Well 2026 has started very well. We had 2 long weekends in The Netherlands that produced some pretty spectacular flocks of geese.
Snow Goose © Gottlieb Dandliker 
Iceland Gull © Gottlieb Dandliker 
It doesn't get much better than seeing a Red-breasted Goose in the morning sunshine
In fact everywhere we went there were large flocks of wildfowl, none more so that an impressive 4,500+ gathering of Tundra Bean Geese that also held a Cackling Goose and even a Ruddy Shelduck! We also tracked down a stunning Red-breasted Goose in Zeeland and saw a couple of really quality rarities in Bufflehead and Falcated Duck.
Black-faced Bunting © Gottlieb Dandliker
The passerine highlight was undoubtedly the Black-faced Bunting on Texel (10th record for The Netherlands), where we also saw a large mixed flock of Shorelarks and Twite. Other highlights from these 2 trips included Bewick’s & Whooper Swans, White-tailed Eagle, several Hen Harriers, 58 Smew on one day, many Woodcocks, Iceland Gull, Hawfinch & Brambling.
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| Kurdish Wheatear |
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| Oriental Honey Buzzard |
The highlights of a short trip to Jordan was finding the 9th Kurdish Wheatear in the mountains above the Dead Sea and an Oriental Honey Buzzard at Aqaba Bird Sanctuary.
One of the rarest Western Palearctic birds - Algerian Nuthatch 
You've got to go to Algeria to get Red-billed Firefinch on your WP list 
I still think Maghreb Owl is a good species.... 
Another mega WP tick - Sudan Golden Sparrow
And finally a short visit to Algeria produced the hoped for endemic Algerian Nuthatch, Maghreb Tawny Owl, African Silverbill, Red-billed Firefinch & Sudan Golden Sparrow – all mega Western Palearctic species. But what's been so outstanding is sharing these great birds with some really fun groups, sharing laughs, some good beer (well, not in Algeria) and some great memories.
