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 Чирок-трескунок and Широконоска. A larger ditch on the northwestern en western side of the area is used by diving ducks, like Хохлатая чернеть and Красноголовый нырок. Малая поганка and Чомга are also present on these larger ditches. On the banks of these ditches, herons, like Большая белая цапля and Рыжая цапля hunt for frogs. In early spring, Речная крачка and small numbers of Чёрная крачка 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 Камышевка-барсучок and Тростниковая камышевка can be heard.
During the breeding season, the pastures are used as breeding habitat for several species of waders, like Большой веретенник, Травник and Большой кроншнеп. Besides waders, species like Полевой жаворонок, Луговой конёк and Жёлтая трясогузка also breed here. Болотный лунь hunts above these pastures.
Just next to the road, some small areas with bushes are present. Here, species like Славка-мельничек, Зелёная пересмешка and Полевой воробей 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 Белолобый гусь and larger numbers of Большая белая цапля 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.


