Viconia clay pits

The water-rich area was created by clay extraction for the brick factory of Nieuwpoort.[1] Between 1945 and 1979, six shallow clay pits filled with water were created over an area of 22 hectares. Due to a land consolidation, the nature reserve was expanded by another eight hectares in 2001.

A walking path runs along the reserve, and there are two birdwatching hides that provide opportunities to observe mainly water birds.

Avifauna[edit | edit source]

Winter: shoveler, teal, wigeon, hen harrier, mountain duck, wild duck, summer teal, dabchick, arrowtail, crested duck, pochard, Cetti's warbler.

Migrating: snipe, ringed plover, dunlin

Summer: godwit, curlew, snipe, little plover, purple heron, lapwing, spotted redshank, wood sandpiper, little ringed plover, cormorant, moorhen, spoonbill, little egret, starlings, great egret, common sandpiper, peregrine falcon, bank swallow, common swift, house martin, barn swallow, bluethroat, cuckoo, reed warbler, greylag goose, little reed warbler, reed bunting, water rail, long-eared owl, merlin, avocet and bearded reedling.

Flora[edit | edit source]

Relief-rich grasslands, mudflats, reed edges, ditches, hedges, and a swamp woodland create many different habitats. The transitions from wet to dry, from peat to clay, and from salt to fresh allow for a variety of plant growth in a relatively small area. There is much coarse reed land with sedge communities. Along the ditches, water grass, strawberry clover, and zulte grow. Around the oldest ponds, remnants of sedge grassland can be found.

SOURCE: Viconia Kleiputten - Wikipedia

Joris Broché