Rotterdam is the one metropolis on the earth the place retailers promote shirts with the sleeves already rolled up. It’s a metropolis that prides itself on its onerous work mentality, variety, trendy structure, its completely incredible soccer membership Feyenoord, and its super-sized port. It’s this port we will probably be visiting.
The Rotterdam port stretches from its origin close to the St Laurens cathedral to the second Maasvlakte – a distance of 40 km because the Carrion Crow flies. Buried beneath the port: total villages and fairly superior pure areas. All that’s gone however in return we now have “rocky shores”, infinite steppe-like areas and the province’s tallest mountain, a poisonous waste dump. Notice – Dutch individuals will name “mountain” something above the peak of a dike and I see no motive to vary that conference simply because a few of you reside within the Alps, Rockies, Andes, or Himalayas.
The town centre consists of buying areas and many harbours. These harbours have their inhabitants of Mute Swan, Mallard and Black-headed, Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Mew Gull. The bushes lining the harbours can comprise something from Home Sparrow (sure, they’re nonetheless right here!), European Blackbird, Chaffinch, Nice Tit, Rose-ringed Parakeet and different widespread birds. The birds are very approachable. You gained’t be including “ticks” to your record of lifers however you’d have the ability to see a pair of Nice Crested Grebe care for his or her younger up shut and private. Whereas having fun with a chilly beer or a sizzling espresso.
Jackdaws and Carrion Crows eat discarded chips all through the town. My award-winning image of a Feral Pigeon was after all taken in Rotterdam. Even considerably unique birds like Pink-crested Pochard are at all times a chance.
If it’s a must to depend on public transport there’s fairly a couple of choices. The metro can take you to the Kralingse Bos – a big and comparatively wild park and lake. The mix of woods and water will nearly assure a full slate of widespread Dutch birds, with an occasional much less widespread specimen thrown in for good measure. Alternatively, take the Water Bus out of the town to Krimpen aan den IJssel. A brief stroll from the ferry’s quay – via a really unappealing industrial space – is the Stormpoldervloedbos, a tidal freshwater swamp. Amazingly, it’s not an eBird hotspot. Once I lived on this village (clearly previous to my eBirding days) I visited usually, as a result of this can be a very dependable place to see Marsh Warbler. The tides additionally create uncommon botanical circumstances. Do watch these tides – you don’t want to be trapped right here because of the rising tide. In the event you lease a motorcycle in Rotterdam you may discover additional afield or proceed crusing to Kinderdijk for the windmills.
In the event you have been to have a automotive you may observe the Village Individuals and go west. To the brand new ports – constructed within the second half of the final century. Large enough quays and deep sufficient water to obtain super-tankers and large container ships. The newer elements of the port are huge and comparatively empty. Many species come right here to winter, breed or moult regardless of the presence of six refineries. As an illustration, Lesser Black-backed Gulls have a considerable breeding colony proper subsequent to a chemical plant. Heading west on the A15 you’ll quickly realise how far west you really are: you’ll cross an indication telling you to show proper for England! As an alternative you’ll proceed straight forward on the A15 for a lot of kilometres till exit 8, Oostvoorne-Brielle-Rockanje. Flip off, observe the parallel highway in direction of the Slufter, the mountain… There’s a conceal overlooking the Oostvoornse Meer and the lately created Slikken van Voorne. Once I visited in February a chilly sturdy wind prevented me from staying too lengthy, however I managed to see sizable flocks of Greylag Goose, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Eurasian Curlew, Sanderling, Dunlin and Herring Gull from the look-out level. A close-by little wetland allowed me some attractiveness of Greylag Goose, Canada Goose; Egyptian Goose, Mallard and Eurasian Teal. This place turns into very “ducky” when temperatures begin rising.
In the event you proceed straight as a substitute of turning in direction of the Slufter you’ll be coming into the Maasvlakte – a large open steppe-like space. More often than not it is going to be empty bar the occasional Widespread Kestrel or gull, however regulate the rarity alerts and eBird. Eurasian Dotterel might even be thought-about a “common” rarity. Lanceolated Warbler, Pink-breasted Flycatcher, Pink-footed Goose have all been noticed on this space. Looking to sea from one of many vantage factors might often lead to sightings of Sabine’s Gull or Sooty Shearwater. In brief: something can present up if you present up.
