Due to the great variety of habitats in such a small piece of land, the Netherlands is probably one of the best countries in Western Europe to watch birds. From wetlands, rivers, coastal sites, flat agricultural land and forests, you are likely to observe a large number of bird species in a very short time.
Although the country is good for birding all year round, we consider the winter a very good season to birdwatch there. You could probably get more species during the migration periods in spring or autumn, however, winter works just fine and can offer you nice surprises.
First of all, one of the best places for birdwatching in The Netherlands is the largest island in the west of the Waddenzee, Texel. Mostly famous in the spring, this island is still worth a visit during winter as well. Who knows, you might get the Snowy Owl there!
During winter, you will be able to watch large flocks of geese, such as Lesser and Great white-fronted Geese, Tundra Bean Goose, Barnacle and Canada Geese, Pale-bellied and Dark-bellied Brent Geese, in the wetlands and flat agricultural fields all over the country. Among them, you can also get swans (Mute, Whooper and Bewick’s Swan) and some ducks species, for example, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Shoveler or Northern Pintail.
Visiting coastal areas, such as Lauwersmeer, Den Helder or Haarlem or the wetlands of Oosterschelde for example, offer you a great deal in aquatic species, like Common Eider, Velvet and Common Scoter and Common Goldeneye. If you are lucky enough, you might as well get other less common birds, such as Lesser Scaup, King Eider or Bufflehead.
Across the country, the rivers and channels are always worth checking as you might get interesting species of ducks, loons and grebes.
Sometimes winters are unusual and extraordinary in terms of rarities. That’s why it is important to always keep an eye on the daily updates on platforms like eBird, and particularly on the Waarneming, where the Dutch birders keep track of every single sight in the country with constant reports. These tools are vital for those seeking new species and rarities, and that was the case of the Yellow-billed Loon in January 2014 in Valeplas Lake, east of Arnhem. Fortunately, we happened to be visiting the country that winter. So, we could not only watch this big rarity but also the massive adhesion in the early hours of that day. It was incredible and unforgettable!
Finally, you should also pay a visit to the forests and woods of the country. Places like Bergherbosch, Hoge Veluwe National Park or Salladndse Heuvelrug National Park are good places to check for the Black Woodpecker, the Middle Spotted Woodpecker, the Willow and Marsh Tits, the Parrot and Red Crossbills or the Eurasian Bullfinch, among many other possibilities.
If you ever get the chance, visit The Netherlands in the winter and enjoy the beauty and unexpectedness of the country.
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Photo credits of Fábia Azevedo.