Ransuil - Netherlands

4 Dec - News has emerged in recent days of an exceptional roost of Long-eared Owls (Ransuil in Dutch) in a residential area of Nijmegen in the east of the country. An hour and a half by motorway from Schiphol, itself a 40- minute flight. Fine weather, with Smew initial patchy fog, gave way to winter sunshine. Nijmegen is a pleasant University city and the roost is close to forest in the east of the city. On arrival there were a mixture of birders and interested locals looking into the trees. I joined them and was surprised and elated to find up to 21 Owls roosting in a mixture of deciduous trees and an adjacent garden conifer. The birds were visible to varying extents - several birds, particularly in the conifer, were roosting at eye level and at last I was able to get my best ever close views of this enigmatic, nocturnal and charismatic species - superb views of several birds with their cryptic plumage, as well as trademark orange eyes and ear tufts. Also very atmospheric views of several birds roosting in a large deciduous tree, tucked in amongst the autumnal leaves. Superb, and well worth the day trip. Also at least 21 Great White Egrets in roadside fields, together with 5 White Storks and, best of all, a Rough-legged Buzzard perched in a motorway-side tree, with white head, dark belly and white upper tail. I’d love to revisit the Netherlands in spring/summer.