Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 7 hrs ago
Rare northern hawk-owl draws birdwatchers to Friesland
A rare northern hawk-owl was spotted on Saturday in the Rottige Meente nature reserve in Friesland, near Nijetrijne.
The bird has been seen in the Netherlands only five times before, according to the available information.
It normally lives in northern forests across Scandinavia, Russia and North America.
The species usually stays in the north in autumn, but a shortage of food can make it travel far.
The sighting drew birdwatchers from across the country, and 113 people logged it on a Dutch wildlife sightings website.
There is no information about how long the owl will remain in the area.
A rare northern hawk-owl was spotted on Saturday in the Rottige Meente nature reserve in Friesland.
The bird has reportedly been seen only five times before in the Netherlands.
The sighting drew birdwatchers and photographers to the area.
A total of 113 birdwatchers had entered the sighting on waarneming.nl, according to Omrop Fryslân.
The owl is a northern species that usually lives in forests across Scandinavia, Russia and North America.
- Who
- A northern hawk-owl was spotted, attracting birdwatchers and photographers.
- What
- The rare owl was seen in the Netherlands.
- When
- Saturday; the articles were published on 24 October 2026.
- Where
- The Rottige Meente nature reserve in Friesland. Reports locate it near Nijetrijne or Wolvega.
- Why
- The bird’s rarity drew birdwatchers. It may have travelled south because food was scarce, but that is not confirmed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A northern hawk-owl was seen at Saiterpetten in De Alde Feanen, according to waarneming.nl records cited by Omrop Fryslân.
A northern hawk-owl was spotted in the Rottige Meente nature reserve.
Omrop Fryslân reported that 113 birdwatchers had entered the sighting on waarneming.nl.
- Species
- Northern hawk-owl (sperweruil)
- Location
- Rottige Meente nature reserve, Friesland
- Previous sightings in the Netherlands
- Five, according to the articles
- Logged observers
- 113 on waarneming.nl
- Earlier Friesland sighting
- Saiterpetten, De Alde Feanen, August 1972