In July, there is still a chance to see young birds on the island. This is also a great time to enjoy the first waders on their way back south.

Birds on Texel in July

Sandwich terns are currently breeding in Wagejot, just under 7,000 breeding pairs! This month, most of the young can be found on the edge of the colony, begging for fish.

Spectacle of terns

It is an amazing sight to see up close. And you can do just that at the ‘Bird Boulevard’, a birdwatching hotspot in Wagejot near Oosterend. There is quite a fishy smell, though, because the parents bring a fish to the roughly 10,000 young terns at this nature reserve about every hour or so. A real spectacle! You can still see this until about mid-July. By then, most young terns can fly to the North Sea themselves, where most of the fish is caught. They can often be spotted in De Slufter at that time of the year.

Swallows in The Slufter

By July, most young little terns in De Slufter have already flown the nest. However, you can still see a lot of sand martins in this nature reserve and can do so throughout July in and around their nesting holes in the steep sand bank.

Waders

Because the bird migration back south is once again in full swing in July, the number of sightings of waders increases rapidly. During high tide, many of these birds, such as the bar-tailed godwits, European golden plovers, dunlins, red knots, and spotted and common greenshanks can be seen in Mokbaai, De Slufter and on the south side of De Schorren along the Bird Boulevard.

Bird spotting excursion

Vogelinformatiecentrum Texel, the local bird information centre, organises birdwatching excursions along the Bird Boulevard throughout July, led by an experienced guide.

Happy birdwatching!

More summer on Texel