Netherlands
Dutch wetlands
Polders, reed beds and lake shores that hold breeding waders, warblers and wintering waterfowl through the seasons.
Read moreBirding journal
Maxbirding: notes from the field
Welcome to Maxbirding, a personal birding journal with field reports, trip logs and identification notes from the Netherlands and from southern Africa.
Why this journal exists
Birdwatching rewards patience and careful notes. This site collects the observations, sketches and lessons learned on every outing, so that a sighting from years ago can still inform the next trip.
- Dated entries for each field trip
- Notes on habitat, weather and behaviour
- Practical tips on identification and optics
Featured journal sections
Start with one of the main sections of the journal.
Zambia
Miombo woodland notes
Field observations from the miombo woodlands, including roller, bee-eater and raptor sightings recorded during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
Read more
Journal
Field archive
An overview of older entries, with notes on what worked, what did not, and which sites are worth revisiting.
Open archiveHow the journal is written
Every entry follows the same simple principles.
01
Observed in the field
Each record describes what was actually seen and heard, with the time, place and conditions noted at the time.
02
Careful identification
Uncertain sightings are marked as such, and identification features are explained so readers can check the reasoning.
03
Respect for habitat
Notes encourage quiet approaches, distance from nests and responsible behaviour at sensitive sites.
Common questions
Yes. Entries describe common species first and explain the features that separate look-alikes, so they work as a starting point.
The journal focuses on notable and instructive observations. Routine sightings are summarised in trip lists rather than individual entries.
The careful habitat notes made it much easier to plan my own visits to the same wetlands.
Fellow birdwatcher
Share your own sightings
Have a question about an entry or a site you would like covered? Get in touch and start a conversation.
Contact Maxbirding