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The Kerswerf is a fairly large wetland area and a great place for observing waders and waterbirds.
The Kerswerf, the western side of the larger Beusichemse Waard, is a fairly large wetland area on the northeastern side of the city of Culemborg. It is part of the Lek river floodplains and consists of multiple large ponds which vary in waterlevel during the season. The ponds are surrounded with small shrubs and scattered trees, reedbeds and agricultural fields.
During Spring migration, the water level is (most often) fairly low which reveals lots of banks and provide an ideal foraging area for many species of migrating waders, like Spotted Redshank, Common Greenshank and Wood Sandpiper. Common species that can be observed here are Common Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover. Due to its location near the Lek river, the Kerswerf is great for rare species of migrating waders, like Common Ringed Plover, Curlew Sandpiper and Black-winged Stilt. The area is also used by many species of common waterbird, but also scarcer species, like Garganey and Eurasian Spoonbill, can be present.
The surrounding grassy areas are during Spring an Autumn migration great for large flocks of Western Yellow Wagtail, Grey-headed Wagtail (thunbergi) and Pied Wagtail. Other songbirds that can be found on these pastures are Northern Wheatear, European Stonechat and Whinchat.
Parts of the shoreline of the Lek river are used by large breeding flocks of Sand Martin. They tend to forage above the ponds of the Kerswerf during the breeding season in May and June.
The area is not accessable due to the horses that walk around. You can observe the ponds and its banks from two observation locations near the road (see map).