Wouter Vansteelant
@wmgvs.bsky.social
Trying to understand the world from a bird's perspective 🐦 | Migration and movement ecologist at BirdEyes.org. | Guest researcher at ibed.uva.nl | Co-founder of batumiraptorcount.org
Full portfolio at www.wouter-vansteelant.com
Full portfolio at www.wouter-vansteelant.com
Great day exploring the hills around Sempach ahead of a work visit to @vogelwarte.bsky.social. Good practice wt woodland birds of which I've seen very little since moving to Fryslan few yrs ago. Lovely soundscape wt whistling Red Kite, croaking Ravens, ticking Hawfinch, rattling of Mistle Thrush...
November 16, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Great day exploring the hills around Sempach ahead of a work visit to @vogelwarte.bsky.social. Good practice wt woodland birds of which I've seen very little since moving to Fryslan few yrs ago. Lovely soundscape wt whistling Red Kite, croaking Ravens, ticking Hawfinch, rattling of Mistle Thrush...
The meadows still have to flood, but the winter bird community at Blaugerzen is starting to form. The first Barnacle and White-fronted Geese are back, and mixed flocks of Lapwing, Starling and Golden Plover are on the fields again. They'll define the birding scene for next five months. #birding
October 21, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The meadows still have to flood, but the winter bird community at Blaugerzen is starting to form. The first Barnacle and White-fronted Geese are back, and mixed flocks of Lapwing, Starling and Golden Plover are on the fields again. They'll define the birding scene for next five months. #birding
Teenagers SILENE and SPARTINA only reached France and N Morocco on their 1st journey in 2024. Now they caught the wave to W Africa! They flew together for 10h until SILENE split of to land in basins of a phosphate factory. Let's see how far they'll go! 2/2
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
October 12, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Teenagers SILENE and SPARTINA only reached France and N Morocco on their 1st journey in 2024. Now they caught the wave to W Africa! They flew together for 10h until SILENE split of to land in basins of a phosphate factory. Let's see how far they'll go! 2/2
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
Over the past 2 weeks, no less than 10 Dutch GPS-#Spoonbills made the crossing from Iberia to Africa. They did so in classic Spoonbill fashion by starting the ocean-crossing near Cadiz, rather than taking the Strait of Gibraltar. 1/2 #ornithology
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
October 12, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Over the past 2 weeks, no less than 10 Dutch GPS-#Spoonbills made the crossing from Iberia to Africa. They did so in classic Spoonbill fashion by starting the ocean-crossing near Cadiz, rather than taking the Strait of Gibraltar. 1/2 #ornithology
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
After a super intense week with a back-to-back Spoonbill and Wader Study conference, its time to shift to lower gear for a bit. Starting the day with a slow stroll through the fog at Griene Dyk. Hoping for a Yellow-browed Warbler among the plentiful Gold- and Firecrests. #birding
September 30, 2025 at 7:36 AM
After a super intense week with a back-to-back Spoonbill and Wader Study conference, its time to shift to lower gear for a bit. Starting the day with a slow stroll through the fog at Griene Dyk. Hoping for a Yellow-browed Warbler among the plentiful Gold- and Firecrests. #birding
What an honour to open the 50th @waderstudy.bsky.social conference with a plenary on Spoonbill migration culture on the beautiful stage of DOT in Groningen. The Spoonbill-inspired concerto 'Solanum' by Tjibbe Stelwagen and Caspar Kootstra made for a perfect tandem wt the arts. #ornithology
September 27, 2025 at 8:22 AM
What an honour to open the 50th @waderstudy.bsky.social conference with a plenary on Spoonbill migration culture on the beautiful stage of DOT in Groningen. The Spoonbill-inspired concerto 'Solanum' by Tjibbe Stelwagen and Caspar Kootstra made for a perfect tandem wt the arts. #ornithology
A dramatic end for an ambitious Spoonbill. Yday morning LAYLA crashed into the ocean just offshore Madeira, 56h after departing from the Wadden Sea. She rested barely 7h even though she found nice Spoonbill hotspots on the way. Poor choices... #ornithology
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
September 25, 2025 at 8:02 AM
A dramatic end for an ambitious Spoonbill. Yday morning LAYLA crashed into the ocean just offshore Madeira, 56h after departing from the Wadden Sea. She rested barely 7h even though she found nice Spoonbill hotspots on the way. Poor choices... #ornithology
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
The www.BirdEyes.org team is thrilled to announce a new paper by Mohamed Henriques showing how Spoonbills change space use over the course of their summer stay in the eastern Dutch Wadden Sea. After breeding, many adults converge in the Lutjewad area. #ornithology
www.birdeyes.org/lutjewad-amo...
