Duinen van Texel National Park

National Park · Netherlands

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Photo © Txllxt TxllxT

Photo © Txllxt TxllxT — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the North Sea's reach softens into pale dunes and marram-grass ridges, Duinen van Texel spreads across a temperate maritime landscape shaped by wind and salt spray. The national park protects a mosaic of coastal habitats—active dune fields, stabilized grasslands, and interconnected wetlands—that shift subtly through the year under the Cfb maritime climate that brings consistent moisture and mild winters. This is not wilderness in the Alpine sense, but a working coastal ecosystem where water is never scarce and vegetation grows year-round beneath temperate skies. Wading birds and migratory shorebirds exploit the shallow margins and mudflats; raptors quarter the open dunes; small songbirds shelter in the low scrub and nascent woodland; and small mammals burrow through the grass. The park's ecological identity is rooted in its role as a thoroughfare and rest stop for birds moving between the Atlantic and Continental Europe, and as breeding or overwintering ground for species tied to maritime temperate zones.

For the wildlife photographer and patient birdwatcher, Duinen van Texel offers the rare privilege of watching a European coastal system in motion without the artifice of hides or baiting stations. The soft, diffuse light of the maritime north—especially in the long days of spring and early summer—casts the dunes in hues that reward slow, methodical work. Migratory peaks in spring and autumn bring concentrations of wading birds and smaller migrants that can turn a single morning's walk into a cascade of sightings; winter brings different pressures and different visitors to the wetlands. The park remains accessible and intimate in scale, a place where serious naturalists can work the habitat edge by edge, understanding how a single dune system sustains such variety across the seasons. Access is straightforward, and the landscape's openness rewards both the telephoto lens and the binocular.

Black-tailed Godwit

Eurasian Spoonbill

Platalea leucorodia

White-tailed Eagle

Haliaeetus albicilla

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Recurvirostra avosetta

Eurasian Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus

Branta bernicla

Branta canadensis

Branta leucopsis

Bar-headed Goose

Pink-footed Goose

Anser brachyrhynchus

Tundra Bean Goose

Anser serrirostris

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

Cygnus columbianus

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Common Shelduck

Tadorna tadorna

Tadorna ferruginea

Aix galericulata

Spatula querquedula

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Mareca strepera

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

Anas platyrhynchos

Northern Pintail

Aythya fuligula

Spectacled Eider

Somateria fischeri

Somateria spectabilis

Somateria mollissima

Melanitta perspicillata

Melanitta nigra

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

Mergellus albellus

Common Merganser

Mergus merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator

Lady Amherst's Pheasant

Chrysolophus amherstiae

Common Pheasant

Phasianus colchicus

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

Cuculus canorus

Common Wood Pigeon

Columba palumbus

European Turtle Dove

Streptopelia turtur

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Rallus aquaticus

Gallinula chloropus

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Red-necked Grebe

Podiceps grisegena

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

Podiceps auritus

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Pluvialis squatarola

European Golden Plover

Pluvialis apricaria

American Golden Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Eurasian Dotterel

Eudromias morinellus

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Northern Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus

