BERGH LMJ VAN DER (1988) Waterfowl census in January 1986. LIMOSA 61 (1): 27-32.

In this paper the results of the waterfowl census in January 1986 in the Netherlands are given. The total number of waterfowl amounted to I 325 000 birds, belonging to 27 species in 574 areas (tab. I, fig. 2, cf. also tab. 2). The most numerous species were Mallard (348 000), Wigeon (276 000), Coot (235 000), and Tufted Duck (174 000). Other species of which large numbers were seen, were Pochard (53 000), Shelduck (42 000), Goosander (36 000), Great Crested Grebe (18 000), and Redbreasted Merganser (almost 15 000). The last species has not been seen in such a large number in the Netherlands since 1977, when 20 000 birds were counted. Smew were also very numerous, especially in the IJsselmeer region, where 13 000 birds were counted. A synopsis of the numbers of counted areas, and the numbers of Mallard, Wigeon and Coot (fig.3), and of Goldeneye and Smew (fig. 4) for 1977-86 is given. The numbers of Wigeon can strongly differ from year to year, depending on winter conditions. In 1977-86 the largest number counted was 393 000 and the smallest number 84 000 (on average 256 000). The numbers of wintering Mallards are fluctuating too, but not as strongly as in the Wigeon. In 1977-86 the numbers of Mallard varied between 197 000 and 448 000 (on average 329 000). Numbers of Smew can strongly fluctuate between years. In 1977-86 the top number for the Netherlands was 21 000 (January 1977), the smallest number only lOOO (January 1983). The Goldeneye shows also top years and minimum years, but the differences are not as large as they are in Smew. When numbers of wintering Smew are large, as in 1986, most of these birds stay in the southwestern part of the 11sselmeer. Outside this area, there are only few places where several hundreds of these birds can be seen. Especially the Grote Rivieren district (Rhine, 11ssel, Waal) is very important during periods with severe cold. ##### Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Mute Swan Cygnus olor Bewick's Swan Cygnus bewickii Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Gadwall Anas strepera Common Teal Anas crecca Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Northern Pintail Anas acuta Garganey Anas querquedula Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata = Spatula clypeata Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina Common Pochard Aythya ferina Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Greater Scaup Aythya marila Common Eider Somateria mollissima Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis Black Scoter Melanitta nigra Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Smew Mergellus albellus Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Goosander Mergus merganser Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Eurasian Coot Fulica atra

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