www.birdeyes.org/lutjewad-amo...
September 22, 2025 at 9:51 AM
The www.BirdEyes.org team is thrilled to announce a new paper by Mohamed Henriques showing how Spoonbills change space use over the course of their summer stay in the eastern Dutch Wadden Sea. After breeding, many adults converge in the Lutjewad area. #ornithology
www.birdeyes.org/lutjewad-amo...
www.birdeyes.org/lutjewad-amo...
Yday >1900 #Spoonbills left 🇳🇱 via the watch-site at Cadzand!
Among them were 4 GPS-birds that departed from the Delta, including LUNA who met PLUK in flight over Ostend (🇧🇪).
Meanwhile, TAAS and HIDDE jointly flew from Balgzand to the Delta. #ornithology
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
Among them were 4 GPS-birds that departed from the Delta, including LUNA who met PLUK in flight over Ostend (🇧🇪).
Meanwhile, TAAS and HIDDE jointly flew from Balgzand to the Delta. #ornithology
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
September 20, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Yday >1900 #Spoonbills left 🇳🇱 via the watch-site at Cadzand!
Among them were 4 GPS-birds that departed from the Delta, including LUNA who met PLUK in flight over Ostend (🇧🇪).
Meanwhile, TAAS and HIDDE jointly flew from Balgzand to the Delta. #ornithology
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
Among them were 4 GPS-birds that departed from the Delta, including LUNA who met PLUK in flight over Ostend (🇧🇪).
Meanwhile, TAAS and HIDDE jointly flew from Balgzand to the Delta. #ornithology
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
Astounding for the @batumiraptorcount.org crew to reach the 1 million milestone so early in the season. 😳 Congrats to all volunteers and flyway trainees, expertly led by the first ever all-women coordinating team: Eva Drukker, Elien Hoekstra and Mitra Daneshvar. Celebrations are in order! 🤩
September 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Astounding for the @batumiraptorcount.org crew to reach the 1 million milestone so early in the season. 😳 Congrats to all volunteers and flyway trainees, expertly led by the first ever all-women coordinating team: Eva Drukker, Elien Hoekstra and Mitra Daneshvar. Celebrations are in order! 🤩
A Goshawk managed to catch a Snipe at Blaugerzen the other day. Then got the attention of one, two, three Marsh Harriers. In the squabble, a juvenile harrier was eventually able to claim the prey for itself. #birding
September 16, 2025 at 11:02 AM
A Goshawk managed to catch a Snipe at Blaugerzen the other day. Then got the attention of one, two, three Marsh Harriers. In the squabble, a juvenile harrier was eventually able to claim the prey for itself. #birding
Ten days ago #Whimbrel LYTSE GRIENE went off radar after many weeks in Cádiz. A sign the bird had continued south, confirmed a few days later: after a 50+h flight to Guinea-Bissau, and a 5day stop in Liberia, he made it all the way to Ghana! #ornithology
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
September 7, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Ten days ago #Whimbrel LYTSE GRIENE went off radar after many weeks in Cádiz. A sign the bird had continued south, confirmed a few days later: after a 50+h flight to Guinea-Bissau, and a 5day stop in Liberia, he made it all the way to Ghana! #ornithology
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
Migration is a go! Yday 3 @globalflyway.bsky.social GPS-Spoonbills flew from 🇳🇱 to 🇫🇷. Among them were adults MIGUEL (orange) and STERN (purple) who met each other in flight at noon, and then flew together for 9h until they split up again south of Le Havre.
