Wadden Sea National Park

🇩🇪 Germany

🦭 Germany's Best Seal Haul-Outs
🌍 #220 Global · 3.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #10 in Europe #37 in Temperate Forest
Central Europe, Germany 923 spp. recorded

Wadden Sea National Park sits along the northern coast of Germany, protecting a vast coastal region of mudflats, shallow waters, and tidal channels. Unlike traditional terrestrial reserves, this dynamic marine environment constantly transforms as the tides rise and fall twice daily across the flat shores.

53.680° N   6.801° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

European Oystercatcher ★
NT

European Oystercatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus ostralegus

50–60% · Likely
Barnacle Goose ★
LC

Barnacle Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta leucopsis

30–40% · Possible
Harbor Seal ★
LC

Harbor Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phoca vitulina

30–40% · Possible
Lesser Black-backed Gull ★
LC

Lesser Black-backed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus fuscus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Carrion Crow
LC

Carrion Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corone

60–70% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

60–70% · Likely
Wood Pigeon
LC Endemic

Wood Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columba palumbus

60–70% · Likely
Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

60–70% · Likely
Greylag Goose
LC

Greylag Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anser anser

50–60% · Likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC Endemic

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

50–60% · Likely
Great Cormorant
LC Endemic

Great Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax carbo

50–60% · Likely
European Herring Gull
LC

European Herring Gull

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Larus argentatus

50–60% · Likely
European Starling
LC Endemic

European Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnus vulgaris

50–60% · Likely
Great Tit
LC Endemic

Great Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parus major

50–60% · Likely
Grey Heron
LC

Grey Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea cinerea

40–50% · Likely
Chaffinch
LC

Chaffinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fringilla coelebs

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Harbor Seal ★
LC

Harbor Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phoca vitulina

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Brown Hare
LC

Brown Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus europaeus

20–30% · Possible
Western Roe Deer
LC

Western Roe Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Capreolus capreolus

20–30% · Possible
Gray Seal
LC

Gray Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Halichoerus grypus

20–30% · Possible
European Rabbit
EN

European Rabbit

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oryctolagus cuniculus

10–20% · With luck
Common Hedgehog
NT Endemic

Common Hedgehog

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Erinaceus europaeus

10–20% · With luck
Eurasian Red Squirrel
LC Endemic

Eurasian Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus vulgaris

10–20% · With luck
Coypu
LC

Coypu

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Myocastor coypus

10–20% · With luck
🐒 No photo available
LC

European Mole

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Talpa europaea

10–20% · With luck
Muskrat
LC

Muskrat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ondatra zibethicus

5–10% · With luck
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

5–10% · With luck
Common Porpoise
LC

Common Porpoise

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phocoena phocoena

5–10% · With luck
Fallow Deer
LC

Fallow Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Dama dama

5–10% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

European Oystercatcher ★
NT

European Oystercatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus ostralegus

50–60% · Likely
Barnacle Goose ★
LC

Barnacle Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta leucopsis

30–40% · Possible
Lesser Black-backed Gull ★
LC

Lesser Black-backed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus fuscus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Carrion Crow
LC

Carrion Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corone

60–70% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

60–70% · Likely
Wood Pigeon
LC Endemic

Wood Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columba palumbus

60–70% · Likely
Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

60–70% · Likely
Greylag Goose
LC

Greylag Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anser anser

50–60% · Likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC Endemic

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

50–60% · Likely
Great Cormorant
LC Endemic

Great Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax carbo

50–60% · Likely
European Herring Gull
LC

European Herring Gull

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Larus argentatus

50–60% · Likely
European Starling
LC Endemic

European Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnus vulgaris

50–60% · Likely
Great Tit
LC Endemic

Great Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parus major

50–60% · Likely
Grey Heron
LC

Grey Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea cinerea

40–50% · Likely
Chaffinch
LC

Chaffinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fringilla coelebs

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Viviparous Lizard
LC

Viviparous Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Zootoca vivipara

10–20% · With luck
Slow Worm
LC

Slow Worm

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anguis fragilis

10–20% · With luck
Adder
LC Endemic

Adder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Vipera berus

5–10% · With luck
grass snake
LC

grass snake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Natrix natrix

5–10% · With luck
Pond Slider

Pond Slider

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachemys scripta

5–10% · With luck
Sand Lizard
LC

Sand Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lacerta agilis

5–10% · With luck
Common Wall Lizard
LC Endemic

Common Wall Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Podarcis muralis

<5% · Rare
barred grass snake
LC Endemic

barred grass snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Natrix helvetica

<5% · Rare
Ouachita Map Turtle
LC Endemic

Ouachita Map Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Graptemys ouachitensis

