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Description
The small river Selz has been renaturalised at this reserve and European Beavers have recolonised as well. Along with an area of flooded marshes, reedbeds, ponds, grassland and scattered riverine woodland, some regionally scarce breeders are present and over the years a wide variety of passage and winter birds have been recorded. Over 200 species are now on the reserve list. A concerted effort in Spring on a good day can produce 70 species at the reserve and along the river.
The main attraction for most will be spring and summer reedbed visitors, such as Blábrystingur, Flóðsöngvari and Brúnheiðir. Reyrsöngvari has become more regular. Kampameisa appears on passage and in some years has stayed to breed. Pungmeisa has bred but nowadays is generally a scarce migrant. There is a Gráhegri colony and scarcer relatives such as Nátthegri, Bjarthegri, Rindilþvari, Rauðhegri and Sefþvari have all been recorded in recent years, some regularly.
Passage waders can be found on the pools or flooded grasslands, but this is heavily dependent on weather and water level conditions. More regular are Trjástelkur, Flóastelkur, Lindastelkur and Lyngstelkur. Stelkur, Lóuþræll, Vatnalóa, Sandlóa, Rúkragi and Sótstelkur are no longer regular but also possible. Local scarcities such as Jaðrakan, Bjúgnefja, Spói, Spóatíta, Bakkatíta and even Þórshani have all been recorded here and along the river. Heiðlóa and Fjalllóa have been recorded migrating overhead on occasion.
Grátrana, Kolstorkur and Hvítstorkur are regular visitors, and the latter has started to breed. The woodlands hold good numbers of Næturgali and Laufglói. Fauskspæta has recently colonised the area. In adjacent meadows and scrub Þyrnisvarri, Hagaskvetta, Gulerla and Korntittlingur can be found on passage and breeding. Kattugla and Eyrugla breed, as does Gunnfálki, Svölugleða and Vatnagleða.
Wildfowl numbers, mostly dabbing ducks, build up modestly in Spring and Autumn with Urtönd, Stokkönd, and Gargönd being the most easily encountered. Visibility can be a challenge with reeds obscuring the pools, so try using a scope from higher ground. In most winters, singles or low numbers of wild geese are recorded among the resident groups of Grágæs, the most regular being Blesgæs, followed by Akurgæs (serrirostris). A Álft was a recent and unusual overwinterer. Fjalltittlingur is regular on passage and sometimes winter.
Details
Access
Limited free parking is available at a couple of small paved areas next to the L432 between Hahnheim and Sörgenloch. This road is also on a bus-route (652) with the nearest bus-stop at Wahlheimer Hof to the east of the reserve, or alternatively at Sörgenloch to the west. A path, paved only on most of the southern side, circumvents the pools, grassland, and reedbeds. Cycling this part of the southern edge is possible, but other stretches are often high grass (beware of ticks) and can be muddy depending on conditions. An official paved cycling route veers west of the reserve when at the south-western corner but returns to the Selz shortly afterwards. Beaver activity and excessive rain sometimes causes extensive localised flooding.