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
September 6, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Migration is a go! Yday 3 @globalflyway.bsky.social GPS-Spoonbills flew from 🇳🇱 to 🇫🇷. Among them were adults MIGUEL (orange) and STERN (purple) who met each other in flight at noon, and then flew together for 9h until they split up again south of Le Havre.
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
Crappy pics in enerving times. A juv Red-footed Falcon has been staging at my local patch for two days along with a notable influx of Wheatears. This morning a quick stop at the lake shore en route to the office yielded an Osprey and two nice flocks of Spoonbill heading south. #Migration! #birding
August 29, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Crappy pics in enerving times. A juv Red-footed Falcon has been staging at my local patch for two days along with a notable influx of Wheatears. This morning a quick stop at the lake shore en route to the office yielded an Osprey and two nice flocks of Spoonbill heading south. #Migration! #birding
Managed a proper count of the Great Egret roost at Mardyk, Sneekermeer, yday evening wt a fellow birder. A total of 167 Egrets. Most arrived from min bf till 15 min after sunset. At the peak 40 Egrets arived in a 5 min window. Curious how this will develop towards the Egret peak in October! #birding
August 27, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Managed a proper count of the Great Egret roost at Mardyk, Sneekermeer, yday evening wt a fellow birder. A total of 167 Egrets. Most arrived from min bf till 15 min after sunset. At the peak 40 Egrets arived in a 5 min window. Curious how this will develop towards the Egret peak in October! #birding
GREATE GRIENE has now been staging in the Bay of Arcachon for over a week, and is likely to stay much longer. For comparison, LYTSE GRIENE has been using a small range in the Bahia de Cadiz for over a month. Curious if and when these two #Whimbrel will complete the trip to West Africa! #ornithology
August 26, 2025 at 4:37 PM
GREATE GRIENE has now been staging in the Bay of Arcachon for over a week, and is likely to stay much longer. For comparison, LYTSE GRIENE has been using a small range in the Bahia de Cadiz for over a month. Curious if and when these two #Whimbrel will complete the trip to West Africa! #ornithology
After staging at the Russian-Finnish border near Varanger for 12 days, #Whimbrel GRUTTE GRIENE departed southward in the evening of Aug 17, averaging 66km/h to reach Arcachon (SW France) in the early hours of Aug 20. Over France the bird consistently cruised at 4-5km above sea level. #ornithology
August 26, 2025 at 4:31 PM
After staging at the Russian-Finnish border near Varanger for 12 days, #Whimbrel GRUTTE GRIENE departed southward in the evening of Aug 17, averaging 66km/h to reach Arcachon (SW France) in the early hours of Aug 20. Over France the bird consistently cruised at 4-5km above sea level. #ornithology
Wasn't quite sure what to make of this odd cloud formation at Blaugerzen yday evening, but it was hard to miss. Turns out to be a fallstreak hole aka 'hole punch cloud'. The cloud was noticed and photographed by many folks for miles around. Stuff of legends. 🤭
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallstr...
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallstr...
August 26, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Wasn't quite sure what to make of this odd cloud formation at Blaugerzen yday evening, but it was hard to miss. Turns out to be a fallstreak hole aka 'hole punch cloud'. The cloud was noticed and photographed by many folks for miles around. Stuff of legends. 🤭
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallstr...
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallstr...
The vole population around Sneekermeer has been exploding lately. One can tell as much from the huge number of mice-eaters like Great Egret roaming the fields. This evening no less than 150 Egrets came to roost at Mardyk. Overall there may be 200+ Egrets in Sneekermeer area atm! #ornithology
August 24, 2025 at 8:09 PM
The vole population around Sneekermeer has been exploding lately. One can tell as much from the huge number of mice-eaters like Great Egret roaming the fields. This evening no less than 150 Egrets came to roost at Mardyk. Overall there may be 200+ Egrets in Sneekermeer area atm! #ornithology
Meixu approached at a conference to ask if I could support an MSc project on island use by ocean-crossing migrants. Just so happened I always wanted but never got to delve into this during my pd on falcon migration at @ebdonana.bsky.social. We got going a few weeks later. 🤝🤓
doi.org/10.1186/s404...
doi.org/10.1186/s404...
