Birding near Rotterdam (1 Viewer)

[Vectis Birder]

It's looking fairly likely that I am going to be meeting up with a couple of friends in Rotterdam in the spring. While there I hope to get a bit of birding in, too - can anyone recommend any good spots near Rotterdam or even further afield? Also, what species are likely to be encountered there?

Cheers
VB

 

[Fast_falkon]

on this site you can find some nice spots listed, just click on the area around Rotterdam on the map. its all in Dutch tho.

 

[jurek]

Maasvlakte is well known rarity place. Hoek van Holland has house crows.

You can go to http://waarneming.nl (click English language) and choose species which you want the best. This is database of both rare and common species to choose from.

 

[Vectis Birder]

Great, thanks.

 

[Xenospiza]

The Maasvlakte is usually a waste of time, and I don't think the industrial landscape is too attractive.
Depending on how far you want to go, but these are some very nearby areas I'd recommend:
To the west: Voorne-Putten, Breede Water & Quackjeswater - some of the best dunes in the country, breeding Black-necked Grebes, Spoonbills & Little Egret, plenty of Nightingales, quite probably Bluethroats etc.
To the east: Kinderdijk - Black Tern, Purple Heron, chance of Savi's Warbler, and more windmills than anywhere else in the country. Quintessentially Dutch.
To the south: Goeree-Overflakkee and Schouwen-Duiveland have plenty of places to go to (all within an hours drive from Rotterdam), with Kentish Plover and plenty of waders.
Just a bit further afield, near Breda, there are forests where Black Woodpecker should be easy.
To the north: Starrevaart (near Leidschendam) can be rewarding; Reeuwijkse Plassen has a few Great Reed-Warblers.

 

[Vectis Birder]

That sounds pretty good, Xenospiza. I don't have to stick around Rotterdam. There are a good few species in NL we don't get here in the UK.

I should mention that I'll be using public transport.

 

[Fast_falkon]

what about the Biesbos, quite a drive tho.. don't know how far you want to go.
really really nice area