Europe - Belgium

Although just 12,000 square miles in size, Belgium offers a surprising variety of scenery, with some 20% of the country still wooded. The coastal belt with its fine sandy beaches offers breeding sanctuary for Avocets and Kentish Plovers, as well as passage waders. In winter at Damme, near Bruges, thousands of White-fronted Geese, with lesser numbers of Barnacle and Bean Geese, winter. Kempenland in Lower Belgium is an area of infertile land with heaths, plantations and numerous ponds. The area holds rare breeding species such as Tawny Pipit, Bluethroat, Wryneck and Black-necked Grebe. In the provinces of Liege and Namur, Honey Buzzards and Wood Warblers continue to breed in good numbers.

Bluethroat © Glyn Sellors