Description
The Kerswerf, the western side of the larger Beusichemse Waard, is a fairly large wetland area on the northeastern side of the city of Culemborg. It is part of the Lek river floodplains and consists of multiple large ponds which vary in waterlevel during the season. The ponds are surrounded with small shrubs and scattered trees, reedbeds and agricultural fields.
During Spring migration, the water level is (most often) fairly low which reveals lots of banks and provide an ideal foraging area for many species of migrating waders, like Füstös cankó, Szürke cankó and Réti cankó. Common species that can be observed here are billegetőcankó and Kis lile. Due to its location near the Lek river, the Kerswerf is great for rare species of migrating waders, like Parti lile, Sarlós partfutó and Gólyatöcs. The area is also used by many species of common waterbird, but also scarcer species, like Böjti réce and Kanalasgém, can be present.
The surrounding grassy areas are during Spring an Autumn migration great for large flocks of sárga billegető, Grey-headed Wagtail (thunbergi) and Angliai barázdabillegető. Other songbirds that can be found on these pastures are Hantmadár, cigánycsuk and rozsdás csuk.
Parts of the shoreline of the Lek river are used by large breeding flocks of partifecske. They tend to forage above the ponds of the Kerswerf during the breeding season in May and June.
Details
Access
The area is not accessable due to the horses that walk around. You can observe the ponds and its banks from two observation locations near the road (see map).