August 17, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Meixu approached at a conference to ask if I could support an MSc project on island use by ocean-crossing migrants. Just so happened I always wanted but never got to delve into this during my pd on falcon migration at @ebdonana.bsky.social. We got going a few weeks later. 🤝🤓
doi.org/10.1186/s404...
doi.org/10.1186/s404...
Very proud of @meixu-cm.bsky.social who just released a pre-print of her MSc research, showing how Eleonora's falcons negotiate prevailing winds and use islands to cross the Indian Ocean. A neat collaboration with Laura Gangoso et al from @ebdonana.bsky.social. #ornithology
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
August 17, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Very proud of @meixu-cm.bsky.social who just released a pre-print of her MSc research, showing how Eleonora's falcons negotiate prevailing winds and use islands to cross the Indian Ocean. A neat collaboration with Laura Gangoso et al from @ebdonana.bsky.social. #ornithology
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
The bulk of the Purple Herons seem to have left from Blaugerzen now all the fields are mown and collected. Fortunately, this handsome adult and juvenile pair still offer great views. The juv is feeding independently but seems to follow the adult wherever it goes. How long will they linger? #birding
August 14, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The bulk of the Purple Herons seem to have left from Blaugerzen now all the fields are mown and collected. Fortunately, this handsome adult and juvenile pair still offer great views. The juv is feeding independently but seems to follow the adult wherever it goes. How long will they linger? #birding
August is a great month to see Purple Heron at Sneekermeer, but this year feels exceptional. At least 4 ad and 3 juv at Blaugerzen this evening, gathering to roost in the trees around the old turbaries. A distant Red-backed Shrike became species 180 on my Sneekermeer-list. Good summer #birding! 🤓🤩
August 8, 2025 at 8:29 PM
August is a great month to see Purple Heron at Sneekermeer, but this year feels exceptional. At least 4 ad and 3 juv at Blaugerzen this evening, gathering to roost in the trees around the old turbaries. A distant Red-backed Shrike became species 180 on my Sneekermeer-list. Good summer #birding! 🤓🤩
After a tense wait, the 3rd #Whimbrel we tagged in Frisia past April is now back in view too. GRUTTE GRIENE bred 90km SE of Murmansk and is now staging at Varanger. Will GRUTTE GRIENE make a non-stop flight to Africa like POTSKAR did? #ornithology
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
August 5, 2025 at 4:28 PM
After a tense wait, the 3rd #Whimbrel we tagged in Frisia past April is now back in view too. GRUTTE GRIENE bred 90km SE of Murmansk and is now staging at Varanger. Will GRUTTE GRIENE make a non-stop flight to Africa like POTSKAR did? #ornithology
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
Huge news for bird migration researchers in the Afro-Palearctic flyways!
The Sahel Rainfall Index and annual flood extent developed by Leo Zwarts et al (2009,2023) is now #openaccess by Altenburg & Wymenga.
Critical data to understand annual survival in migrants! #ornithology
sahelrainindex.info
The Sahel Rainfall Index and annual flood extent developed by Leo Zwarts et al (2009,2023) is now #openaccess by Altenburg & Wymenga.
Critical data to understand annual survival in migrants! #ornithology
sahelrainindex.info
August 5, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Huge news for bird migration researchers in the Afro-Palearctic flyways!
The Sahel Rainfall Index and annual flood extent developed by Leo Zwarts et al (2009,2023) is now #openaccess by Altenburg & Wymenga.
Critical data to understand annual survival in migrants! #ornithology
sahelrainindex.info
The Sahel Rainfall Index and annual flood extent developed by Leo Zwarts et al (2009,2023) is now #openaccess by Altenburg & Wymenga.
Critical data to understand annual survival in migrants! #ornithology
sahelrainindex.info