Short birding break
Short birding break
A four day birding break in the Netherlands means an unforgettable and varied birding experience. Our guides know exactly where to go and where the good birds are currently found (we have up-to-date and real time information about the whereabouts of the species you are looking for), so you can be sure we will get the most out of your four days. All itineraries are possible and we adjust the program to your preferences and wishes. Below we have described a possible itinerary, but once again: it’s just an example, like all trips described on this website. Please send us an email, let us know what you want and we will make you a personalized offer!
Day 1
Pick-up at the airport and transfer to your hotel in the central part of the Netherlands. Depending on your arrival time, we can go birding in a grassland area close to the hotel. Possible birds include Eurasian Spoonbill, White stork, Little Owl, Kingfisher and Purple Heron.
Overnight in a hotel in Zuid-Holland.
Day 2
An early start takes us to the province of Zeeland in the south-western corner of the country. Today’s focus will be on waders and waterbirds, with possible highlights like Eurasian Golden Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Ringed Plover and Little Plover, Dunlin and Pied Avocet.
The province of Zeeland was severely hit by the 1953 disaster floods and has undergone serious changes since then. The Delta Project, a series of projects that have created several dams and dikes, not only made this part of the country safe from floods, it also created several new habitats for animals.
Before the Delta Project was put into effect, most water was salt water with a direct connection to the North Sea. Today salt water only remains at the coast itself and partly in the only connection Antwerp has to the Sea, the Westerschelde. Most other parts are either fresh water or brackish water and birds have found their way in this diverse eco system.
The birds that are present vary enormously with the seasons. Zeeland is the warmest part of the country in winter and because of this geese abound on the grassland: Greater and Lesser White-fronted Goose, Black Brant, White-bellied Brant, Barnacle, Brent, and Greylag Goose and the very rare Red-breasted Goose.
Since most of the water doesn’t freeze over, ducks like Long-tailed Duck, Pintail, Shoveler, Mallard, Goldeneye, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter, Eurasian Teal and Scaup are often present in the relative warm water here.
Other waterbirds to look out for in winter are up to five species of grebes, three species of loons and six species of gulls.
In spring and summer some of these species will have left, but usually we are able to find a lot of these winter birds that stay during the summer, supplemented with new breeding birds and some migrants.
Birds to look for in summer include Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Great and Blue Tit, Gargeney, Little Tern, Turtle Dove, Yellow Wagtail and Blackcap.
At the end of the day we drive back to our hotel.
Overnight in a hotel in Zuid-Holland.
Day 3
Our focus for today will be woodland birds. Depending on the time of year we may visit a wetland first, looking for Common Tern, Marsh Harrier, Greater Whitethroat, European Goldfinch and Marsh Warbler.
Alternatively we may drive to the surrounding areas of one of the largest National Parks of the country, Hoge Veluwe. This park was established during the first decades of the 20th century by a wealthy business man who bought the area as a hunting reserve. In the 1930’s the area was bought by the Dutch government and opened to the public.
Target birds for today are the world’s second largest woodpecker: Black Woodpecker and smaller birds like Wryneck, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Hawfinch, Bullfinch, Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler. In summer it may be possible to have an evening excursion for Nightjar in this area.
Depending on the time of year we may also visit a roost for Tawny Owl and Long-eared Owl on our way to the hotel.
Overnight in a hotel in Zuid-Holland.
Day 4
Depending on your departure time we will have the opportunity to go birding close the hotel, visiting sites where birds like Little Owl, Purple Heron, Mediterranean Gull, Icterine Warbler, Tree Sparrow, Kingfisher and White Stork are regular birds.
If you have a flight leaving from Amsterdam we will drop you off at the airport. If you have an extended stay in the country, we can also take you to your hotel.
Please note: the itinerary is to be used as a guideline. Depending on the weather and the whereabouts of the birds, we may rearrange the route or go to different areas.
Day 1: The province of Zuid Holland
Day 2: The province of Zeeland
Day 3: The central provinces
Day 4: The province of Zuid Holland
Just some of the species we hope to see (depending on the time of year):
- Little Owl
- Tawny Owl
- Long-eared Owl
- Short-eared Owl
- Purple Heron
- Little Bittern
- Great Bittern
- Mediterranean Gull
- Caspian Gull
- Greater Black-backed Gull
- Little Tern
- Arctic Tern
- Common Tern
- Spoonbill
- Northern Goshawk
- Marsh Harrier
- Montagu’s Harrier
- Rough-legged Buzzard
- Smew
- Lesser White-fronted Goose
- Red-breasted Goose
- Black Woodpecker
- Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
- Green Woodpecker
- Bearded Tit
- Savi’s Warbler
- Grasshopper Warbler
- Marsh Warbler
- Reed Warbler
- Crested Tit
- Pied Flycatcher
- Eurasian Kingfisher
- Water Rail
- Bluethroat
- Golden Oriole
- Snow Bunting
- Twite
- Purple Sandpiper
- Green Sandpiper
- Common Sandpiper
- Red Knot
- Little Ringed Plover
- Common Ringed Plover
- Curlew
- Whimbrel
Total number of bird species to be expected: 95 (in winter) to 130 (in spring and early summer).
NOTE: this is one of the possible itineraries. We may change the program depending on the whereabouts of the birds, circumstances and of course your wishes.
- 1 person: Euro 1195 per person
- 2 persons: Euro 895 per person
- 4 persons: Euro 795 per person
- 6 persons: Euro 745 per person
- 8 persons: Euro 695 per person
