b

Lower Havel near Havelberg

Northeast Saxony-Anhalt  >  Germany

Section of the valley of the river Havel, which is partially flooded until the early summer. Only regular breeding site of the Whiskered Tern within a radius of 100 km.

Added* by Martin Miethke
Most recent update 6 September 2021

Description

The scenic valley of the river Havel near Havelberg, which is extensively flooded in winter and spring, is home to several species of water fowl, grebes (all four breeding species of Central Europe!), raptors and waders.

The connecting road between Havelberg and Jederitz runs above the river dike which crosses the area and separates the dike forland in the southwest from the actual floodplain in the northeast. The dike top provides a good overview of the surroundings. There is also a comfortable bird watching hide on the northeast side of the dike.

The southwest part is a grassland polder criss-crossed by ditches and flooded from winter to midsummer. A large Black-headed Gull colony is located here, which also contains colonies of Black-necked Grebe and Whiskered Tern. The latter one is the most south-westerly regularly occupied breeding site in Central Europe and also the only one in central Eastern Germany. Other breeding bird species are Red-necked Grebe, Common Crane, Garganey, Western Marsh Harrier and Whinchat.

Northeast of the dike lies the floodplain of the Havel with meadows, oxbows, reeds and willow trees. It’s regularly flooded in winter and spring. Nesting aids for the Black Tern are placed in an oxbow (“Trentsee”) every year and are well accepted. Black-necked Grebe, Red-necked Grebe and Common Crane also breed here, as well as the Common Tern in several years. In Winter nordic geese (mainly Greater White-fronted Goose) and Whooper Swan use the floodplains as a roost. The White-tailed Eagle visits the area regularly to forage.

Details

Access

The area is easy to get to by car and bicycle. The best starting point for explorations is the small parking lot at the observation hut. The best time of day for observations at the pumping station (850 meters northwest of the parking lot) on sunny days is the late afternoon.

Terrain and Habitat

Scattered trees and bushes , Grassland , Wetland , Plain , River , Reedbeds

Conditions

Flat , Open landscape , No shadow , Wet , High water possible

Circular trail

No

Is a telescope useful?

Yes

Good birding season

Spring , Summer , Winter

Best time to visit

Autumn , Spring migration , Summer , Spring

Route

Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

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

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

Show more birds Show less birds
Show more images Show less images

Comments & Tips

Click on the little bird icon () to insert bird names in your own language. The birdnames will automatically be translated for other users!