Urban birding is not without its challenges. For those of us foolish enough to go for a Big Year in a city the road is long and winding. That may be a bit over-dramatic – in Rotterdam the straight-lined public transport can get me to most birding spots and I will not dwell any longer on the physical discomfort needed to reach the remainder. No, it’s the urban environment, the bricks and mortar, the asphalt and the concrete that make it hard. There’s nature, but it will predominantly come in stamp-sized parcels: urban birding is an activity for the philatelornithologist.
Let’s have a look at the recently acquired stamps for my collection. You have already been reading about De Tempel.
There are many more stamp-sized natural areas to highlight: Eiland van Brienenoord, Oranjeplassen and Polder Schieveen will be the pick for today.
Starting with the latter. Most polder landscape has disappeared from around Rotterdam while the city has been expanding relentlessly over the last five decades. Within the municipality’s limits there is only one place left and it has been turned into a reserve – just to be on the safe side. Despite its small size, Schieveen will be visited throughout the Big Year. Nowhere else can we tick the polder specialists. The first visit in February resulted in some nice additions for the year list: Eurasian Spoonbill, Eurasian Curlew, and Northern Lapwing. Hundreds of Greylag Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese (pictured below) and Eurasian Wigeon completed the spectacle.
The Oranjeplassen (see headline picture) are conveniently close to metro station Steendijkpolder, followed by a short walk through a green neighbourhood with plenty songbirds. An early arrival is essential, not only because of the birds’ usual preference for the wee hours but also to avoid the “locals” for whom this is their back garden. It really does get busy after coffee time! The lake can be watched from the little beach (east) and all along the metro track (southwest), along a dike (east) and from the bicycle part to the north. This path also provides access to a hide. A telescope is essential to see it all, but even without there’s enough waterfowl around for a few hours’ worth of birding. I saw 32 species in a couple of hours, among them Greater White-fronted Goose, Little Grebe and two drake Common Merganser.
Last but not least. I visited the Brienenoord island three times in a single week because a vagrant Serin had been reported. Eiland van Brienenoord is an eBird hotspot and for good reason. The namesake bridge over the Nieuwe Maas river might put you off – arguably the busiest motorway in the country – is this place really worth it? However, the river is one of the few remaining European tidal rivers which creates an interesting dynamic with mudflats (waders anyone?) and flooded willow woodlands. The small island can be thoroughly explored in a matter of hours, but that exploration could yield 30 to 50 bird species, Eurasian Beaver, Beech Marten and many other bio-diversity participants. There’s a tram stop near the Feijenoord stadium (best football/soccer club ever) but I took the bicycle. I continued cycling on the island proper and distracted by many birds I subconsciously ignored some signs. Of course, I ended up being confronted by two forest rangers. My flagrant transgression was forgiven – I suspect these gentlemen thought I was clinically insane after my explanation of the Big Year goal – and I was given some good intelligence for later this year. Fine avoided, lesson learnt. Please cycle to the island, park the bike and walk. My distraction consisted of 6 Long-tailed Tits and the fine would have been Euro 11.67 per tit. Nobody wants to pay that much money to look at… you know what, I’ll stop right here.
Big Year Rotterdam, 1 March 2025, 77 species, 123 to go.
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