When I was planning where to visit after Pete Moore & I had seen the Spectacled Eider & I had dropped Pete to head into Amsterdam, I was focusing on visiting Luxembourg for the first time and trying to see Grey-headed Woodpecker. Grey-headed Woodpecker would be a Western Palearctic Tick and they look noticeably different to the subspecies I've seen in Nepal, India, Thailand & Tibet. One of the better-looking sites in Luxembourg was Haff Reimich. While there were a number of eBird sightings for the species at that site, there hadn't been any in the previous six months. It wasn't clear if that just down to a limited number of local observers using eBird or the species still be uncommon there. However, Haff Reimich looked to be the best site in Luxembourg that I could find.
Haff Reimich: Luxembourg is on the top (West) bank of the Moselle
I arrived around 23:30 at Haff Reimich and found there were plenty of parking spaces around the Biodiversum centre. This is a museum and admin centre for the nature reserve. As I didn't have any accommodation booked, the sleeping bag was pulled out for a night in the Focus Hotel. I had a good night's sleep, before waking just before dawn. It was a cold & crisp start to the day, but the weather looked like it would be a good sunny Winter's day, even if the temperature was only going to be a few degrees. Still there was no bitterly cold Texel wind to spoil the day. After brewing some coffee and having breakfast, it was time to head off to explore the reserve.
The lakes are surrounded by light woodland which has a very high water table
Haff Reimich is a series of reed-fringed lakes surrounding by light woodland. The reserve is next to River Moselle which forms the boundary between Luxembourg on the West bank and Germany on the East bank. It lies at the Southern end of the Mosel wine country and the hillsides were covered by vineyards.
Great Spotted Woodpecker: This was the only Woodpecker species I saw, although both Middle Spotted Woodpeckers and Grey-headed Woodpeckers occur
There was a nearby clearing where group activities could take place.
Nuthatch sign in the clearing
This Kingfisher sign was the final sign I could find
It was time to explore more of the reserve.
All the hides have steep roofs: Perhaps they have to be able to cope with days of good snowfall
The first of a number of lovely-looking reed-edged lakes: There wasn't a lot on view from this hide, so I quickly moved on
The next hide overlooked a larger lake
There was a lot more activity on this lake: There were some Great Crested Grebes, Shoveler, Gadwall, Coot and Canada Geese on this lake. Mosel vineyards covered the neighbouring hills
A Shrine to St Donatus by the vineyards on the far hillside: According to the internet, St Donatus is a patron against lightning strikes & is often linked to St Florian, who is the protector against May frosts. The two together are often invoked to protect the wine harvest
Great Crested Grebe: While there was nothing I couldn't see back at home, the Birds were more photogenic
Coot: It was good to see good number of Coot, which is sadly a declining species in the historic Isle of Purbeck
A track between two larger areas of reedbeds
An important patch of open ground in the reserve
This open ground was a nesting area for Little Ringed Plovers: It is also home to Sand Lizards, Blue-winged Grasshoppers and Green Tiger Beetles
Another hide overlooking another lake
This lake had a flock of thirty Pochard: Once a regular wintering sight at Studland, this species disappeared around 2010 after the introduced Carp decimated the weed and underwater habitat at Littlesea
Pochard: Males with one female
Egyptian Goose: I saw a number of these introduced Geese
After a couple of hours exploring the reserve, it was time to head back to the car. This Short-toed Treecreeper was the highlight of the visit to this impressive reserve.
Short-toed Treecreeper: I could remember that Short-toed Treecreepers have a brown flank patch and there were a number of differences to the wings, but I couldn't remember what those differences were
Short-toed Treecreeper: This was a good excuse to read up on the differences in the wing pattern with Treecreeper
Short-toed Treecreeper: The outer edge of the buff wingbar at the base of the primaries does not curve back on itself on primary 4, whereas, it kinks back on itself on the wing of a Treecreeper. The alula has a small pale tip which curves back along the outer edge. A Treecreeper's alula has a large pale tip, without the pale outer edge
Short-toed Treecreeper: The primary tips have well-defined triangular or diamond-shaped white tips on Short-toed Treecreeper. In comparison, Treecreepers have pale tips that look like the Nike logo
Short-toed Treecreeper: Phil Saunders mentioned that Treecreepers on the continent are mainly an upland or coniferous forest species, whereas, Short-toed Treecreepers are more likely at low level. Not, that that will help much if another vagrant Short-toed Treecreeper turns up at Portland
Short-toed Treecreeper: The best view of the toes. This is the feature I'm least likely to use as an identification feature
Treecreeper: A Studland Treecreeper for comparison (25 May 14)
The three storey Biodiversum centre dominates the lake nearest to the car park, yet it also merges perfectly into the area.
The Biodiversum centre also features different local stone building styles, including this Great Crested Grebe wall
The Biodiversum centre is a museum, art gallery and admin centre for the reserve. There is a section dedicated to the periods of human history in the area.
Up to twelve thousand years ago, the locals had a nomadic lifestyle and lived in simple animal skin tents
By seven thousand years ago, the locals had switched to a farming lifestyle and built more permanent huts
Two and a half thousand years ago, the Bronze age huts were more sophisticated
This Goshawk dominates the ceiling of the Biodiversum centre
Wild Boar: This is a regularly-occurring species in the local woodlands
Beaver: I thought I might have seen some signs of Beavers in the reserve
Hawfinch: Another common local species
It was time to head into the city of Luxembourg to have a look around. I will cover that in the next Blog Post.
