Birding Brussels (2 Viewers)

[Flycatcher 123]

I'm planning to visit Brussels in the March.
Has anyone got an idea of a good place to spot birds (particularly ones not found in Britain) near the city centre of Brussels.
I've also heard that Parc Leopold should have good birds - is that right?
Any response appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[Richard Prior]

Welcome to Birdforum Flycatcher!
Stephen Boddington might be worth contacting: Guided birdwatching

 

[kb57]

Parc Tournay-Solvay and Étangs de Boitsfort - a short distance south of the city centre. Boitsfort station is right next to the park.

Park and areas of mature woodland with lakes - I had turtle dove there in summer 2019, but a March visit should be good for woodpeckers, short-toed treecreeper etc. There's also a nice brasserie for lunch across the road from the east end of the étangs.

 

[Xenospiza]

Have a look at Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (BR)
This site should be your guide for birding in Belgium (I've narrowed it down to Brussels).
Short-toed Treecreeper, Firecrest, Middle Spotted and Black Woodpecker are probably the best birds within the limits of the Brussels Capital Region for someone from Scotland.
Parque Léopold looks like a waste of time for birds.

 

[l_raty]

I wouldn't consider going to Parc Léopold for birding either.
For woodpeckers, I'd try starting either from Parc Tournay-Solvay / Étangs de Boitsfort as suggested above, or from the Rouge-Cloître (Auderghem -- there is a reasonably close metro station), and wandering into the nearby Sonian forest.

A Turtle Dove within Brussels is a really good record.

Have a look at Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (BR)

(Note that this site has had "network connectivity issues" since yesterday evening, and isn't currently working properly.
EDIT - Problems have been resolved.)

 

[kb57]

I wouldn't consider going to Parc Léopold for birding either.
For woodpeckers, I'd try starting either from Parc Tournay-Solvay / Étangs de Boitsfort as suggested above, or from the Rouge-Cloître (Auderghem -- there is a reasonably close metro station), and wandering into the nearby Sonian forest.

A Turtle Dove within Brussels is a really good record.



(Note that this site has had "network connectivity issues" since yesterday evening, and isn't currently working properly.)

I realise I should've put it on eBird or a local site now, but it wasn't even a year list tick for me that year and I just assumed it was normal for the site (sat in a tree near the west end of the main étang and viewed from the path on the north bank, to be precise).

 

[Flycatcher 123]

Thanks for the suggested sights and recommendations everyone!

 

[Flycatcher 123]

By the way, is there anywhere within walking distance of the city centre, as unfortunately, I don't have much time to spend there -