Harderbroek Reserve
Harderbroek Marsh lies in the southern part of the Flevoland Polder just across from the town of Harderwijk. Turning left immediately after the bridge put us on a minor road running along the top of a dyke on the south side of the marsh. There are several stopping places from where we can overlook the extensive reedbeds and patches of open water. Plenty of waterfowl, gulls etc; also a ringtail hen harrier quartering the reeds.
About a thousand lapwing roost in a nearby ploughed field, mostly lined up along the furrows for shelter. At least two dozen golden plover and a handful of snipe (photo) are well-camouflaged amidst the sparse vegetation around the edge of the field. This is more like it - birdwatching, seeing new things. Well, there should be something new.
Harderbroek Marsh lies in the southern part of the Flevoland Polder just across from the town of Harderwijk. Turning left immediately after the bridge put us on a minor road running along the top of a dyke on the south side of the marsh. There are several stopping places from where we can overlook the extensive reedbeds and patches of open water. Plenty of waterfowl, gulls etc; also a ringtail hen harrier quartering the reeds.
About a thousand lapwing roost in a nearby ploughed field, mostly lined up along the furrows for shelter. At least two dozen golden plover and a handful of snipe (photo) are well-camouflaged amidst the sparse vegetation around the edge of the field. This is more like it - birdwatching, seeing new things. Well, there should be something new.
We stop near a garage where I go in search of a better scale map of the area. Meanwhile Jim scans the surrounding fields with the telescope. By the time I return, he has found a new bird. A buzzard flew across and stopped on the ground then later moved to a fence post. It has a pale breast, dark belly and a very pale tail with a dark terminal band ‑ characteristics of a rough-legged buzzard ‑ our first new bird of the trip and fortunately one that waited around for me to see it too!
Natuurpark Lelystad
Near Lelystad there is a Natuurpark which comprises landscaped woods, paddocks, lake, footpaths, and drainage ditches. The paddocks hold a variety of animals from reindeer and moose to pinioned geese and cranes, while the star exhibit seems to be beaver. By the paddocks are information boards about each animal showing identification, tracks, distribution, etc. Three way‑marked walks of varying lengths take in different sets of paddocks. As it is nearly dusk we do the shortest (2km) route; there are few birds around but these include goldcrest, sparrowhawk, and a willow tit that sounds as if it had laryngitis.
According to our AA book of camping in Europe, there are a couple of camp-sites on Flevoland that should be open all year round. Off‑site camping is illegal in the Netherlands so we head for the nearest site. Unfortunately it is closed, but we are too exhausted to go looking for the other place ‑ and if one was closed perhaps the other one is too. We park by the gate, to show that we have at least tried.
A hedgehog trundles across the track ahead; there is something comforting about its presence.
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