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Mokbaai

Island of Texel  >  Netherlands

An inland tidal salt water marsh with higher and lower parts. The higher parts have vegetation and even reeds, the lower parts have oyster banks.

Added* by Klaas de Jong
Most recent update 2 Οκτωβρίου 2025

Description

At high tide (check the tide table, see the link below) in the Mokbaai many different species of birds will gather on the higher parts of the area and can be quite numerous, especially in times of migration. (Ευρασιατική) Τουρλίδα, Θαλασσολιμόζα, (Ευρωπαϊκό) Βροχοπούλι, (Ευρασιατική) Χουλιαρομύτα and Λασποσκαλίδρα can hardly be missed. In winter, many ducks like (Ευρωπαϊκό) Σφυριχτάρι, Καπακλής, Ψαλίδα (του Βορά) and (Κοινή) Πουπουλόπαπια are abundant, while Πετρίτης can be found disturbing the scene. Κοκκινοσκαλίδρα and Δρεπανοσκαλίδρα may be found on the mudflats and the reed beds in the southwest corner are home to Μουστακαλής, Γαλαζολαίμης, (Μεγάλο) Καλαμοτσίχλονο and Καλαμοποταμίδα. You can be lucky to find a (Κοινός) Λευκοτσικνιάς or even a Αργυροτσικνιάς, but the place is also known for rarities, like Μαυροκέφαλος Γλάρος (spring), Καρατζάς (summer) and is often visited by Ψαραετός (migration).

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Nederlands: De Mokbaai is een landinwaarts gelegen kwelder met hogere en lagere delen. De hogere delen hebben vegetatie en riet, de lagere delen hebben schelpenbanken. Bij vloed (zie link naar getijdentabel beneden) verzamelen zich in de Mokbaai veel verschillende soorten vogels op de hogere delen van het gebied en kunnen ze behoorlijk talrijk zijn, vooral in tijden van trek. (Ευρασιατική) Τουρλίδα, Θαλασσολιμόζα, (Ευρωπαϊκό) Βροχοπούλι, (Ευρασιατική) Χουλιαρομύτα en Λασποσκαλίδρα zijn vaak te zien. In de winter zijn er veel eenden zoals (Ευρωπαϊκό) Σφυριχτάρι, Καπακλής, Ψαλίδα (του Βορά) en (Κοινή) Πουπουλόπαπια, terwijl Πετρίτης het tafereel kan verstoren. Op het wad zijn Κοκκινοσκαλίδρα en Δρεπανοσκαλίδρα te vinden en in de rietvelden in de zuidwestelijke hoek leven Μουστακαλής, Γαλαζολαίμης, (Μεγάλο) Καλαμοτσίχλονο en Καλαμοποταμίδα. Je kunt geluk hebben om een (Κοινός) Λευκοτσικνιάς of zelfs een Αργυροτσικνιάς te vinden, maar de plek staat ook bekend om zeldzaamheden, zoals Μαυροκέφαλος Γλάρος (lente), Καρατζάς (zomer) en wordt vaak bezocht door Ψαραετός (tijdens de trek).

Details

Access

You can drive, walk or cycle around the Mokbaai, but from the road, the north side is hidden behind dunes. The south/south-western side is open and offers great views on the groups of birds on the mudflats, while the scrubs behind you may offer a concert of singing birds in spring, like (Κοινό) Αηδόνι, Θαμνοτσιροβάκος, Lesser Whitethroat, (Κοινός) Θαμνοψάλτης and many more. If you're lucky, you will find a singing Γαλαζολαίμης.

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Nederlands: Je kunt rond de Mokbaai rijden, wandelen of fietsen, maar vanaf de weg is de noordkant verscholen achter duinen. De zuid/zuidwest kant is open en biedt een prachtig uitzicht op de groepen vogels op het wad, terwijl het struikgewas achter je in het voorjaar een concert van zingende vogels kan bieden, zoals (Κοινό) Αηδόνι, Θαμνοτσιροβάκος, Lesser Whitethroat, (Κοινός) Θαμνοψάλτης en nog veel meer. Als je geluk hebt, vind je een zingende Γαλαζολαίμης.

Terrain and Habitat

Wetland , Mud flats , Reedbeds

Conditions

High water possible , Open landscape , Flat

Circular trail

No

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Spring migration , Autumn migration

Route

Paved road , Narrow trail

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle , Car , Wheelchair

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Extra info

The road around the bay leads to a military camp, so there may be some cars passing by, sometimes with high speed to catch the ferry. Please don't stand still on the road. The roadsides are broad and strong enough.

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Nederlands: De weg rond de baai leidt naar een militair kamp, dus er kunnen wat auto's langskomen, soms met hoge snelheid om de veerboot te halen. Blijf alsjeblieft niet stilstaan midden op de weg. De bermen zijn breed en sterk genoeg.

Links

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

Map

Top 5 birds

Ψαλίδα (του Βορά)
1. Ψαλίδα (του Βορά)
(Anas acuta)
Θαλασσολιμόζα
2. Θαλασσολιμόζα
(Limosa lapponica)
(Κοινός) Λευκοτσικνιάς
3. (Κοινός) Λευκοτσικνιάς
(Egretta garzetta)
Μουστακαλής
4. Μουστακαλής
(Panurus biarmicus)
(Ευρασιατική) Χουλιαρομύτα
5. (Ευρασιατική) Χουλιαρομύτα
(Platalea leucorodia)

Other birds you can see here

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Comments & Tips

Local guide

Discover the birds of Texel with Klaas de Jong

Island of Texel  >  Netherlands

Texel is one of the best bird watching destinations in the Netherlands. Bird watchers from all over Europe come to this Wadden Sea island to watch birds. Rare birds and vagrants are often seen on Texel and interesting birds can be observed all year round.  Klaas de Jong - one of the most reputed bird guides in the Netherlands - lives on Texel and knows the island as no other. Klaas offers full day or half day birding tours. Klaas shows you countless bird species and always searches for the most recent rarities on the island.

Handy pick-up-service

One of the great services Klaas provides, is the pick-up-service. His minibus can pick you up at your hotel or at the ferry port. A very convenient service if you only have a day to explore the island. Directly from the ferry you you can start off and from there Klaas takes you to the best birding areas of the island.

For more information about Klaas' bird tours, times and prices visit his website.

Website Klaas de Jong
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