Birdingspots in the Netherlands



Wadden

The shallow waters between the long range of Frysian Islands and the main land are the feeding grounds for millions of birds.

If you do not have time to take a ferry to one of the islands, there are many possibilities to view the area from the dikes in Noord-Holland, Friesland and Groningen. Best are:Balgzand; excellent view from the dike between Den Helder and Wieringen. Hide at the Van Ewijcksluis. In august over a 100.000 Terns sleep here: Most Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern and Black Tern, but Gull-billed Tern, Little Tern, White-winged Black Tern and Caspian Tern are seen as well.

Lauwersmeer; great bird watching. In winter lots of Geese (Brent, Barnacle, Greylag etc.), Ducks (Wigeon), Waders, Raptors (Peregrine). Ruffs hold their spectacular fights in May. If you have a few days time, visit one of the Fresian Islands, it is really the best you can do. A unique landscape, a great variety of biotypes with an exciting flora, millions of birds and always a good chance to find rarities. Texel is the easiest to visit (ferry from Den Helder 20 minutes), but quite crowded in summer. In the south, where the ferry harbors, you must visit the Petten, the Mokbaai and the Geul (breeding Spoonbills!). The Waddendijk gives excellent views of the Shallows and the little lakes on the island where Avocets and Little Tern breed. Nice hiking over the Slufter, from the bicycle path to sea (Short-eared Owl!). The Light-House area gives the best opportunity to watch sea-birds (Gannets).

Terschelling; it takes more time (and money) to go to Terschelling, but if you have a few days time its well worth it. Although there are many tourists, Terschelling is certainly more quiet than Texel. Besides the Waddendijk the places to go are the Groene-Strand area (west of the village West-Terschelling) and the Bosplaat (the eastern half of the island). Hen-Harrier, Marsh Harrier and Short-eared Owl are quiet common in the dunes. Spoonbills on the Bosplaat. If it is not to cold and you are not afraid to get wet, make a spectacular hike around the Bosplaat: Start when the water is low at the end of the Waddendijk at a farm called 'De Wierschuur', take of your shoes, walk 500 meter or so to the south and turn east. Follow the shore-line for 10 km or so until you reach the sand beach and return over the beach and the badweg of Oosterend (another 15 km). If you timed well, the water will be just above your knees at some places, if you are too late, you have to cross places where the water comes up to your chest! I always use a simple plastic bag to keep my clothes and bins dry. Do not try this hike if you are not used to walk many miles a day! There are no houses, no cars, no nothing out there!

Schiermonnikoog; small, really quiet and beautiful. Wonderful this-is-the-end-of the-world-atmosphere. Great birding everywhere: Westerplas, Kobbeduinen, the polders, the beach etc.

Friesland

In spring coast of Friesland is the best place to see the 'Weidevogels' like Blacktailed Godwit, Redshank, Lapwing and the very spectacular ritual dancing and fighting of Ruf. The Workummer Waard is the place to go.

In winter you'll literary 100.000's of Geese and Duck. Several excellent hides along the coast. In Summer the place is crowded and no really interesting for birdwatching.


Flevopolder

Oostvaardersdijk and Knardijk are the places to go.Special parking for birdwatchers at the Lepelaarsplassen (Great Cormorant, Bearded Tit, Savi's, Warbler).

From The Blocq van Kuffeler nice walk to a hide with a great view over the Dutch variation on the 'Lake Kariba theme'. Nesting Cormorants, little Grebe, Goshawk etc

Oostvaardersplassen. Main problem is the police: no parking allowed along the Oostvaardersdijk and thousands of spectacular birds to the road-side! ("Officer, tell me how not to stop when a White-tailed Eagle shows up!")

Knardijk; Ah, you can stop everywhere. And better do just that: Great white Egret, Avocet etc. Hide named 'The Grauwe Gans': in Summer breeding Avocets, Ringed Plover, Common Tern etc. A little bit further down the dike: nice walk to a hide named 'Zeearend' with wild Konik, Heckrund and Deer on your path; in spring Blue throats everywhere.

For information of the current situation, click here: trip-report Flevo august


Dwingelderveld

The combination of woodland, dry and wet heath, small lakes and small-scale agriculture makes this area an excellent place for bird watching, especially in spring. The only place far from the coast with a reasonable chance to score over a 100 species in a day.

Nice hike: start at the nature information center just outside Ruinen, follow the (bicycle-) path to the Radio Telescope (greet the shepherd and his dog, you'll see Common Buzzard, Honey Buzzard, Goshawk, Northern Wheatear, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit and if you are lucky Tawny Pipit ), turn left along the Davidsplassen (great hide! In the evening and early morning thousands of Whimbrel and Black-tailed Godwit) and return through the Woods (Black woodpecker, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher) of the 'Anserdennen' .

Zeeland

Not really a good idea on a hot summer day, if you want to see birds that is. But otherwise quite good. If you have a car, visit:Grevelingendam/Philipsdam: in winter and spring Slavonian Grebe and Red-breasted Merganser.

Plaat van de Vliet/Slikken van de Heen-west: Waders, Peregrine.

Ouwerkerk: Ducks, Geese.

Oosterscheldedam: Hide on Neeltje Jans with view on a sandbank, usually crowded with Dunlin, Curlew, Sandwich Tern etc.

Brouwersdam: good place to spot birds at sea, do not overlook the Purple Sandpipers at your feet and have a good look at the strange iron 'pillars' in sea: Peregrines launch their attacks on birds coming in from overseas from these manmade 'rocks'. What about a comfortable minibus (8 seats) to bring you to the best places at the right time, a bird guide who knows instantly what you are seeing, telescope at hand?


Birdwatching in the Netherlands / Guided tours.