Red-wattled Lapwing

Vanellus indicus

Anarhynchus alexandrinus

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian Curlew

Numenius arquata

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus

Lymnocryptes minimus

Eurasian Woodcock

Scolopax rusticola

Gallinago gallinago

Phalaropus fulicarius

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Tringa glareola

Common Redshank

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropus

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Calidris canutus

Calidris pugnax

Broad-billed Sandpiper

Calidris falcinellus

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckii

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Calidris subruficollis

Calidris alpina

Purple Sandpiper

Calidris maritima

Calidris minuta

Sternula albifrons

Sterna forsteri

Sterna paradisaea

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Hydrocoloeus minutus

Black-legged Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

Bonaparte's Gull

Chroicocephalus philadelphia

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Mediterranean Gull

Ichthyaetus melanocephalus

Larus cachinnans

European Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

Yellow-legged Gull

Larus michahellis

Great Black-backed Gull

Larus hyperboreus

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Parasitic Jaeger

Stercorarius parasiticus

Black Guillemot

Red-throated Loon

Northern Gannet

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Gulosus aristotelis

Plegadis falcinellus

Egretta garzetta

Ardeola ralloides

Pandion haliaetus

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Griffon Vulture

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Western Barn Owl

Short-eared Owl

Common Kingfisher

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos major

European Green Woodpecker

Falco tinnunculus

Falco columbarius

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Great Grey Shrike

Lanius excubitor

Woodchat Shrike

Isabelline Shrike

Lanius isabellinus

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Red-tailed Shrike

Lanius phoenicuroides

Garrulus glandarius

Eurasian Magpie

Western Jackdaw

Coloeus monedula

Bohemian Waxwing

Bombycilla garrulus

Eurasian Blue Tit

Cyanistes caeruleus

Bearded Reedling

Panurus biarmicus

Lullula arborea

Eurasian Skylark

Alauda arvensis

Eremophila alpestris

Riparia riparia

Hirundo rustica

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Cetti's Warbler

Long-tailed Tit

Aegithalos caudatus

Phylloscopus sibilatrix

Yellow-browed Warbler

Phylloscopus inornatus

Pallas's Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus proregulus

Phylloscopus trochilus

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Greenish Warbler

Phylloscopus trochiloides

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Acrocephalus palustris

Icterine Warbler

Hippolais icterina

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Eurasian Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

Common Whitethroat

Curruca communis

Common Firecrest

Regulus ignicapilla

Regulus regulus

Troglodytes troglodytes

Short-toed Treecreeper

Certhia brachydactyla

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Turdus philomelos

Turdus viscivorus

Common Blackbird

Eyebrowed Thrush

Turdus obscurus

Turdus torquatus

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Erithacus rubecula

Common Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

Luscinia svecica

Red-flanked Bluetail

Tarsiger cyanurus

Phoenicurus ochruros

Common Redstart

Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Saxicola rubetra

European Stonechat

Saxicola rubicola

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Isabelline Wheatear

Oenanthe isabellina

Desert Wheatear

Oenanthe deserti

Oenanthe pleschanka

Eastern Black-eared Wheatear

Oenanthe melanoleuca

White-throated Dipper

Cinclus cinclus

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Passer montanus

Passer domesticus

Prunella modularis

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Motacilla cinerea

Richard's Pipit

Anthus richardi

Anthus pratensis

Red-throated Pipit

Anthus cervinus

European Rock Pipit

Anthus petrosus

Eurasian Chaffinch

Fringilla coelebs

Fringilla montifringilla

Coccothraustes coccothraustes

Common Rosefinch

Carpodacus erythrinus

European Greenfinch

Chloris chloris

Linaria flavirostris

Linaria cannabina

Acanthis flammea

Parrot Crossbill

Loxia pytyopsittacus

Loxia curvirostra

European Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis

Eurasian Siskin

Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicus

Plectrophenax nivalis

Emberiza citrinella

Emberiza pusilla

Black-faced Bunting

Emberiza spodocephala

Common Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus

Red-breasted Goose

Branta ruficollis

Branta hutchinsii

Anser caerulescens

Taiga Bean Goose

Red-crested Pochard

Melanitta fusca

Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus

Oxyura jamaicensis

Coturnix coturnix

European Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

Porzana porzana

Eurasian Stone-curlew

Burhinus oedicnemus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Pacific Golden Plover

