From August 15-16 2023, I drove to the north-west part of Germany (320km from my home in Hilversum) for a 2-day visit to the area around Wilhelmshafen, mainly looking for birds.

Wilhelmshaven, located in northern Germany, offers a diverse range of natural habitats that attract a variety of bird species. Within a 20 km radius of Wilhelmshaven, you can explore coastal areas, wetlands, forests, and meadows.
Here are the locations that I visited to find birds:

1. Neuenburger Urwald
Neuenburger Urwald is an unmanaged forest reserve containing very old trees (mainly oaks). Several breeding birds related to this habitat can be seen here in good numbers in spring, namely Middelste Bonte Specht, Fluiter and Bonte Vliegenvanger. There is a parking lot (GPS: 53.392883,7.965678) at the western edge of the forest. Several paths are signposted and the reserve can easily be explored by foot.

2. Jade Weser Port: GPS: 53.580873, 8.139409 + GPS: 53.597636, 8.121523.
This large port area can attract a variety of gulls, terns, and other coastal birds. Look for species such as herring gulls, common terns, and black-headed gulls. The open water might also attract waterfowl like ducks and swans.

3. Horumersiel – Crildumersiel
The coastal section of Horumersiel are Crildumersiel is rich in water birds and waders. Every year, many Rotgans can be seen northeast of the port of Horumersiel. Eider can be located in the harbour itself, while on the stone walls outside the harbour at high tide Steenloper and various gull species rest. Parking: GPS: 53.683248,8.022209. From the parking you can walk along the Wadden Sea in the direction of Crildumersiel (3 km). Directly on the dike at Crildumersiel is a small but easily visible flood rest area.
Note: For bird watching on the Wadden Sea the best time is about two hours before to two hours after high water.

4. Schweiburg Marsh/Sehestedt National Park
A wetland area to the east of Wilhelmshaven, Schweiburg Marsh is an excellent spot for observing wetland birds. You might see waders like redshanks, avocets, and dunlins, as well as reed-dwelling species like reed warblers and bearded reedlings. There is a bird hide: Parking: GPS: 53.436261, 8.304941. Also check this area next to the shore: GPS: 53.447663, 8.307397.

5. Beckmannsfeld
This is a place on the Jadebusen bay where the foreland is not that far and you can therefore see birds relatively close. In addition, directly on the other side of the dike, there are great ponds where you can see Lepelaar and Zwarte Ruiter. Parking: GPS: 53.522307,8.318843. It is best to park the car directly on the dike. From there you can explore the site on foot.

6. Langwarden Groden
This is an area with extensive mud flats, shallow water areas and salt marshes - habitats for many breeding and resting birds. The Groden is part of the Wadden Sea National Park. There is a nicely landscaped path (GPS: 53.607238, 8.326768) through the shingle areas and a very well positioned bird watching hide (GPS: 53.610898, 8.312123) . Inside the dyke you can also watch flocks of geese grazing from the main dike. The "National Park House" visitor center is located in Fedderwardersiel.

7. Cuxhaven Kugelbake
North-East of Langwarden Groden. The Kugelbake in Cuxhaven at the mouth of the river Elbe in the North Sea has three good observation areas together: the harbour, the beach and the sea. Because the Kugelbake stands on the end of a dam and protrudes far into the water, it is a nice place for birding. You can overlook the beach, the harbor and the sea at the same time. It is best to park in the Kurpark (GPS: 53.889834,8.67655. From the parking walk over the dike to the Kugelbake at the end of the dike (GPS: 53.891809, 8.686961).