Veluwezoom National Park

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Netherlands

Overview

The 1,200km2 Veluwe is an area of sandy heathland, scrub and pinewoods in the south-central Netherlands. There are numerous nature reserves in this area and two national parks, of which Veluwezoom is the easternmost. Once almost a desert the area was extensively planted with conifers in the 19th century and since then with deciduous trees such as Beech and Oak.

Birds

Notable Species

Birds of the park include raptors such as Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and Western Honey-Buzzard, and Northern Hobby. Short-toed Eagle is occasional in summer. Other species include Woodcock and Eurasian Curlew, Long-eared Owl, Green Woodpecker and Black Woodpecker.

The open heath and woodland edges have Tree Pipit in summer and Great Grey Shrike in winter, while the wooded areas are home to Crested Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper and Golden Oriole.

Black Grouse and Tawny Pipit used to occur, but have become extinct due to recreational pressure and habitat degradation.

Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Western Honey-Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle (occasional), Hen Harrier, Montagu's Harrier (migration), Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Northern Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, Woodcock, Eurasian Curlew, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Common Cuckoo, Tawny Owl, Long-eared Owl, European Nightjar, Wryneck (near extinction), Green Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Lark, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Common Wren, Dunnock, Nightingale, Eurasian Robin, Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Marsh Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Wood Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Crested Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Great Grey Shrike, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Common Crossbill, Common Bullfinch, Hawfinch, Yellowhammer

Other Wildlife

Mammals of the park include Red Deer Cervus elaphus and Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus, Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Red Fox Vulpes vulpes and Badger Meles meles.

Site Information

History and Use

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Areas of Interest

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Access and Facilities

The Veluwezoom National Park lies to the north-east of Arnhem and easily reached by road. There are roads and many marked hiking trails across the park and much of the area is of open access.

Contact Details

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External Links

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Content and images originally posted by Steve