Pluvialis fulva

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Cream-colored Courser

Cursorius cursor

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Hydroprogne caspia

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Long-tailed Jaeger

Stercorarius longicaudus

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinus

Stercorarius skua

Black-throated Loon

Leach's Storm Petrel

Hydrobates leucorhous

Northern Fulmar

Fulmarus glacialis

Sooty Shearwater

Manx Shearwater

Puffinus puffinus

Ciconia ciconia

Eurasian Bittern

Botaurus stellaris

Bonelli's Eagle

Aquila fasciata

Circus macrourus

Rough-legged Buzzard

Bubo scandiacus

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Eurasian Wryneck

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Dryobates minor

Red-footed Falcon

Falco vespertinus

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

Vireo olivaceus

Poecile palustris

Eurasian Penduline Tit

Remiz pendulinus

Hume's Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus humei

Radde's Warbler

Phylloscopus schwarzi

Phylloscopus fuscatus

Iberian Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus ibericus

Phylloscopus borealis

Blyth's Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus dumetorum

Melodious Warbler

Hippolais polyglotta

Locustella luscinioides

Eurasian Nuthatch

Eurasian Treecreeper

Certhia familiaris

Black-throated Thrush

Turdus atrogularis

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Common Rock Thrush

Monticola saxatilis

Saxicola stejnegeri

Siberian Stonechat

Saxicola maurus

Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla tschutschensis

Citrine Wagtail

Motacilla citreola

Anthus campestris

Olive-backed Pipit

Anthus hodgsoni

Anthus spinoletta

Eurasian Bullfinch

Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Serinus serinus

Emberiza calandra

Ortolan Bunting

Emberiza hortulana

Yellow-browed Bunting

Emberiza chrysophrys

Emberiza rustica

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

Anser canagicus

Anser cygnoides

Black-necked Swan

Cygnus melancoryphus

Australian Shelduck

Tadorna tadornoides

Cairina moschata

Chenonetta jubata

Ferruginous Duck

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Meleagris gallopavo

Reeves's Pheasant

Syrmaticus reevesii

Golden Pheasant

Chrysolophus pictus

Tachymarptis melba

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

Sociable Lapwing

Vanellus gregarius

Anarhynchus asiaticus

Gallinago media

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor

Terek Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Calidris tenuirostris

Red-necked Stint

Calidris ruficollis

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Chlidonias hybrida

Sterna dougallii

Rhodostethia rosea

Larus glaucoides

Atlantic Puffin

Fratercula arctica

Red-billed Tropicbird

Phaethon aethereus

Yellow-billed Loon

European Storm Petrel

Hydrobates pelagicus

Balearic Shearwater

Puffinus mauretanicus

Pygmy Cormorant

Microcarbo pygmaeus

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Dalmatian Pelican

Pelecanus crispus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Bearded Vulture

Gypaetus barbatus

Short-toed Snake Eagle

Circaetus gallicus

Greater Spotted Eagle

Hieraaetus pennatus

Parabuteo unicinctus

Eurasian Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium passerinum

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

Falco rusticolus

Nymphicus hollandicus

Alexandrine Parakeet

Psittacula eupatria

Melopsittacus undulatus

Lesser Grey Shrike

Lanius cristatus

Northern Nutcracker

Nucifraga caryocatactes

Lophophanes cristatus

Greater Short-toed Lark

Calandrella brachydactyla

Melanocorypha calandra

Eurasian Crag Martin

Ptyonoprogne rupestris

Western Bonelli's Warbler

Phylloscopus bonelli

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler

Phylloscopus orientalis

Phylloscopus nitidus

Aquatic Warbler

Acrocephalus paludicola

Locustella fluviatilis

Western Subalpine Warbler

Curruca iberiae

Eastern Subalpine Warbler

Curruca cantillans

Purple Starling

Lamprotornis purpureus

Thrush Nightingale

Luscinia luscinia

Collared Flycatcher

Ficedula albicollis

Blue Rock Thrush

Monticola solitarius

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Sudan Golden Sparrow

Yellow-crowned Bishop

Alpine Accentor

Prunella collaris

Anthus godlewskii

Haemorhous mexicanus

Two-barred Crossbill

Loxia leucoptera

Emberiza leucocephalos

Black-headed Bunting

Emberiza melanocephala

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striata

Lepus europaeus

European Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Long-tailed Field Mouse

Apodemus sylvaticus

Eurasian Harvest Mouse

Micromys minutus

Rattus norvegicus

West European Hedgehog

Erinaceus europaeus

Greater White-toothed Shrew

Crocidura russula

Halichoerus grypus

Megaptera novaeangliae

Eurasian Red Squirrel

Sciurus vulgaris

Alexandromys oeconomus

Short-tailed Field Vole

Microtus agrestis

Clethrionomys glareolus

Ondatra zibethicus

Nyctalus noctula

Nathusius's Pipistrelle

Pipistrellus nathusii

Common Pipistrelle

Pipistrellus pipistrellus

Brown Long-eared Bat

Plecotus auritus

Eurasian Particolored Bat

Vespertilio murinus

Mustela erminea

Cystophora cristata

European Wildcat

Felis silvestris

Common Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Balaenoptera physalus

Panglobal Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

White-beaked Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus albirostris

Physeter macrocephalus

Sowerby's Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon bidens

Western Roe Deer

Capreolus capreolus

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