netherlands birding ? (1 Viewer)

[peachfront]

In January I will be in Amsterdam for a few days and I was wondering about birding opportunities in the area. I found another site called "Birding Pal" which matches you up with guides in the area. Has anyone tried that, and how did it work out? Being from Louisiana, I tend to assume that any wetland, lowlying area will be good for birds...but perhaps not in winter this far to the north? Suggestions, anyone? If there is a preferred bird guide for the area, feel free to mention that too.

 

[Edward]

Hi Peachfront,

Holland is a great country for birding although I've never birded there at this time of year, only July. However, Holland is famous in winter for its wildfowl. There are huge flocks of geese particularly Barnacle Geese, Bean Geese, White-fronted Geese if my memory serves me right. There are plenty of other good birds around in winter in Holland, in fact I've thought of visiting there myself as I'd get quite a few life birds there at that time of year. The best thing to do is speak to Dutch birders, try Birding Pals by all means or look at www.fatbirder.com and find the Netherlands page there. Once you're in Holland then you'll find the country is so tiny that you can easily get around by car. I went to the brilliant reserve of Oostvardersplassen just east of Amsterdam but that was in summer and I'm not sure what it's like in winter.

Anyway enjoy your trip.

E

 

[erik]

Hey peachfront,

being dutch, i can say that winter is a nice period for birdwatching in the netherlands!

I don't know if you are using a car during your visit, but when you do, everything will be in short distance! At least, measured to american distances

I live in the east of holland, but there are some good places in the west as well. When you give me some time i'll try to list some spots you could go to.

Feel free to ask!

 

[Brian Stone]

I reckon you can be sure of help from the local birders - I have had some of my most enjoyable birding in Holland and Belgium, due in no small part to the fabulous people I met there. Check out the Dutch Birding website (with section in english) for some up to date information on the best birds.
http://www.dutchbirding.nl/

Although I haven't been for a while, I normally visit in winter and the geese are the main show. There are good numbers of Lesser White-fronted Geese and a couple of Red-breasted Geese present at the moment among the thousands of the more numerous species. Other wildfowl should also be very good and raptors, including White-tailed Eagle, Rough Legged Buzzards and 'real' Goshawks.

The following book should prove useful:
Where to Watch Birds in Holland, Belgium & Northern France by Arnoud Van Den Berg, Dominique Lafontaine, Amoud Van Den Berg. ISBN: 0811731111

Looks like you might get it for USD14. http://half.ebay.com/cat/buy/prod.cgi?cpid=1020905

Have fun and let us know how it goes.

 

[erik]

White tailed eagle is a rare but regular visitor that shows up every now and then. Real Goshawks? Are there fake ones then?

There is also a chance of seeing nutcracker since there were seen a few of them lately. We expect a rush here this winter.

 

[Brian Stone]

White tailed eagle is a rare but regular visitor that shows up every now and then. Real Goshawks? Are there fake ones then?

Just a reference to some optomistic claims I have come across here in the UK in areas where Goshawks are very rare. Sparrowhawks are often misidentified - allegedly.

Planning another trip to Holland sometime next year but not decided where or when yet. Recommendations welcome .

 

[Edward]

I thought, Brian, that by "real Goshawks" you meant that British Goshawks are mostly (entirely?) the descendants of escapes from captivity, whereas Dutch ones aren't.
Thinking of Holland myself next spring, to try and see a few birds which are still eluding me: Golden Oriole, Crested Tit, Black Woodpecker, Honey Buzzard, Goshawk, Tree Pipit, Nightjar, Penduline Tit. Oh yes, my brother lives there too which is the main reason for the trip!

E

 

[erik]

Thinking of Holland myself next spring, to try and see a few birds which are still eluding me: Golden Oriole, Crested Tit, Black Woodpecker, Honey Buzzard, Goshawk, Tree Pipit, Nightjar, Penduline Tit.

I might join you then since i have never seen Golden Oriole, Black Woodpecker, Honey Buzzard, Night Jar and Penduline Tit either...

Where does your brother live Edward?

Further recommendations: Depends on the kinds of birds you want to see. The province i was born in, Drenthe is known for its heather and forests. I am a fan of that sort of areas. But if you prefer the sea you should go west or way up north.

 

[Michael Frankis]

I might join you then since i have never seen Golden Oriole, Black Woodpecker, Honey Buzzard, Night Jar and Penduline Tit either...

Further recommendations: Depends on the kinds of birds you want to see. The province i was born in, Drenthe is known for its heather and forests. I am a fan of that sort of areas. But if you prefer the sea you should go west or way up north.

I'm strongly tempted too! Can I come as well ?!?

Apart from Penduline Tit, those are all woodland and/or heathland birds.

