Its strategic position along the East Atlantic flyway, a major migration route for birds between Arctic breeding grounds and wintering areas in southern Europe and Africa, offers a spectacular movement of huge flocks, especially during spring and autumn. Among this diversity within a compact country, there are at least three distinct locations worth visiting for both novice and expert birders.
Texel – bird migration hub in the Wadden Sea
Texel, the largest of the Dutch Wadden Islands, is a legendary birdwatching spot, not just in the Netherlands but throughout Europe. Its reputation is well-deserved, as it acts as a crucial stopover and breeding ground for over 300 species each year. If you pay close attention, you can spot the feathered habitats all across the island.
Walking along the coastline, you can expect to see Red Knots, Sanderling, or even the Netherlands’ national bird, the Black-tailed Godwit. While the polders and dune valleys are home to Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, and Pochard, the open areas with good hunting cover are the best spots for raptors like Marsh and Hen Harrier.
With a thermal technology ability to cut through obstacles, even rare visitors, such as Dotterel, can be found in the sparsely vegetated areas, and Snow Bunting can be seen foraging on the sand of the beach and dunes. Plan your visit to Texel in spring and autumn, when the migration is most active, and keep in mind that the low tide on the Wadden flats offers the best views.
Lauwersmeer – National Park of Geese and Waterbirds
Once a sea inlet, Lauwersmeer was dammed in 1969 to form a freshwater lake and wetland. Today, it is a place to witness an impressive flyover of 30,000 Barnacle Geese and get a glimpse of the phenomenal bird species.
Designated as a National Park, it’s an important stopover and wintering site for waterfowl like Barnacle Geese and Wigeon. You’ll best spot the Black-tailer Godwit in the wet grasslands, while in shallow water, you can meet a Pied Avocet gently sweeping its bill from side to side to catch small invertebrates. Even from the shore, use thermal gear, such as Ventex XT50 to inspect the bold, distinctive habitat features – it offers high magnification while keeping the image beautifully clear.
Above all, look up for a White-tailed Eagle soaring high in the sky, along with Marsh Harriers patrolling the marshes and the fast-flying Peregrine Falcon. Pack your coat and thermal gear to visit Lauwersmeet in winter and spring to capture both majestic geese gatherings and, later, booming Bitterns and nesting Black Terns.
De Alde Feanen National Park – Wetland Richness in Friesland
With a beautiful mosaic of lakes, swampy forests, and reedbeds, De Alde Feanen is a Natura 2000 site and one of UNESCO’s designations for a reason. As one of the Netherlands’ twenty National Parks, it is a unique area with a rich natural and cultural history. The low peat bogs welcome around 100 species of nesting birds.
The park is a stronghold for herons, with its residents, Purple Heron and Great Egret, stalking the shallows. On the open water, you’ll find a variety of ducks, including the Gadwall, Pochard, and Wigeon, thriving in the park’s specific wetlands. In the meadows, you can spot the Ruff and the vocal Lapwing. Above this vibrant scene, a supreme predator, the White-tailed Eagle, and a graceful Marsh Harrier with a powerful Common Buzzard share the skies.
Finally, a special visit from White Storks nesting high on platforms is complemented by a chorus of Nightingale songs echoing from the woodlands. Visit the park in spring or summer to spot herons, spoonbills, and warblers in reedbeds, while eagles and White Storks are common visitors all year round.
The Netherlands offers diverse, world-class birding, but obstacles like fog and dense vegetation can make viewing tough. Fortunately, thermal optics give birders a significant advantage, seamlessly revealing activity hidden within dense reedbeds and forests. Get ready to unlock the secret, vivid life across the picturesque Dutch landscapes.
