Every year Rottumerplaat looks a little different. Sandbanks shift, birds seek new nesting places, and sometimes an unexpected guest appears. The bird watchers from Rijkswaterstaat meticulously document these changes in their annual report.
Their findings about 2025 yield again remarkable stories.
Waiting, Watching, and Observing
From April to August, the bird watchers stay in their house on the uninhabited Rottumerplaat. They supervise, count birds, and participate in research. This helps ensure that nature in this vulnerable Natura 2000 area develops as undisturbed as possible.
Their annual report offers a unique insight into how the island changes and which species appear or disappear.
An Island That Is Never the Same
Wind and water move large amounts of sand every winter. Where the Stuifdijk washed away in previous years, it remained remarkably stable this winter. On the south side of the dike, the sand accumulation seems to create a new picture: the seagrass that once grew here was not found by the Wadwachters this season. Later in August, after the bird watchers season, it turns out that some seagrass is still present.
On the north side of the Stuifdijk, the opposite is happening. The Nieuwe Oostpunt is getting a little higher each year. The result is a more exposed area, where in 2025 for the first time Little Terns, Arctic Terns, and Oystercatchers attempted to breed. Unfortunately, their eggs washed away during a spring tide.
New Color: Sea Aster on the Marsh
One of the biggest surprises this year was the appearance of sea aster. This yellow plant is rare in the Netherlands and only occurs in a few places in the Delta area and on the Wadden Islands. On Rottumerplaat, it was the very first time it was observed.
Birds in the Spotlight
The breeding season brought much activity. The number of Marsh Harriers reached a record high with no less than eight nests. Not all broods were successful, but still, nine chicks flew above the marsh.
In contrast, breeding on the Piledams for the Common Tern went less smoothly. The number of Black-headed Gulls was remarkably low. Normally, the Black-headed Gulls provide protection, but this time many eggs and chicks were taken by larger gulls.
For the Oystercatcher, an unprecedented number of nests were found along the Stuifdijk, but only a handful of chicks survived.
Young Brent Geese and Regular Guests
After the first nest discovery in 2024, the bird watchers this year saw Brent Geese with young ones for the first time in the ditches of the island. The Spoonbills also had a good season, with almost one fledgling per pair and even a few new colonies closer to the Stuifdijk.
And then the flying door or while the sea eagle: where one visit used to be special, this year on no less than twenty-five days one or more Sea Eagles flew over Rottumerplaat. An impressive sight!
Nature Surprises Every Year Again
New plants, record numbers of raptors, or unexpected chicks: every year Rottumerplaat shows how lively and changeable nature in the Wadden Sea is.
Next season, the bird watchers will follow this closely. They will start their work in early April. Once they are well settled, they will regularly report on their activities. On Instagram via @Rottumerplaatje and on the website of the Wadden Sea you can subscribe to the report from the wad watchers .