Alder plugs and mussels: this is how nature survives the winter

“Do you hear that?” The boat glides gently through the water. Our ears pricked up, we hear small whistles coming from the tops of the trees.

“Those are redpolls,” says Leon Kelder of Staatsbosbeheer. “They come from Scandinavia and Siberia. There are now meters of snow there, which is impossible for a small bird. In the winter they come this way to hibernate here, among other things they do this on alder seed.”

We pick an alder plug from a branch. “Look, the inside of those balls contain small seeds that are eaten by birds,” Kelder points out.

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De Weelen is an elongated nature reserve between Medemblik and Stede Broec. It is located on either side of an old dike, the Kadijk, which was here in the Middle Ages.

The area owes its name to dike breaches that left behind large round puddles, so-called wheels. So it is wet and swampy, which is quite special among the West Frisian fields.

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We find empty shells of the swan mussel. Kelder: “Coots dive up and peck open the shell with their sturdy beak. Mussels are high-quality, protein-rich food. Exactly what you need in winter.”

The best way to explore the Weelen is by boat. “But there is also a walking route,” says Leon. “It starts at Esdoornpad. You can park your car at Kadijkweg.” It can be useful if it has rained a lot to wear waterproof shoes. And take binoculars with you, you might see a bluethroat or a redpoll.