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Wedeler Marsch & Hetlinger Marsch

Schleswig-Holstein  >  Germany

Great place for wetland and grassland birds, including a superb visitor center, where birds (including rarities) can be observed up-close.

Added* by Mathieu Franzkeit
Most recent update 18 avgust 2025

Description

Wedeler Marsch and Hetlinger Marsch are two adjacent wetland areas located along the Elbe River. On the northern side of the dike wide grassland plains offer great feeding opportunities to thousands of Geese (especially Belolika guska), ducks, raptors and waders. On the southern side of the dyke, waders, gulls and Belorepan can be found along the shoreline of the Elbe, feeding in the mudflats. Bird migration here can be great, several rare species breed here and the observation situation at "NABU Vogelstation Wedeler Marsch" is phenomenal, often including rarities and scarcities.

Details

Access

Wedeler Marsch and Hetlinger Marsch are located 25 km west of Hamburg near the town of Wedel along the Elbe River. Much of the area is closed off to cars. Either you drive to "Fährmannssand" or "Hetlinger Schanze", where you can park your car or you take the subway "S1" until the station "Wedel" and then walk/take the bike. Press P on the map for directions to a parking spot. A bike can be of great use, as the conditions are optimal, it is a big area and you can cover much more ground.

Terrain and Habitat

Wetland , Grassland , Plain , Mud flats , Reedbeds

Conditions

Flat , Open landscape

Circular trail

No

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Spring , Autumn

Route

Paved road , Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

Extra info

The visitor center "NABU Vogelstation Wedeler Marsch" (formerely Carl Zeiss Vogelstation) offers awesome observation conditions, but is not always open. As of August 2025, the times are: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays (except Christmas and New Year's Day) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can find the current opening hours on the NABU website (see the link below).

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

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