DIJK J VAN, HUSTINGS F, SIERDSEMA H, & VERSTRAEL T (1997) Rare and colonially breeding birds in The Netherlands in 1994. LIMOSA 70 (3): 101-112.

In this paper results are summarised of nationwide censuses of rare and colonially breeding birds in The Netherlands in 1994. Annual censuses of these species are organised by SOVON with the help of many volunteers, organisations and institutions. Methods are briefly described in van Dijk et al. (1994, 1996).
      Some memorable weather circumstances occurred during or preceding the 1994 breeding season. The mild winter of 1993/94, with prolonged periods of heavy rainfall, resulted in large scale winter inundations along the river Meuse and fairly high water tables in the spring of 1994. This in contrast to much drier circumstances in preceding years. A rather cool and damp spring was followed by a long and hot summer, breaking previous records in July.
      Table 1 gives an overview of species and numbers recorded in 1994.
      Highest-ever numbers were recorded for Black-necked Grebe (estimated breeding population 270-280 pairs), Grey Heron (11 700), Spoonbill (670), Mediterranean Gull (206) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (37 000), whereas those for Kingfisher (200-250) and Rook (52000) were also much higher than in previous years. Relatively good numbers were recorded for some very rare breeding species, including Red-breasted Merganser (24) and Little Gull (6). Great Black-backed Gull (4) and Treecreeper (20), species for which breeding was first recorded in 1993, once again bred in The Netherlands and the same applies to several irregular breeding species such as Peregrine (2) and Dipper (1). An unsuccessful (and the first fully documented) breeding attempt was recorded of the northern race of the Yellow Wagtail (M.f thunbergi). The breeding population of Red-backed Shrike, that has been decreasing for fifty years or more, showed a slight increase (200-220 pairs), but this was mainly caused by the ongoing increase in the Bargerveen area (Drenthe province), where in recent years 60-70% of the Dutch breeding population is located. Com Bunting numbers (100-120 territories) were higher than in preceding years as a result of breeding habitat temporarily available following inundations along the river Meuse.
      Of Ortolan Bunting, breeding in some 200 pairs or more in the mid 1970s, only one (unsuccessful) breeding attempt was recorded in 1994, apart from 1-2 territories briefly occupied by (probably unpaired) males. Ruff (perhaps some 300-400 hens), Kentish Plover (350-360 pairs) and Bittern (175-200 at most) all have rather ailing breeding populations, whereas those of Black Grouse (35 males) and Little Bittern (10 territories) have reached critical levels. Short-eared Owl (only 50-60 pairs) and Montagu's Harrier (33-35 pairs, with very poor breeding results) suffered from food shortage in 1994, caused by low vole numbers. The largest colony of Cormorants, in the Oostvaardersplassen, showed a 45% decrease compared with 1993. Penduline Tit (150175 pairs) and Scarlet Rosefinch (40-50) numbers were stable or slightly lower than in preceding years. 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 Egretta garzetta Little Egret Great Egret Casmerodius albus Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Purple Heron Ardea purpurea White Stork Ciconia ciconia Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia 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 Tetrao 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 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Dunlin Calidris alpina Ruff Philomachus pugnax Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus Little Gull Larus minutus Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus Mew Gull Larus canus Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans Herring Gull Larus argentatus Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis Common Tern Sterna hirundo Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Little Tern Sterna albifrons Black Tern Chlidonias niger Western Barn Owl Tyto alba Eurasian Eagle-Owl Bubo bubo Aegolius funereus Boreal Owl Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Riparia riparia Sand Martin Motacillaflava thunbergi Grey-headed Wagtail White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus Cettia cetti Cetti?s Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Great Reed Warbler Hippolais polyglotta Melodious Warbler Phylloscopus collybita tristis Siberian Chiffchaff

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