Siberian Stonechat - Siberische Roodborsttapuit

Siberian Stonechat

Siberische Roodborsttapuit

Saxicola (torquata) maura

Pictures: Teus Luijendijk

A wintering Siberian Stonechat was found near Oostvoorne, in the SW of The Netherlands. Although by this time, temperatures had dropped to normal levels, it probably had managed to survive because of the unusually mild weather until then. It was seen making short sallies to catch insects that were still around, but also to forage on berries of Hippophae rhamnoides, an abundant species of shrub in the Dutch dunes.
These stills were made using a 2x converter in combination with the 10x optical zoom of my camera.



Siberian Stonechat - Siberische Roodborsttapuit Saxicola (torquata) maura 1^st winter male; videograbs (20x), contrast slightly enhanced. Oostvoorne ZH, The Netherlands; 17 December 2000.

Another bird was found earlier this autumn by Peter van Rij on the famous vagrant trap called Maasvlakte. This Rotterdam harbour area was built on land gained from the sea and forms an unnatural sort of cape, sticking out of the otherwise smooth Dutch coastline. A high artificial dune, close to the lighthouse, often attracts incoming passerines, like this Siberian Stonechat. It was very confiding, in fact it often came in too close for me, as I made the shots below though my telescope. Siberian Stonechats are vagrants in The Netherlands, turning up roughly about every other year.



Siberian Stonechat - Siberische Roodborsttapuit Saxicola (torquata) maura juvenile; videograbs, contrast slightly enhanced. Maasvlakte ZH, The Netherlands; 14 October 2000. Note the unstreaked, apricot-coloured rump and the pointed tailfeathers.