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Description
Its rich and diverse habitats, most of it protected, create a safe place to forage and breed. Lots of herons in the heronry in summer: Чапля сіра, Чепура велика, Мала біла чапля, and most importantly including the rare Косар білий and most summers Бугай водяний. Бугайчик in possible, but rare and not every year. But it is the reedbed birds that are the real prices here: Очеретянка лучна, Очеретянка ставкова, Кобилочка солов’їна, Очеретянка середземноморська, Синьошийка, Сутора вусата, або синиця вусата, Лунь очеретяний all breed here. Lots of ducks and shorebirds, including one of the last strongholds of Грицик великий and Кульон великий can be seen displaying. The area also holds Перепілка звичайна, Погонич звичайний and Пастушок and in wet years sometimes Деркач лучний can be heard! The park and scattered Poplar stands still hold Вивільга звичайна and lots of warbler species as well.
Since 2024 the area saw a pair of nesting Орлан-білохвіст. The first successful breeding attempt in Belgium. That year and 2025 they succesfully produced 2 young. Both the adults and the young birds are generally around until mid September after which the young birds disperse. The adults are present year-round and easy to spot on most days.
In winter 1000s of geese (mostly Гуска білолоба, but also increasingly Tundra Bean Goose and Казарка білощока) winter amongst 10000s of Свищ євразійський, Широконіска північна, Чирянка мала and many more. Чепура велика come to roost in the willows and both Лунь польовий and Лунь очеретяний sleep in the large reedbeds.
Many (local) rarities have been found including Погонич-крихітка, Баклан малий, Чапля жовта, Коловодник ставковий, Щеврик червоногрудий, Ремез звичайний and Очеретянка прудка and many more in recent years. Every other year there is a Гуска мала or Казарка червоновола in the region. Лунь степовий and Скопа halt on their migration. In short: there is always something worth seeing in this remarkable nature reserve managed by Natuurpunt.
Details
Access
There are quite a few ways to get to the best birding spots. Recently a new gateway to the best places is being build and new watch towers are already in place. The route shown on the map is about 10 km, but of course you can choose to do only a part.
Best way is to enter via the main visitors gate along the Iepersteenweg from Diksmuide to Ieper. It is easily found when you look for the park with large trees when you exit the village of Woumen on your right. There is a visitors centre where you can find an update on the latest sightings, get a map or ask questions (and have a coffee or another drink).
Terrain and Habitat
Forest , Wetland , Scattered trees and bushes , Grassland , Valley , Reedbeds , Mud flats , LakeConditions
Flat , Wet , Open landscapeCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
Can be usefulGood birding season
All year round , Spring , WinterBest time to visit
Spring migration , Spring , WinterRoute
Paved road , Unpaved roadDifficulty walking trail
Average walkAccessible by
FootBirdwatching hide / platform
YesExtra info
Stay on the paths and trails. In the late autumn through winter and early spring, it can be muddy so wellies are then a must have.
Check https://westland.waarnemingen.be/ for the latest sightings and location of the most interesting birds and other wildlife. See the link below.