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SWITZERLAND 2025 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mcnswiss2
- Start date
Frank van Drogen
Not so important
Had to wait yesterday until about 10 minutes after official sunset before the Bitterns came out and flew around for a bit. Another 15 or so minutes later about 80 Starlings dove into the reeds for roosting actually flushing another Bittern. (Saw the LEO a bit after than, and when I got home it was almost past my bedtime
).
Mcnswiss2
Well-known member
At inkwilersee we found dead fish in the lake.
This was very worrying, so I contacted the local fishing club who were already aware of the issue.
www.solothurnerzeitung.ch
Hopefully the solution can be found!
This was very worrying, so I contacted the local fishing club who were already aware of the issue.
Hunderte Fische im Inkwilersee verendet – das ist der Grund
Am Montag kam es im Inkwilersee zu einem Fischsterben. Der zuständige Fischereiverein konnte Zehntausende Tiere aus Wasser retten.
www.solothurnerzeitung.ch
Hopefully the solution can be found!
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Richard Prior
Halfway up an Alp
I hope the cocoa hadn’t gone cold by the time you got home FrankHad to wait yesterday until about 10 minutes after official sunset before the Bitterns came out and flew around for a bit. Another 15 or so minutes later about 80 Starlings dove into the reeds for roosting actually flushing another Bittern. (Saw the LEO a bit after than, and when I got home it was almost past my bedtime
Snow returned overnight which often shakes things up a bit in March/April, the Ring Ousels won’t be long in arriving. I was just south of Lyon yesterday and saw Black Kite, Short-toed Eagle, a Swift (!!!!) and heard my first Blackcap. It’s another world down there!
Frank van Drogen
Not so important
Saw my first Blackcap of the year, heard it while watching a Black Woodpecker in a tree. Took me a bit to find it, a bit earlier than other years -- since the weather was rather unpleasant today, I hadn't expected it.
Mark Jarrett
Up Ont’ Moors
Ah, yes..that bridge! Thanks for the memory!The bridge ... and the view on the monastry. That looser with the camera might or might not be me
We like the Flachsee a lot as well; Klingnauer Stausee is good too, but too many planes flying over if you''re there at the wrong moment.
Mcnswiss2
Well-known member
As the Slavonian Grebe (or as our American Cousins say " Horned Grebe") was still reported at the Lock /Stau at Birsfelden, I decided to risk the cold wet weather and go for it!
I eventually found it after 30 minutes, however too far away for decent photos.
Some 25 bird species in the area including Kingfishers, Great Crested Grebes, Egyptian Geese, Hawfinches, and Blackcaps.
The Biotop am Stausee is a great little site and I have seen nice birds in the past including Nightingale, Sardinian Warbler, Yellow Browed Warbler and Redwings.
I eventually found it after 30 minutes, however too far away for decent photos.
Some 25 bird species in the area including Kingfishers, Great Crested Grebes, Egyptian Geese, Hawfinches, and Blackcaps.
The Biotop am Stausee is a great little site and I have seen nice birds in the past including Nightingale, Sardinian Warbler, Yellow Browed Warbler and Redwings.
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Frank van Drogen
Not so important
We spend the weekend at Cudrefin (arrived there yesterday around 16:30). It was really awesome, though a tad cold. We stayed in the hotel next to the bird centre, and had dinner there at the restau too. The hotel had nice rooms, very quiet and we had a great night. Just before dark on Saturday, we walked up and down the jetty on the Vaud site with about 30 species seen or heard. I repeated that this morning at 7:00, while my wife stayed in bed
There were both Water and Meadow Pipits, loads of Reed Buntings a Yellow Hammer and my first ever Swiss Egyption Geese. The only slight disappointment was that the hoped for waders at the sand banks in the Lac de Neuchatel were simply not there. Just Yellow Legged Gulls and some Carrion Crows, with a few distant Black Headed Gulls. This was compensated though by my first ever Otter sighting this morning, very stoked for that one!!
We visited the bird center after breakfast, as all Swiss Bird Centers I visited so far, very nice hides, but rather small. This one claims to be knows for it Kingfishers; it displayed quite well indeed, but not better than I've seen in other. There was a variety of ducks and a Green Sandpiper. We then walked along the canal on the Bern side, and went up an observation tower there. Lots and lots of Mute Swans, quite a few Greylag Geese and the Egyption Geese had been joined by a number of equally exotic Ruddy Shelduck.
With al the reeds on both sides, I had hoped for some Penduline Tits, but no luck on that front, but I think overall at least 100 Reed Buntings seen Then at the far end, between the Gulls on the sand banks we saw one wader.... had to look at the enlarged photos I shot here at home to make out a Curlew.
Overall, a very pleasant weekend with a grand total of 55 species, definitely worth a visit!! For sure, we will go again!!
There were both Water and Meadow Pipits, loads of Reed Buntings a Yellow Hammer and my first ever Swiss Egyption Geese. The only slight disappointment was that the hoped for waders at the sand banks in the Lac de Neuchatel were simply not there. Just Yellow Legged Gulls and some Carrion Crows, with a few distant Black Headed Gulls. This was compensated though by my first ever Otter sighting this morning, very stoked for that one!!
We visited the bird center after breakfast, as all Swiss Bird Centers I visited so far, very nice hides, but rather small. This one claims to be knows for it Kingfishers; it displayed quite well indeed, but not better than I've seen in other. There was a variety of ducks and a Green Sandpiper. We then walked along the canal on the Bern side, and went up an observation tower there. Lots and lots of Mute Swans, quite a few Greylag Geese and the Egyption Geese had been joined by a number of equally exotic Ruddy Shelduck.
