The Netherlands

Our Netherlands birding tour begins with arrival at Schiphol (Amsterdam airport) where we take a shuttle bus to a nearby hotel, where we can relax and freshen up. In the evening we will meet at 6:30 in the lobby for dinner. Night near Schiphol Airport.

If you arrive a day or two before the tour, there are many things to do in and near Amsterdam, including a visit to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh museum, Anne Frank House and much more.

After a brief stroll through the hotel’s garden (Northern Wheatear, Whinchat, Lesser Whitethroat and European Goldfinch are all possible), we board our vehicle and make the short drive to Zuid-Kennemerland National Park. This area consists of dunes with a scattering of small lakes and we could expect a variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and passerines, including Western Marsh-Harrier, Wood Lark, Grasshopper Warbler and Common Nightingale.

After lunch, we will visit Het Keukenhof, the most spectacular spring flower garden in the world. Overnight in Arnhem.

The morning is set aside for exploring National Park De Hooge Veluwe, with its mature deciduous and mixed forests. We may see Honey Buzzard, Eurasian Hobby, Black Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Crested and Coal Tits, Common Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler and many more forest species. The more open heath lands should produce Woodlark, Northern Wheatear and Yellowhammer. Wild Boar, Moeflon and Red Deer are also possible.

In the afternoon we visit Kröller-Müller Museum, renowned for its art collection (including Van Gogh and Mondrian) and also enjoy its sculpture garden. Firecrest and Hawfinch are possible here. Late afternoon we explore a bit of the surrounding countryside. Overnight Arnhem.

Today we will have a full day of birding at OostvaardersPlassen, a nature preserve northeast of Arnhem in a reclaimed part of the former Zuiderzee. This area is justly famous for its wildlife. Red Deer, Konik horses and Heck cattle have been introduced in this largest marshland of The Netherlands and the birdlife is spectacular. Even wolves have been seen in recent years.

We hope to see Eurasian Spoonbills, a variety of duck species (including Garganey, Common Pochard and Tufted Duck), White-tailed Eagle, harriers, possibly Black-winged Stilt, Sedge, Savi’s and Cetti’s Warblers, European Reed Warbler and Golden Oriole, plus many more. Night in Meppel area.

Today we will visit N.P. Weerribben/Wieden. Extensive marshlands harbour Purple Heron, Eurasian Spoonbill, Great Bittern, Water Rail, Great Reed Warbler, Icterine Warbler and more.

The picturesque town of Giethoorn, where we will have lunch and make a brief walk, is sometimes known as the Venice of the North, owing to its canals. A nearby wetland (Wetering West, west of Scheerwolde) may produce a few species of grebe, Great Bittern, White-winged Tern, Bearded Tit and more. We then continue north and overnight in the Meppel or Ruinen vicinity.

In the morning we will bird at and around Nationaal Park Dwingelderveld. This is a large heathland, surrounded by forests. Some of the more common species include Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Yellowhammer, while Common Crane, Short-toed (Snake) Eagle, Eurasian Hobby and Red-backed Shrike are possible.

After lunch, we will visit Fochtelooër Veen for afternoon birding. Birds here will be similar to those at Dwingelderveld, including Common Crane. Overnight at Assen or near Groningen.

Today we bird in the Lauwersmeer area in the extreme north of the Netherlands. The tidal flats, freshwater lakes, marshes and meadows are full of birds: Common Shelduck, harriers, numerous shorebirds, including male Ruffs, Bearded Reedling, larks, pipits, wagtails, Bluethroat and more.

An effort will also be made to locate White-tailed Eagle, which has nested here in recent years. We will try and time our arrival at the tidal mudflats to coincide with the greatest concentration of birds. Afterwards we drive to the Leeuwarden area for the night.

We drive via the Afsluitdijk to the province Noord Holland, stopping at viewpoints along the dike. We will walk along Waddenzee dike at Wieringen and end up at Den Helder for the night. A variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls and terns can be expected along the dike and there will likely be some migrant passerines. Night in Den Helder.

We take a ferry to Texel, the largest of the famous Wadden Islands. We’ll keep an eye open for Harbour Seals, Common Eiders, gulls and terns while on board. On the island we’ll visit a couple of the picturesque fishing villages and a few nature areas, especially on the east side of the island. Late afternoon we’ll return to Den Helder for a second night.

Today we will visit the nature reserve De Nollen south of Den Helder for short morning walk. This former bulbfield has been transformed into a small preserve with low dunes and small waterbodies. We may find Water Rail, Bluethroat and Sedge Warbler. Next to 't Zwanenwater nature reserve, located in the dunes near the coast. Expect a variety of waterfowl, spoonbills and several passerines.

Then we visit the Hondsbosse Zeewering. Over the North Sea at one side of this high seawall we should see gulls and terns, while at the other side a few nice birdy ponds, across the road, may harbour waterfowl and shorebirds. Return to Amsterdam.