DIJK AJ VAN, HUSTINGS F, SIERDSEMA H & VERSTRAEL T (1997) Rare and colonially breeding birds in The Netherlands in 1992-93. LIMOSA 70 (1): 11-26.

This paper summarises results of breeding bird censuses in The Netherlands in 1992 and '93. Censuses are co-ordinated by SOVON in collaboration with the Statistics Netherlands. Information presented in this paper is restricted to rare and colonially breeding species, for which it is attempted to achieve nationwide coverage annually. Methodology and reliability of results are briefly discussed.
      Two new breeding species were recorded, both in 1993: Great Black-backed Gull (one nest) and Treecreeper (ssp. macrodactyla). Of the latter, two nests and 1114 territories were recorded in an area in SE-Netherlands, suggesting that the species occurred here earlier. Other highlights in 1992-93 include Great Egret (four pairs in both years; breeds annually since at least 1984); Peregnne (at least one breeding pair in 1992-93, after 7-17 breeding attempts earlier this century); Common Sandpiper (first confirmed breeding since 1981; may nest almost annually in recent years); Yellow-legged Gull (one nest in 1992, two in 1993; birds paired with Lesser Black-backed or Herring Gulls); Dipper (ssp. aquatzcus; first confirmed breeding since 1933) and Parrot Crossbill (three territories and one pair with recently fledged young in 1992, probably aftermath of 1990/91 influx). Sadly, breeding populations of Little Bittern (9 and 7 territories, resp.) and Ortolan Bunting (18 and 11) declined to the extent that extinction of the species in The Netherlands must be expected before the turn of the century.
      In 1992 and/or 1993, breeding populations flourished in Black-necked Grebe (220-230 pairs, 1993), Cormorant (21 000), Spoonbill (570 and 609, resp.), Greylag Goose (1200-1300, 1992), Red-breasted Merganser (21, 1992), Montagu's Harrier (32 and 38), Mediterranean Gull (175, 1993), Lesser Black-backed Gull (32000), Barn Owl (1040,1993), Rook (47500,1993) and Scarlet Rosefinch (50-60, 1992). Probably as a result of mild winter weather, Kingfisher numbers (150-200 pairs) were fairly high, whereas observations of Cetti's Warbler and Zitting Cistlcola in 1993 suggest a modest recolonisation (both species became extinct in the 1980s after a series of severe winters). In several species, occurrence of long-staying territorial birds suggests that (regular) breeding is to be expected in the near future (e.g., Thrush Nightingale, River Warbler, Melodious Warbler).
      On the negative side, ongoing decreases were recorded in Corncrake (only 50-60 territories in 1993), Ruff (precise numbers unknown, probably less than 350-550 hens), Crested Lark (200-300 pairs) and Corn Bunting(60-100). A recent but marked decrease was noted in several gull species, particularly Blackheaded Gull (from 250000 pairs in 1985 to 132000 in 1993), Common Gull (from 12 500 pairs in 1985 to 5400 in 1993). Several species which decreased earlier this century seem to have stabilised at a low level, e.g., Black Grouse (36-40 males), Black Tern (1100-1400 pairs), Nightjar (450-650), Wryneck (100-200), Great Reed Warbler (400) and Red-backed Shrike (170-190). Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Western Great Egret Ardea alba = Egretta alba Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Purple Heron Ardea purpurea White Stork Ciconia ciconia Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Greylag Goose Anser anser Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Northern Pintail Anas acuta Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Red Kite Milvus milvus Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix Spotted Crake Porzana porzana Little Crake Porzana parva Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla Corn Crake Crex crex Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Dunlin Calidris alpina = Calidris alpina schinzii Ruff Philomachus pugnax Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos = Tringa hypoleucos Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus = Larus melanocephalus Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus = Larus minutus Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus = Larus ridibundus Common Gull Larus canus canus Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis European Herring Gull Larus argentatus Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis = Sterna sandvicensis Common Tern Sterna hirundo Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea = Sterna macrura Little Tern Sternula albifrons = Sterna albifrons Black Tern Chlidonias niger Barn Owl Tyto alba Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Pied Wagtail Motacilla yarrellii = Motacilla alba yarrellii White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris familiaris Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor Rook Corvus frugilegus Hooded Crow Corvus cornix = Corvus corne cornix Common Raven Corvus corax Brambling Fringilla montifringilla European Serin Serinus serinus Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra

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