VWG Vlietland

Latest news: 10-2-2012
Picture of greater scaup.

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 10 - Redwing 1. Vogelplas Starrevaart is frozen for 100%.
Meeslouwerplas: Little Grebe 7, Great Cormorant 18, Great Egret 33, Grey Heron 14, Greater White-fronted Goose 70, Barnacle Goose 37, Eurasian Wigeon >10000, Greater Scaup 1 male 1 female, Common Goldeneye 3 male 2 female, Smew 3 male 4 female, Goosander 1 male 3 female, Hen Harrier 1 female, Common Buzzard 2, Eurasian Woodcock 1.
Leidschendammerhout: Greater White-fronted Goose 65, Greylag Goose 160, Common Teal 11, Hen Harrier 1 female (possibly same as Meeslouwerplas), Common Buzzard 3, Common Kestrel 1, Common Snipe 1, Green Sandpiper 1, Common Raven 1 at 5:00 PM, almost certain this species.

February 8 - Common Kestrel 1.
Meeslouwerplas: Little Grebe 3, Great Cormorant 72, Great Bittern 1, Great Egret 54, Grey Heron 12, Egyptian Goose 40, Eurasian Wigeon 12500, Smew 1 female, Peregrine Falcon 1 juvenile.
Rietpolder: Little Grebe 6, Bewick's Swan 7, Common Goldeneye 3 male 1 female, Goosander 3 male 2 female, Jack Snipe 1.
Spekpolder: Little Grebe 2, Mute Swan 26, Eurasian Wigeon 1800, Common Goldeneye 1 female.
Leidschendammerhout: Great Egret 2, Grey Heron 11, Mute Swan 16, Greater White-fronted Goose 300 (small groups came to drink), Greylag Goose 96, Egyptian Goose 14, Common Teal 33, Mallard 4, Common Buzzard 3 (1 caught a Common Moorhen, but got attacked by 6 Carrion Crows and had to let go of the prey), Common Kestrel 2, Common Moorhen 4, Jack Snipe 1, Common Snipe 4, Green Sandpiper 2, Common Kingfisher 1, Long-tailed Tit 6, Carrion Crow 10.
Passing: Goosander 13 SW, Water Pipit 2.
February 6 - Starrevaart frozen over for 99%.
Meeslouwerplas: Great Egret 76, Bewick's Swan 104, Smew 1, Goosander 1.
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.

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

Webmaster: Sjaak Schilperoort
e-mail: VWG.Vlietland@xs4all.nl