VWG Vlietland

Latest news: 25-10-2011
Picture of northern goshawk.

The VWG Vlietland is a birdwatchers organisation active in Vogelplas Starrevaart, Vlietland and Leidschendammerhout. These areas are located close to the west coast of the Netherlands, between The Hague and Leiden (see the maps). The central part of the area is a fresh water marsh and bird sanctuary.

On this website you can find information on the areas and the results of the field work by VWG Vlietland. This includes an overview of recent sightings, reports (Dutch) and press articles (Dutch). All pictures on the web site are from the area itself.

Volunteers wanted!

Until mid October volunteers help each Saturday from 10 AM to clear the reedbeds from willow trees before the reed will be cut next winter. We can use some extra hands! If you want to join, please send a message to info@vwgvlietland.nl and you will receive more info.

Volenteers cleaning the shell island, 2-9-2011 (Foto © Gerard van Zeele)

Recent additions

Most documents are available in Dutch only. See the news section for a complete overview of all changes.

The recent major changes are:

View on bestemmingsplan 'Vlietland NoordOost' (feb 2005)
Report on big day (may 2004)
Roosting count of Black-tailed Godwits (apr 2004)
Culling of Ruddy Duck (jan 2004)

Finally

Comments, suggestions and additions on these pages? Please send a message to VWG Vlietland. See the guestbook for all reactions so far. Your own observations and bird counts are welcome as well.

Recent sightings

red is a rare or scarce species
green is early (first) or late sighting
blue is a high count
blue is a count that exceeds the 1% level

February 6 - Starrevaart frozen over for 99%.
Meeslouwerplas: Great Egret 60, Bewick's Swan 24.
Leidschendammerhout: Common Teal 40, Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1, Jack Snipe 6, Common Snipe 25, Eurasian Woodcock 2, Water Pipit 1, Redwing 2, European Goldfinch 5.
February 4 - Mute Swan 3, Bewick's Swan 28, Common Shelduck 20, Eurasian Wigeon 1900, Northern Shoveler 1, Eurasian Curlew 15, Common Gull 20.
Vlietland: Little Grebe 14, Great Crested Grebe 25, Great Cormorant 15, Great Egret 54, Grey Heron 8, Mute Swan 10, Bewick's Swan 167, Greater White-fronted Goose 440, Greylag Goose 140, Canada Goose 10, Common Shelduck 20, Eurasian Wigeon 18500, Gadwall 340, Mallard 1270, Northern Pintail 12, Northern Shoveler 12, Red-crested Pochard 2 male, Common Pochard 70, Tufted Duck 268, Common Goldeneye 3 male 5 female, Smew 2 male 2 female, Goosander 1 female, Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1, Common Buzzard 5, Water Rail 1, Common Moorhen 5, Eurasian Coot 700, Common Snipe 3, Eurasian Woodcock 1.
Passing: Great Cormorant 50 SW, Great Egret 19 SW, Barnacle Goose 475 SW, Eurasian Skylark 10 SW.
February 3 - Bewick's Swan 110.

February 2 - Bewick's Swan 119, Common Shelduck 65, Common Goldeneye 2 male 1 female, Common Buzzard 1, Peregrine Falcon 1 female (attacking a female Common Pochard but missed), Eurasian Curlew 730.
Meeslouwerplas: Great Cormorant 78, Great Egret 69 (in daytime), Water Rail 1.
February 1 - Common Shelduck 63, Common Teal 11, Northern Pintail 14, Common Goldeneye 3 male 6 female, Smew 4 male 1 female, Goosander 1 female, Common Kestrel 1, Eurasian Curlew 93.
Meeslouwerplas: Little Grebe 1, Great Egret 42 (roost), Grey Heron 9.
Leidschendammerhout: Mute Swan 14, Greylag Goose 140, Canada Goose 12, Common Buzzard 2, Common Kestrel 1, Fieldfare 8, Redwing 20, Long-tailed Tit 2, European Goldfinch 1.
January 31 - Great Bittern 1, Hen Harrier 1 female type.
Vlietland: Great Egret 38 (roost Weegeiland).
Passing: Great Egret 5.

See also the archive of recent sightings, and the the overview of observations of cr-ringed birds (Dutch).

Webmaster: Sjaak Schilperoort
e-mail: info@vwgvlietland.nl