached the forest the heavens opened their floodgates and the rain came pouring down. I had a little shelter from the trees, but you know how it works, the trees just catch the drops, let them grow into big drops, which fall off the leaves again...In less than 2 minutes i was soaking wet. I found shelter under a pine tree which kinda helped.
After awhile i decided to go on anyway and not let my morning be spoiled by the weather. The place is known for Great Grey Shrikes, Waxwings and Black Grouse, and i so desperately wanted to see them. The rain and I both continued and the only thing i saw were some rabbits running away.
Since i never entered this forest before, i didn't know where to go. I'm not the kinda guy that explores a map before entering a forest, keeping in mind you can't get lost in Holland.
I found my way through bushes and small paths, seeing nothing but water, falling down. It kept on raining for one hour, then it stopped. After that the trees began to leak and that was just a little less annoying than the rain.
When i reached a perfect patch for Grouse there wasn't a single noise. So i just walked on.
At last i found a canadian WW2 cemetery. Some Bullfinches hung out there. In the end i saw some Coal Tits in the trees and also lots of Finches. A squirrel ran through the branches and that was it. I did see my first White Wagtail of the season.
Short conclusion: I walked through a wet forest for two hours, not seeing anything spectacular, but very proud of myself for holding on to my beliefs
BTW i've also seen the first Swifts again. I love their sounds as they fly around our house!!
PS. When i got home and read the paper, it said that there were just 8 male grouse on the entire reservation, which is about 20 times the size of the places i visited... :S
So the next morning i got up at 6 and took the 6.55 train. It had been raining since i left the house but i didn't want to give up, so i just went to the trainstation and took the train. In 15 mins i was in Holten, the station is located at the foot of the hill. I got out while the rain was still dribbling down. I immediately saw a Goshawk flying over and i thought: This is gonna be an awesome morning!! I walked on and as soon as i reached the forest the heavens opened their floodgates and the rain came pouring down. I had a little shelter from the trees, but you know how it works, the trees just catch the drops, let them grow into big drops, which fall off the leaves again...In less than 2 minutes i was soaking wet. I found shelter under a pine tree which kinda helped.
After awhile i decided to go on anyway and not let my morning be spoiled by the weather. The place is known for Great Grey Shrikes, Waxwings and Black Grouse, and i so desperately wanted to see them. The rain and I both continued and the only thing i saw were some rabbits running away.
Since i never entered this forest before, i didn't know where to go. I'm not the kinda guy that explores a map before entering a forest, keeping in mind you can't get lost in Holland.
I found my way through bushes and small paths, seeing nothing but water, falling down. It kept on raining for one hour, then it stopped. After that the trees began to leak and that was just a little less annoying than the rain.
When i reached a perfect patch for Grouse there wasn't a single noise. So i just walked on.
At last i found a canadian WW2 cemetery. Some Bullfinches hung out there. In the end i saw some Coal Tits in the trees and also lots of Finches. A squirrel ran through the branches and that was it. I did see my first White Wagtail of the season.
Short conclusion: I walked through a wet forest for two hours, not seeing anything spectacular, but very proud of myself for holding on to my beliefs
BTW i've also seen the first Swifts again. I love their sounds as they fly around our house!!
PS. When i got home and read the paper, it said that there were just 8 male grouse on the entire reservation, which is about 20 times the size of the places i visited... :S
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