Mid January 2025 a Spectacled Eider was found at the IJzeren Kaap Texel where it remained till May 2025. It returned at this same site after apparently have molted it's primary molt out at the Wadden Sea.
The bird wasn't in the best condition and sadly it didn't get any better. On the 30th of December it was caught and taken into care by Ecomare. It did survive but it is till today in a bad shape.
First time visit in Jan 25th, 2025
In active molt to breeding plumage, Oct 15th 2025
On the 26th of December, the Wadden Sea was covered with drifting ice. Photos of the Spectacled Eider resting on the ice strongly resembling its Arctic wintering conditions convinced me to go there the following day, on the 27th.
Unfortunately, the bird was far out at sea (up to 2 km). High tide had pushed the ice northward and farther offshore, so I had to wait eight hours for the outgoing tide to bring the bird closer. By then, temperatures had risen, causing the ice to melt. This created heavy atmospheric disturbance, and as a result most images lacked sharpness.
During the final hour of daylight, the Spectacled Eider left the ice and swam toward the shore. It was constantly preening itself, its breast and belly feathers were no longer waterproof. When it swam out again and caught a crab, I was sitting at the shoreline when the unexpected happened.
The duck swam directly toward me and climbed onto the blocks just five meters away. It was almost too close; I could only take portraits and a few images of the bird in the landscape. I had brought my second camera for landscape photography, never expecting this encounter especially knowing this would almost be its last day.
Ecomare shares the updates on the bird on their website (Dutch)
Full series on the drifting ice and shore Dec 27th 2025
