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Description
One of the only decent places in Holzgerlingen for birding, the Holzgerlinger Wald is a forest situated in the North of the town, yet a reasonable distance from even Central Holzgerlingen. Unlike other locations in the town, the forest is not very built up, and can be quite empty (as in no people!) at times.
Here, strakapoud velký are abundant, and you can even find nests if you know where to look! The call of budníček menší fills the forest occasionally, while kos černý can be found foraging along the forest floor. sýkora koňadra are common, and pěnice černohlavá aren't as shy as they are in other spots of the town. The large clearing near the South of the forest is home to vrána černá and káně lesní, and you may spot the stray volavka popelavá flying over. Other forest birds like červenka obecná, drozd zpěvný, and pěnkava obecná can be found, and you may be able to spot žluna zelená, šoupálek krátkoprstý, střízlík obecný, or pěvuška modrá. At the Feuchtbiotop Weihdorfer Weise, a small pond with a light coating of reeds on the backside, you could see Slípka zelenonohá or kachna divoká, as well as many frogs.
On the way to the Feuchtbiotop Weihdorfer Weise, there is the Alter Steinbruch, a small still pond with a bridge that crosses into another section of forest. Here I found a pair of strakapoud velký that got quite close.
You can also take the straight route to Schönaich, which yields many birds, including brhlík lesní, šoupálek krátkoprstý, and strakapoud velký. Look up where the tree canopy recedes and you may spot a luňák červený.
Remember to please submit any sightings to the eBird Hotspot, linked below in the "Links" section, to grow it. It's quite small as of now.
Details
Access
In the Northwest of Holzgerlingen, drive to Weihdorfer Straße and turn into the Parkplatz am Parkfriedhof parking lot, where you will be greeted by a couple of small wooden bird statues near the entrance to the forest. Press P on the map for directions to the parking. There are many paths in the forest, don't get lost!
You can also enter in other spots, even in Schönaich and Böblingen, though whether this still technically counts as the Holzgerlinger Wald (despite being part of the same forest patch!) is up for debate. The route is best traveled on foot, though much of it can be cycled. You will miss birds if you cycle, however.
You can turn back at any time, there is no goal when entering. One possible route is to enter from the parking lot, then walk to the clearing and take the lower (South) trail along it, before making your way up to Feuchtbiotop Weihdorfer Weise and continuing along the path until you get to the upper (North) clearing trail, where you can walk back to the parking lot from. Allow around 45 minutes to an hour for this loop, so you can stop to bird along the way.
Another good birding route, arguably better, is the long, straight path to the Schönaich side of the forest. To get here you should just continue straight on the lower clearing trail instead of going north to reach Feuchtbiotop Weihdofer Weise. Leave a good amount of time for this path, over an hour (and probably more!) definitely because you also need to come back.
Terrain and Habitat
Forest , Wetland , Reedbeds , Pond , PlainConditions
Flat , Wet , SlipperyCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
NoGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
SpringRoute
Paved road , Unpaved road , Wide path , Narrow trailDifficulty walking trail
EasyAccessible by
Foot , BicycleBirdwatching hide / platform
NoExtra info
You can find deer and foxes in the forest as well. Be careful for ticks, if you go off the path there can be a lot.
The forest is a public park, so remember there will be other people as well. Cars sometimes drive through areas.