Expect staggering numbers of birds, with the bonus of regularly occurring rarities at this exciting time.
The Dutch coast attracts literally millions of wildfowl and waders and is therefore ranked number 11 in the top thirty birding sites of Europe, and Texel is in the ‘thick of it’. Texel is the largest and most southerly of the Frisian island chain, where a variety of habitats located beside the nutrient rich Wadden Sea on the northwest Europe migration route makes it an exceptional ‘hotspot’ for birds, and the ‘home’ of the Dutch Birding Weekend. With over 370 species recorded, of which around 30% are vagrants, 75 species are possible in a day, and our visit at the peak of the migration season, with lingering winter visitors, may well break the 100 barrier by the end of the trip! Dutch birding is very well organized, with a first class system for sharing news of rarities, which helped us on our 2016, 2017 and 2019 trips to find Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Dotterel, Red-rumped Swallow and even Siberian Rubythroat! So, who knows what we might find this time…
We depart Eastwood by people carrier and drive to Hull in time to catch the overnight ferry to Rotterdam. An early check in at the ferry terminal will give us ample time for dinner on board, before retiring to our en-suite cabins. After an early breakfast on board the ferry, we arrive in Rotterdam at around 8.30am, and drive north to Den Helder, for the short ferry crossing to Texel. Journey’s end for the next four nights is the three star Prins Hendrik Hotel, a stylish Victorian hunting lodge in a rural setting next to the Wadden Sea and the aptly named Utopia nature reserve. The hotel combines an authentic atmosphere with modern facilities, and the restaurant serves traditional meals using local produce, with excellent reviews on Trip Advisor.
We have the luxury of four full days to explore the many habitats of Texel which include woodland, farmland, heathland, marshes, wet meadows, freshwater pools, brackish lagoons, sand dunes and seashore. No wonder there is such varied bird life here. The thousands of waterbirds include Eider, Garganey, Slavonian Grebe, Spoonbill, Bittern, Avocet, Spotted Redshank, Whimbrel, Curlew Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwits, in rusty-red breeding plumage, and Ruff with flamboyant breeding plumes, plus Water Rail, Mediterranean Gull and Common, Arctic, Sandwich, Little and Black Terns. Marsh and Hen Harriers are both fairly common, while Hobby, Merlin, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Short-eared Owl are also possible. Residents such as Woodlark, Bearded Tit and Short-toed Treecreeper will be joined by summer visitors such as Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail, Nightingale, Bluethroat, Spotted Flycatcher and Grasshopper, Marsh and Icterine Warblers, along with who knows what else.
After a very productive short island break we return to the mainland for an overnight ferry from Rotterdam back to Hull, with dinner and breakfast on board.
Cost £995
What the price includes:
Return road transport from the Nottingham area to Hull, return P & O ferry from Hull to Rotterdam (including breakfasts, dinners in The Brasserie and en-suite cabins on both overnight crossings) return ferry to Texel, all ground transport in The Netherlands, four nights’ half board en-suite accommodation on Texel, bird checklist and guidance.
Single supplement: £325