Vērgale
Getting there:
The route is located in the village of Vērgale and its surroundings. From the P111 Liepāja–Ventspils road, turn right at Vērgale and drive 2 km to the center of Vērgale.
Parking:
Cars can be conveniently parked in the parking lot near the Vērgale Cultural Center or in suitable spots along the roadside, in accordance with traffic regulations.
Distance and Duration:
The route is 2 km long. The hike takes about 2 hours on foot.
Special Notes:
None.
Signage and Facilities:
Available near the Vērgale Cultural Center.
Public Transport:
https://www.1188.lv/satiksme
Nearby Routes:
"Ziemupe", "Tāšu Lake", "Saraiķi".
Season:
Night bird diversity is limited, so the best time for birdwatching is during the day in spring and summer.
Mode of Travel:
The route can be explored on foot or by car year-round. In the warmer seasons, it can also be done by bicycle.
A total of 173 bird species have been observed along the route.
Vērgale Center and the Manor Pond:
The park is home to the tawny owl, nuthatch, greenfinch, and blue tit. A rook colony used to be present here. During migration, geese, gulls, and swans gather at the manor pond. Each year, mute swans and moorhens nest here.-
Mill Pond and Fields:
In autumn migration, the area serves as a resting and feeding site for yellow wagtails and lapwings. In spring, various duck species can be seen in the ponds—goldeneye, teal, mallards—as well as great white egrets and white-tailed eagles. In summer, the marsh warbler, willow tit, and common sandpiper nest here. Abandoned Gravel Pits near the Liepāja–Ventspils Highway:
Breeding birds include the whooper swan, common sandpiper, Blyth’s reed warbler, and great reed warbler. On summer evenings, the European nightjar hunts over the pits, and in spring the common snipe performs courtship displays.