Michael

 

[Vogelaar.nl]

Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thinking of Holland myself next spring, to try and see a few birds which are still eluding me: Golden Oriole, Crested Tit, Black Woodpecker, Honey Buzzard, Goshawk, Tree Pipit, Nightjar, Penduline Tit.
I might join you then since i have never seen Golden Oriole, Black Woodpecker, Honey Buzzard, Night Jar and Penduline Tit either..


mmmm, this list of species is quite easy to see (in let´s say in 6 hours,
in springtime!)
But it has to be said that my neigbourhood is very good!
I live in the south of holland in the province `brabant` with a LOT of good old forests and heath areas
So if you are planning to see these don´t hesitate to pm me at the dawn of spring next year, maybe ill find time to show you around!

greets,

Martijn

Helmond, NL

 

[Edward]

Sounds great Martijn, thanks. I'll PM you if I decide to come (mid to late May is probably best isn't it?) Erik my brother lives in Amsterdam, plenty of strange looking things to see there! But I saw some good birds in Amsterdamse Bos and Flevoland is very close too.

E

 

[erik]

Hey Martijn, never noticed you around here! But i reckon you're new to the place. WELKOM.

Er zijn niet zo heel veel nederlanders actief op dit forum dus het is altijd leuk om meer nederlanders te ontmoeten hier...

Edward, Brabant is indeed a nice place, i have once been to the Loonse and Drunense duinen, which is quite nice! Ofcourse many places in the Netherlands are good for birding, since there is a proper amount of nature conservation, so everywhere you go, you'll be able to find a nice spot. Near my parnets hometown, Assen, there's this shelter in a reservation, with view on breeding marsh harriers, bitterns, little grebe and red necked grebes, apart from the more common birds that breed there. It's a great place overthere.

Peachfront, asa you know where to go, and need some help, let me know!

 

[CGK]

Hi ,
Sounds like a 'bird forum, Holland weekend would be well supported, its an area I have birded on four occassions and you could do alot worse than 3-4 days on the Friesan Island of Texel, Mid-may or August have both proved very productive for myself, the island is also very good in Autumn / Winter.
Michael, perhaps I can travel with you ?
CGK

 

[erik]

hehe Texel is not friesian, it's part of Noord-Holland. Í've never been on that one by the way, i did visit Schiermonnikoog, Ameland and Terschelling.

 

[CGK]

Apologies Erik,
All three islands you mention seem to have a good track record of attracting good birds during migration, Schiermonnikoog [how is this island pronounced ?]seems to benefit from the prescence of regulare ringing, with some noteable rarities over the last few year.
I have visited this island in August and it certainly looks good, I would imagine that it also benefits from being the eastern-most of the island chain.

 

[erik]

Hey CGK,

we remember the order of islands by their first letters which form: TVTAS (Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, Schiermonnikoog) TAS is bag in dutch so a tv-bag

Schiermonnikoog is pronounced as: S, CH (as j in spanish) IE (as e in we) R, M, O (as o in cold) N,N, I (as i in wind), K, OO (as oa in road) G (as j in spanish)

Try that and have fun

I went after the history of the name and it comes from this:

On the island there was a stockplace of the cistercienzer Monks (Monnik= Monk in dutch) Schier was for cisterzienzer, schier is an old word for grey. Where Oog comes from (means eye) i don't know...

 

[CGK]

Hey CGK,

we remember the order of islands by their first letters which form: TVTAS (Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, Schiermonnikoog) TAS is bag in dutch so a tv-bag

Schiermonnikoog is pronounced as: S, CH (as j in spanish) IE (as e in we) R, M, O (as o in cold) N,N, I (as i in wind), K, OO (as oa in road) G (as j in spanish)

Try that and have fun

I went after the history of the name and it comes from this:

On the island there was a stockplace of the cistercienzer Monks (Monnik= Monk in dutch) Schier was for cisterzienzer, schier is an old word for grey. Where Oog comes from (means eye) i don't know...

:clap:
Thanks Erik,
Interesing info, i'll however have to pass for now on the pronunciation.

 

[peachfront]

thanks everyone!

I appreciate all the suggestions! Not sure yet if we'll be renting a car but it's certainly a possibility. I'm going to look over some of these resources and try to make some plans....

:clap:
Thanks Erik,
Interesing info, i'll however have to pass for now on the pronunciation.

 

[GreatHornedOwl]

Er zijn niet zo heel veel nederlanders actief op dit forum dus het is altijd leuk om meer nederlanders te ontmoeten hier...

Tja... zo nu en dan kom je hier ook eens een Belg tegen. Telt dat ook mee?


I've noticed the Black Woodpecker was mentioned here - any idea where I could certainly see one in Belgium or the Netherlands ??? This is definetely a bird that I want to add to my (small) list.

By the way : Gelukkig Nieuwjaar.
:hippy:

 

[Michael Frankis]

I've noticed the Black Woodpecker was mentioned here - any idea where I could certainly see one in Belgium or the Netherlands ??? This is definetely a bird that I want to add to my (small) list.

Hi GHO,

Any reasonably large, mature conifer or beech (Fagus) plantation in eastern & southern Belgium will hold them - they are mapped as widespread in the European Breeding Bird Atlas.

Michael