Beautiful Belgium | Sint-Maartensheide - De Luysen
August state-of-mind
Every year I spend 1 week volunteering for our local youth movement. During their annual camping week, we provide 3 meals and snacks every day for about 200 (very hungry) boys. The location varies every year but typically we stay in the province of Limburg.
As this year’s camp took place in Oudsbergen, I spent an afternoon break visiting the nearest nature domain: Sint-Maartensheide - De Luysen.
The area covers around 10-50 ha and offers a nice combo of heathland, woods, meadows and the pond De Luysen.
I took the 7km walk, passing most of the bird hides.
The first one I came across was one of the most beautiful and comfortable bird watching huts I have ever been in. The benches, the multiple windows with glass and easy access for photography made it a very welcoming place to stay a for a while.
Birding highlights
1. Great White Egret
Once a rare sight, the Great White Egret's population has been increasing over the past decades. It's one of the largest heron species in Belgium, with a wingspan of up to 170 cm. It was such a joy watching this elegant, long-necked bird hunt and fly in this pleasant setting.
2. Great Spotted Woodpecker
When walk back to my car, I suddenly heard the typical drumming right above my head. There it was, in the golden late afternoon sun. Great Spotted Woodpeckers are assumed to have between 50,000 and 80,000 breeding pairs in Belgium. They can eat several hundred to over a thousand insects per day with their specialized, long sticky tongue that can extend beyond their beak.
3. Nuthatch
Being the only bird in Belgium that can climb up but also down tree trunks, I can relate to this bird, living in an upside down world sometimes.
4. Grey Heron
I saw it moving slowly in the water, hunting for fish with its typical sudden spear-like movement. It moved carefully amongst the other water birds and did not seem to bother at all unless som came too close to its hunting area.
5. Mute Swan
I was able to spot this nice Mute Swan family and they gladly had their picture taken. These swans always remind me of my childhood days when I used to walk to and from school with my grandfather, crossing the Leopold park in Ostend every day. There were swans there and I relentlessy wanted to stop and watch them and then later draw them when we got back home.
Things I want to see when I go back
- Wheatear
- Red-backed shrike
- Black Stern
- Tree frog