<5% · Rare
Smooth Snake
LC

Smooth Snake

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Coronella austriaca

<5% · Rare
River Cooter
LC Endemic

River Cooter

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pseudemys concinna

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

European Toad
LC

European Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Bufo bufo

20–30% · Possible
European Common Frog
LC

European Common Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana temporaria

20–30% · Possible
Smooth Newt
LC

Smooth Newt

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Lissotriton vulgaris

10–20% · With luck
Natterjack Toad
LC

Natterjack Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Epidalea calamita

10–20% · With luck
Moor Frog
LC

Moor Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana arvalis

5–10% · With luck
Alpine Newt

Alpine Newt

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Ichthyosaura alpestris

5–10% · With luck
🐸 No photo available
VU Endemic

Fire Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Salamandra salamandra

<5% · Rare
Pool Frog
LC

Pool Frog

Amphibian

Pelophylax lessonae

<5% · Rare
Great Crested Newt
LC

Great Crested Newt

Amphibian

Triturus cristatus

<5% · Rare
European Tree Frog
LC

European Tree Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Hyla arborea

<5% · Rare
Common Spadefoot
LC

Common Spadefoot

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pelobates fuscus

<5% · Rare
Marsh Frog
LC

Marsh Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pelophylax ridibundus

<5% · Rare

Animal Events

🐦

Migratory Bird Spectacle

MarAprMayJulAugSep

Over 10 million migratory birds pass through or winter in the Wadden Sea, including species like the Eurasian Oystercatcher and Barnacle Goose, using the tidal flats as a vital stopover.

European Oystercatcher
NT

European Oystercatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus ostralegus

50–60% · Likely
Common Redshank
LC

Common Redshank

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa totanus

30–40% · Possible
Barnacle Goose
LC

Barnacle Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta leucopsis

30–40% · Possible
🐦

Seal Haul-out and Pupping

JanOctDec

Harbor Seals and Gray Seals gather on sandbanks during low tide to rest, breed, and nurse pups. The Wadden Sea hosts one of the largest seal colonies in Europe.

Great Black-backed Gull
LC

Great Black-backed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus marinus

20–30% · Possible
Harbor Seal
LC

Harbor Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phoca vitulina

30–40% · Possible
Gray Seal
LC

Gray Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Halichoerus grypus

20–30% · Possible
🐦

Tidal Flat Foraging Festival

SepOct

Autumn brings flocks of waders and waterfowl to the Wadden Sea to fatten up on abundant invertebrates and plant material before migration. The spectacle is a hallmark of the park's ecological richness.

European Starling
LC Endemic

European Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnus vulgaris

50–60% · Likely
Great Cormorant
LC Endemic

Great Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax carbo

50–60% · Likely
Eurasian Curlew
NT

Eurasian Curlew

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius arquata

30–40% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
European Oystercatcher
30–40
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
30–40
30–40
Barnacle Goose
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
20–30
10–20
10–20
20–30
10–20
30–40
30–40
30–40
Harbor Seal
40–50
30–40
20–30
20–30
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
30–40
Lesser Black-backed Gull
5–10
10–20
20–30
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
10–20
10–20
Carrion Crow
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
Mallard
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Wood Pigeon
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
Black-headed Gull
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
Greylag Goose
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Eurasian Blackbird
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
20–30
20–30
50–60
60–70
60–70
Great Cormorant
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
European Herring Gull
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
European Starling
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
30–40
Great Tit
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
Grey Heron
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
Chaffinch
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
30–40
10–20
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
Animal Events
🐦 Migratory Bird Spectacle
🐦 Seal Haul-out and Pupping
🐦 Tidal Flat Foraging Festival
0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🦭 Germany's Best Seal Haul-Outs

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
734
🐒 Mammals
137
🦎 Reptiles
30
🐸 Amphibians
22
923 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
68 Threatened 57 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
57%
📊
Coverage (161 species at ≥5% of 923 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
17%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (12 bird)
46% Global avg
0%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
131
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
4
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
20

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Wadden Sea National Park?

The most likely sightings are Carrion Crow (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Mallard (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Wood Pigeon (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Black-headed Gull (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Greylag Goose (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers) — among 923 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Wadden Sea National Park for wildlife?

October has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see European Oystercatcher in Wadden Sea National Park?

Yes — about 52% of wildlife watchers report a European Oystercatcher sighting in Wadden Sea National Park, based on 6,408 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Barnacle Goose in Wadden Sea National Park?

Yes — about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Barnacle Goose sighting in Wadden Sea National Park, based on 3,739 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Harbor Seal in Wadden Sea National Park?

Yes — about 35% of wildlife watchers report a Harbor Seal sighting in Wadden Sea National Park, based on 888 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Lesser Black-backed Gull in Wadden Sea National Park?

Yes — about 32% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Black-backed Gull sighting in Wadden Sea National Park, based on 3,956 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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