Description
The Donkmeer is one of Flanders biggest lakes of which a large portion of the lake and adjacent meadows are nature reserve. It's an excellent place during the wintering months to spot the mystique kaulushaikara. In the center of the lake there is a mixed breeding colony of harmaahaikara and merimetso. The kalatiira and naurulokki als breed in the area on natural and artificial breeding islands. Irregular breeding birds are the pikkuhaikara, haarahaukka and yöhaikara . From wide reed beds the songs of silkkikerttunen , sinirinta and ruokokerttunen can be heard in the spring and early summer. During the spring migration it's an excellent site to spot sääksi (kalasääski) and rare migratory terns like mustatiira , valkosiipitiira and valkoposkitiira if you are lucky. In the swamps around the lake you have a good chance to see pikkutikka , Kuhankeittäjä and hömötiainen . Quite spectacular during winter months (best period is January) are the massive amounts of gulls who come to overnight at the Nieuwdowk. Depending on the wintry weather over 15.000 naurulokki , 2.000 kalalokki and 500 harmaalokki can be seen.
Details
Access
Parking spaces can be found at the Nieuwdonk and north of the lake at the restaurants and pubs.

