The sun is showing its face more often, the days are getting longer, and as you pour your first cup of coffee in the morning, you can hear it immediately: spring has officially begun! All around us, the cheerful chirping of birds busy at work fills the air.
You might have already spotted them performing a mating dance in your garden or flying back and forth with twigs for their nests. As the Dutch saying goes: “In mei leggen alle vogels een ei” (In May, all birds lay an egg), but in April, the preparations are already in full swing!
It truly brightens our spirits to see nature coming back to life. The ducks and geese are returning, and the rare Eurasian Jay has been making remarkably frequent appearances in our province lately. Even the stately Great Egret is being spotted more and more along our Limburg streams.
Limburg Birdwatching Hotspot: The Eagle Owl Valley
Limburg is unique, and that applies to our feathered residents as well. Did you know we have a very special neighbor in Maastricht? On the Sint-Pietersberg, you’ll find the birdwatching point De Kiekoet. From here, you have a breathtaking view over the quarry and the Eagle Owl Valley (Oehoevallei).
The Eurasian eagle owl, the largest owl in Europe, nests in the steep marl walls! If you’re lucky, you might see it take flight from the wall and soar over the quarry. It’s an impressive sight you won’t soon forget.
Tip: Want to get even closer? In August and September, Natuurmonumenten organizes special eagle owl excursions. Keep an eye on the Sint-Pietersberg agenda!
Location: Oog van Sint Pieter parking lot, Luikerweg 80, Maastricht.
Win a Pair of Binoculars (worth €495!)
To make birdwatching even more fun, Natuurmonumenten has an amazing offer. If you request their free digital birdwatching guide between February 26 and June 1, you’ll automatically be entered for a chance to win a professional Vogelbescherming Buizerd II binoculars. It’s the perfect tool to get a really good look at that eagle owl (or the birds in your own backyard)!
Which Birds are Flying in Limburg?
Thanks to its hills, marl walls, and plateaus, Limburg is home to several birds that you hardly see in the rest of the Netherlands. Here is a list of 15 birds to look out for during your next walk or bike ride:
- Eurasian Eagle Owl: The king of the marl walls on the Sint-Pietersberg.
- Red-backed Shrike: A rarity that loves the Limburg thorn hedges.
- Yellowhammer: Recognizable by its bright yellow head, often seen on the plateaus.
- White-throated Dipper: The only songbird that ‘swims’ and dives, found near the Geul river.
- Grey Wagtail: Loves fast-flowing streams in the South Limburg landscape.
- Middle Spotted Woodpecker: Feels right at home in our ancient oak forests.
- Common Kestrel: Often seen ‘hovering’ in the sky above the Limburg fields.
- Eurasian Jay: The ‘police officer of the forest’ with beautiful blue wing feathers.
- Great Egret: A stately white bird increasingly seen near our fens and ponds.
- European Goldfinch: A colorful little bird that loves thistles along the country roads.
- Eurasian Nuthatch: The only bird that climbs down a tree just as easily as up.
- Eurasian Hobby: A lightning-fast hunter seen in open fields during the summer.
- Common Nightingale: Perhaps not the most striking to look at, but the most beautiful evening song.
- European Greenfinch: A sturdy green bird that loves to visit your garden.
- Barn Swallow: The bringer of summer, loves to nest in Limburg stables.
Whether you are a hobby photographer, an avid hiker, or simply enjoy the birds in your backyard: there is plenty to see this month. Grab your camera or binoculars and enjoy all the beauty our own province has to offer!
Images: Pexels | Animalia | Wikimedia Source: Natuurmonumenten
