The provinces of North and South Holland – photography tour

Just half an hour from Amsterdam airport Schiphol and major cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague you can enjoy seeing close to 100 species of birds in a single day. The diverse landscape of meadows, lakes, canals, dunes, marshes, forests and the North Sea have numerous possibilities. Depending on the time of year sought-after birds like Bluethroat, Bearded Tit, Black-necked Grebe and Great Crested Grebe can be photographed in a great natural setting.

During the photography tours we can either concentrate on one or two species of birds, a certain area or we can simply take a walk, enjoying the area and the sights and see what we come across, whatever meets your style.

Spring and Summer

An early visit is best for songbirds; Bluethroat, Stonechat, Common Whitethoat, Lesser Whitethroat, Nightingale, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler and Sedge Warbler can all be found in the dunes.

On the beach waders and terns come to rest on their way north and Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Lapwings and Oystercatchers breed in the meadows together with Skylark and Yellow Wagtail.

In the forests you can see Crested Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Goshawk, Hobby and with luck Tawny Owl.

Autumn and Winter

On the beaches and in the harbours Sanderlings, Turnstones, Purple Sandpipers are easy to photograph and of course you’ll see gulls like Greater Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull and by searching the flocks of gulls, sometimes Caspian Gulls and Mediterranean Gulls can be found.

During the autumn migration tens of thousands Thrushes, Chaffinches, Meadow Pipits and Starlings migrate south along the Dutch coastline. Among them you can often find Richard’s Pipit, Tawny Pipit, Ortolan Bunting, Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting or Shore Lark.

With the start of winter ducks and geese start arriving in the marshlands and we know where to look for Bearded Tits in the reedbeds. Up to 10 species of geese, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Pintail, Northern Shoveler and Mallards are regualry encountered and we often come across Goosander, Goldeneye and the very beautiful Smew.