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Description
Schaapjeszijde, named after the road on the eastern side of the area, is a small area within a large typical peat meadow area, called "Polder de Nesse". The area consists of old, narrow pastures on which cattle is held. Between these narrow pastures, ditches are present which attract many species of waterfowl, like Garganey and Northern Shoveler. A larger ditch on the northwestern en western side of the area is used by diving ducks, like Tufted Duck and Common Pochard. Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe are also present on these larger ditches. On the banks of these ditches, herons, like Great Egret and Purple Heron hunt for frogs. In early spring, Common Tern and small numbers of Black Tern can be seen hunting above the ditches after which they return to their nests in the surrounding area. Some patches of reedbed are present in which Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler can be heard.
During the breeding season, the pastures are used as breeding habitat for several species of waders, like Black-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank and Eurasian Curlew. Besides waders, species like Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Western Yellow Wagtail also breed here. Western Marsh Harrier hunts above these pastures.
Just next to the road, some small areas with bushes are present. Here, species like Lesser Whitethroat, Icterine Warbler and Eurasian Tree Sparrow can be seen and heard. Many other common songbirds can be found within these bushes.
In winter, the area is mainly used by large flocks of geese, like Greater White-fronted Goose and larger numbers of Great Egret can be present.
Details
Access
There's a parking spot at the beginning of the tarmac road on the eastern side of the area (see P on the map). You can access the area on foot and by bike. Follow the tarmac road in southwestern direction and use your scope to scan the open landscape on both sides of the road. After several 100 meters, a small paved road leads towards the village in northwestern direction. You can follow the road until you reach the larger ditch from where you'll be able to scan this part of the area.