With al the reeds on both sides, I had hoped for some Penduline Tits, but no luck on that front, but I think overall at least 100 Reed Buntings seen
Then at the far end, between the Gulls on the sand banks we saw one wader.... had to look at the enlarged photos I shot here at home to make out a Curlew.Overall, a very pleasant weekend with a grand total of 55 species, definitely worth a visit!! For sure, we will go again!!
Mcnswiss2
Well-known member
Well done Frank. Used to be one of my favourites places but worth staying overnight.
Most Swiss birders claim it is the best place for rarities.
I have seen bearded and penduline tits, at least 5 species of terns, etc etc
Nearby is a good area for Harriers, etc at Kerzersmoos.
It's one of the great places for Little Owl, Grey Shrike and Red Footed Falcons.
I'm jealous..I should get off my sofa and go!
Most Swiss birders claim it is the best place for rarities.
I have seen bearded and penduline tits, at least 5 species of terns, etc etc
Nearby is a good area for Harriers, etc at Kerzersmoos.
It's one of the great places for Little Owl, Grey Shrike and Red Footed Falcons.
I'm jealous..I should get off my sofa and go!
Frank van Drogen
Not so important
I had an excellent afternoon/evening of birding at the Katzensee yesterday. Spring migration seems to be picking up, and there were some great birders present resulting in some year ticks for me. Pretty soon after arriving around 16:45, someone pointed out this springs' first Barn Swallows, and a bit later I picked up another three. The sun was already getting low and very nicely illuminated a very high flock of gulls, around 30 Black Headed Gulls migrating together with 8 Common Gulls. Those were soon followed by 8 Black Kites, which were fortunately migrating a bit lower. Later on, we saw another 4 or 5 Black Kites moving in the same direction. For sure, the most Black Kites I've ever seen in a single day!
At least 4 Stonechats and a number of Reed Buntings were fleeting around in the reeds close to us and allowed quite nice looks. A distant V formation came into view, when they came closer it turned out to be 26 Great Cormorants (I never saw them flying in V shape before). Unfortunately, no Glossy Ibis amongst them. We also saw a rather large flock of Woodpigeons, they almost crossed paths with a Peregrine Falcon which didn't seem to pay attention to them at all. Someone spotted a Bluethroat in a distant bush, but I couldn't get my bins on it
I Kestrel came flying in, we saw it hovering at a bunch of places, and diving once or twice but it didn't have any luck. The Kestrel disappeared behind a small hill, and then came back two minutes later to sit on a pole with a huge rodent in its claws. The sun had set in the meantime, and both Venus and Jupiter were quite nicely visible, of the very audible Water Rail, only some silhouettes could be made out however. The Bitterns also became active, one staying in the reeds, and two (quite disparaging in size actually) flying turns over the Katzensee. One then disappearing towards the north, the other one coming back to roost in the reeds.
We still hung around for about 20 minutes hoping for an owl, before deciding to warmer places
At least 4 Stonechats and a number of Reed Buntings were fleeting around in the reeds close to us and allowed quite nice looks. A distant V formation came into view, when they came closer it turned out to be 26 Great Cormorants (I never saw them flying in V shape before). Unfortunately, no Glossy Ibis amongst them. We also saw a rather large flock of Woodpigeons, they almost crossed paths with a Peregrine Falcon which didn't seem to pay attention to them at all. Someone spotted a Bluethroat in a distant bush, but I couldn't get my bins on it
I Kestrel came flying in, we saw it hovering at a bunch of places, and diving once or twice but it didn't have any luck. The Kestrel disappeared behind a small hill, and then came back two minutes later to sit on a pole with a huge rodent in its claws. The sun had set in the meantime, and both Venus and Jupiter were quite nicely visible, of the very audible Water Rail, only some silhouettes could be made out however. The Bitterns also became active, one staying in the reeds, and two (quite disparaging in size actually) flying turns over the Katzensee. One then disappearing towards the north, the other one coming back to roost in the reeds.
We still hung around for about 20 minutes hoping for an owl, before deciding to warmer places
Mcnswiss2
Well-known member
Weather improving ..time for mountain birds...
Headed for Emmetten area above Luzern.
Nothing special but the opportunity to enjoy the Swiss Scenery. Some 25 species including Alpine Choughs, Black Redstarts, Crested, Willow, Marsh, Coal and Blue tits, and possible Alpine Accentor.
So Many Mistle Thrushes singing!
Wonderful day ...weather should continue to hold.
Headed for Emmetten area above Luzern.
Nothing special but the opportunity to enjoy the Swiss Scenery. Some 25 species including Alpine Choughs, Black Redstarts, Crested, Willow, Marsh, Coal and Blue tits, and possible Alpine Accentor.
So Many Mistle Thrushes singing!
Wonderful day ...weather should continue to hold.
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Mcnswiss2
Well-known member
Recent sightings at Flachsee included Cranes, White tailed Eagle and Jack Snipe!!!
I headed there with friends...did we see these birds?.....Nope!
But around 50 species seen or heard including Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, So many Black Kites, Garganey, Little Ring Plover, Greylag Geese, etc.
Any thoughts if this was white headed long tailed tits?
I headed there with friends...did we see these birds?.....Nope!
But around 50 species seen or heard including Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, So many Black Kites, Garganey, Little Ring Plover, Greylag Geese, etc.
Any thoughts if this was white headed long tailed tits?
