Germany Ramsar wetland
Vogelschutzgebiet 'Rieselfelder Münster'
253 bird species recorded; the most in May.
Vollersander · CC BY-SA 4.0
This month here
124 species in January.122 species in February.162 species in March.190 species in April.209 species in May.164 species in June.173 species in July.183 species in August.186 species in September.155 species in October.126 species in November.116 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.





































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- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
253 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 253Speciesrecorded more than once
- 141Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 8ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 72,905Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 19Raptors
- 5Owls
- 37Waders
- 17Gulls & seabirds
- 46Ducks & geese
- 15Herons, ibises & grebes
- 3Storks & cranes
- 87Songbirds
- 24Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 253 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors19 species
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Eurasian GoshawkAccipiter gentilis
- White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicilla
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Rough-legged BuzzardButeo lagopus
- Short-toed eagleCircaetus gallicus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus
- Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinusVU
- Pallid HarrierCircus macrourusNT
Owls5 species
- Little OwlAthene noctua
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Long-eared OwlAsio otus
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Western Barn OwlTyto alba
Waders37 species
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- RedshankTringa totanus
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- Little ringed ploverCharadrius dubius
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Temminck's StintCalidris temminckii
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesVU
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus
- Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusNT
- Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdii
- Grey (Red) PhalaropePhalaropus fulicarius
- Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinus
Gulls & seabirds17 species
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- European Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Pontic gullLarus cachinnans
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Common GullLarus canus
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Iceland GullLarus glaucoides
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
- Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus
- Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
Ducks & geese46 species
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
- Bar-headed GooseAnser indicus
- Red-crested pochardNetta rufina
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Black swanCygnus atratus
- Ferruginous DuckAythya nyrocaNT
- Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostris
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- SmewMergellus albellus
- Cape ShelduckTadorna cana
- Ringed TealCallonetta leucophrys
- Wood DuckAix sponsa
- Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalis
- Lesser white-fronted gooseAnser erythropusVU
- Blue-billed TealSpatula hottentota
- Green-winged tealAnas carolinensis
- Mandarin DuckAix galericulata
- Yellow-billed TealAnas flavirostris
- Snow gooseAnser caerulescens
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
- Brent GooseBranta bernicla
- Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
- Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
- Cairina moschataCairina moschata
- White-faced Whistling-duckDendrocygna viduata
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus
- White-cheeked PintailAnas bahamensis
- Emperor GooseAnser canagicus
- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
Herons, ibises & grebes15 species
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Little BitternIxobrychus minutus
- Purple heronArdea purpurea
- African Sacred IbisThreskiornis aethiopicus
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
Storks & cranes3 species
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
- Common CraneGrus grus
- Black storkCiconia nigra
Songbirds87 species
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- Great titParus major
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Western JackdawColoeus monedula
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- BluethroatLuscinia svecica
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Short-toed treecreeperCerthia brachydactyla
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris
- Bearded ReedlingPanurus biarmicus
- Marsh warblerAcrocephalus palustris
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
- Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- Lanius excubitorLanius excubitor
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- Willow TitPoecile montanus
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Lesser whitethroatSylvia curruca
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioides
- HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- European Crested TitLophophanes cristatus
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceus
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- Eurasian Penduline TitRemiz pendulinus
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
- Eurasian TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Icterine warblerHippolais icterina
- Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus
- Common RedpollAcanthis flammea
- Eurasian River WarblerLocustella fluviatilis
- Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus
- European SerinSerinus serinus
- Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- WoodlarkLullula arborea
- Dusky warblerPhylloscopus fuscatus
- Barred WarblerSylvia nisoria
- Aquatic WarblerAcrocephalus paludicolaVU
- Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus
- Common crossbillLoxia curvirostra
Other birds24 species
- CootFulica atra
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- European Water RailRallus aquaticus
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- European SwiftApus apus
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Black WoodpeckerDryocopus martius
- Spotted CrakePorzana porzana
- Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor
- Middle Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocoptes medius
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- Porzana parvaPorzana parva
- Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
- CockatielNymphicus hollandicus
- Red JunglefowlGallus gallus
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in May.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan4°/-1°76 mm
- Feb5°/-1°58 mm
- Mar9°/1°54 mm
- Apr15°/4°41 mm
- May18°/8°61 mm
- Jun22°/12°63 mm
- Jul24°/14°75 mm
- Aug23°/13°77 mm
- Sep20°/10°59 mm
- Oct14°/6°63 mm
- Nov9°/3°69 mm
- Dec5°/0°75 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Vogelschutzgebiet 'Rieselfelder Münster'.
Special protection area in the EU defined by the birds directive in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Vogelschutzgebiet 'Rieselfelder Münster' is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in Germany.
It is also a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive.
253 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 72,905 open records.
The most recorded are the Greylag Goose, the Mallard and the Gadwall.
89 species come for the summer, 51 for the winter and 1 only pass through.
8 are threatened worldwide, including Common Pochard, Curlew Sandpiper and Grey Plover.
The most species are recorded in May.

Get there and watch
- Haus Coerdecampsite · 3.1 km · 13 within 10 km
- Hof Wesselmannplace to stay · 3.0 km · 101 within 10 km
- Nienbergenearest town · 7.5 km in a straight line
- Münster Osnabrück Airport (FMO)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 12 km in a straight lineCar hire at FMO airport (Greven)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.

Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 15bird hides within 6 km
- 3observation towers within 6 km
- 13marked trails within 4 kmX5 Vreden - Dissen, X4 Anholt - Halle (Westf), X24 Münster - Bad Bentheim and 10 more
- 1visitor centres within 6 kmBiologische Station Rieselfelder
- 5viewpoints within 5 km
- 57car parks within 3 km
- 7restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 13campsites within 10 kmHaus Coerde, Fuestrup Camp Marina, Campingplatz Wersewinkel and 10 more
- 101places to stay within 10 kmHof Wesselmann, Kaltefleiter, Hof zur Linde and 98 more
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Vogelschutzgebiet 'Rieselfelder Münster'.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Photographs
The place, as people saw it.
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q2152351) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 72,905 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas, Lakeyas, Darkskyas, Riveryas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.






