Dutch Birding volume 37 (2015) no 5

Caspian PLover at Noord-Beveland in January 2014

On 10-26 January 2014, a first-winter Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus stayed at Noord-Beveland, Zeeland, the Netherlands. The bird loosely associated with other waders; when found, it was with a large group of Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus and a few Eurasian Golden Plovers Pluvialis apricaria and Ruddy Turnstones Arenaria interpres. Later during its stay, it associated mainly with a small number of Common Snipes Gallinago gallinago. On the last day, it was scared and possibly taken as prey by a Merlin Falco columbarius. This was the third record for the Netherlands, after two on Texel, Noord-Holland, in October 2009 and April 2011. It constituted the first winter record for Europe (December-February); all other records are from March-November. Elsewhere in the 'greater WP', there are only some winter records from Oman.

Mark Hoekstein, 's Heerhendrikskinderendijk 60, 4461 DX Goes, Nederland
(mhoeksteinzeelandnet.nl)
Enno B Ebels, Joseph Haydnlaan 4, 3533 AE Utrecht, Nederland
(ebelswxs.nl)