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Spiekeroog

Lower Saxony  >  Germany

Spiekeroog is one of the islands closest to nature in Germany. Surrounded by the Wadden Sea it's a great place to find seabirds, shorebirds and other migrants.

Added* by Mathieu Waldeck
Most recent update 23 October 2020

Description

A visit to Spiekeroog can be very relaxing and exciting and the same time. The laid-back living-style on the island, where cars are forbidden and even bikes are scarse allows for great stress relief in the vast expanses of marshes, wadden areas or in the scenic village, while huge flocks of Dunlin , Common Redshank and many other waders allow for stunning flight spectacles. There are huge breeding colonies of Eurasian Spoonbill, Lesser Black-backed Gull and the songs of Eurasian Skylark fill the air, whereas in spring and autumn you may always hope for great seawatching and rare vagrants.

Details

Access

There is no airport, so one has to use the ferry to get there. You can find more info on ferries on the link below. There are no cars on the island and no bikes either, so you'll have to do everything by walking (however small, electrical lorries may take your baggage to your apartment)

Terrain and Habitat

Grassland , Plain , Scattered trees and bushes , Dunes , Sea , Beach , Mud flats , Reedbeds

Conditions

Hilly , Sandy , Open landscape , High water possible , Flat

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Spring migration , Autumn migration

Route

Paved road , Unpaved road , Wide path , Narrow trail

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Foot , Wheelchair

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Extra info

Visiting the island is worthwile at every time of the year as awesome birds can be found throughout the year. Migration can be spectacular in spring and autumn with tens of thousands of Dunlin , Eurasian Oystercatcher , Eurasian Curlew , Bar-tailed Godwit , Common Shelduck , different gulls feeding in the mudflats. Among them rarer waders such as Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper or Whimbrel can be spotted with a bit of patience. The island is famous for being the only stronghold of Short-eared Owl in Germany and some of the very last breeding German Hen Harrier.

Seawatching can be very worthwile especially in early May and late September, with good chances for all four Skua species and the occasional alcids or tubenose flying by. The grasslands in the eastern part of the island, where gulls , waders and Eurasian Spoonbill breed are closed off to the public during the breeding time.

Links

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

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

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