Switzerland 2023 (3 Viewers)

[Mcnswiss2]

Another short walk in the cold. First White Stork seen for the year. Felt sorry for the bird in this weather. Nothing much else locally.
2 Long tailed Ducks and Pygmy Cormorant( Still!) reported at Klingnauerse. Hope they are there at weekend.
Common Diver at Cheyres and Black necked grebe at Arbon.
Pine Bunting was reported yesterday at Piano di Magadino.

 

[jurek]

Pygmy Cormorant at Klingnauersee has good chances to successfully overwinter. Also, the wintering Little Egret is the same individual with almost completely black feet (the usual yellow is limited to few speckles) which winters since many years.

Watching feeding Bittern is fascinating. It hunts completely unlike Grey Heron. It stretches the body, neck and head horizontally just over water and carefully looks what is under the surface, with the tip of the bill usually submerged. Maybe it uses it to move aside water weeds, exposing whatever hides under them? And it walks this way very slowly.

Little Grebes are already in breeding plumage, calling and pairs chase each other. Interestingly, other Little Grebes are still in flocks and in the winter plumage.

I also visited Rhine in France just north of the Swiss border. This place has big flocks of Egyptian Geese, which breed there, too. Maybe their habit of nesting in tree holes and crow nests gives them advantage over native waterfowl.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Thanks Jurek,
Talking of Egyptian Geese, another 5 and their friendly Barnacle Goose are still at Grun80 in Basel.
Some 100 black headed gulls, Tufted Ducks, Grey Herons and Red Crested Pochards around.
So many Moorhens and Coots.
No sign of Redwings nor Hawfinches. I was hoping for Bullfinch but no such luck.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

After so many waiting days, I headed to Klingnauersee to look for the Pygmy cormorant, Great Bittern and the Long Tailed Ducks.
The day was wet and cold, skies overcast. However birds were showing well,especially the Two Longtailed Ducks by the main bridge.
The Pygmy Cormorant was seen at distance, no good photo. It will stay over Winter I am sure.
The Bittern was still by the hide/ Blind.
Other birds seen included Egyptian Geese, Kingfisher, Hawfinch, Green Woodpecker, Siskins, Water Rails,Little and Great Egret.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Another cold day. With friends we headed for Inkwilersee and Burgaeschisee.
At Inkwilersee the Bittern showed well as did the two Smews. Other birds seen included Red Kites, Common Buzzards, Kestrels, Shoverlers, Great Crested Grebe,Teal,Tufted Ducks, Great White Egrets, Grey Herons, Green woodpecker, Greenfinch and Siskins.
At the other lake, no sign of the Ferruginous Duck, however a single Wigeon and Several Gadwalls, Grey Herons, White Egrets, Common Pochard, Tufted Ducks were seen.
Great time with friends warmed us up.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Short trip to Sempachsee to see the Velvet Scoters. What great birds.
Managed to see the Red Breasted Merganser but failed on the Goldeneye and Greater Scaup.
There are some nice winter ducks around at the moment.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Up at Glaubenberg in the snow.
Very quiet for birds.
Temperature tonight down to minus 11C.
Red Kites, Buzzards, Sparrowhawk seen on the way upto the top of the pass.
Alpine Coughs seen locally.
Crested and Coal tits seen and Spotted Nutcrackers heard.
Roll on Spring!

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Sun still out today…maybe Spring is around the corner.
A short visit to the Ruess Delta in Fluelen in Uri.
Birds seen included Red Kites, Greylag Geese, Tufted Ducks, Pochards,Great Crested and Little Grebes, Shellduck, Goosander, Teals, Shoverlers, Long tailed tits, Grey Wagtail, Dippers, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers.
Several Roe Deer were also around enjoying the sunshine.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

A sunny mornings visit to Buochs airfield and Rotzloch Quarry before the football.
Rotzloch is a great site for Wallcreepers, Eagle Owl, Crag Martins, Peregrine, Grey Wagtail and Dippers. Today, only the Dipper was found.
Nearby is the Buochs airfield. The surrounding area is good for Red Kites, Common Buzzards and Kestrels, Grey Herons, White Storks. Interesting area is along the water canels by the Sculpture Field. Wrens, Blue and Great tits, Water Rail and Common Snipe were seen.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

On return to Basel decided to try Sempachersee again.
Deep fog covered the lake so a coffee stop was welcomed.
The sun appeared as did the target species. Velvet Scoters, Goldeneye and Greater Scaup. A nice Hawfinch also turned up.
Other birds seen included Wrens, Siskins, Longtailed tits, Reed Bunting, Greylag geese (over 70), Red Kites, Greenfinches, Grey Herons, Great Crested and Little Grebes, Common Gulls.
Such a great spot.
Other birds I have seen there include Great Bitterns, Sparrowhawks, Jack Snipe, Bluethroats, Red throated Divers.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Local walk in the sunshine. Perfect time for Woodpeckers.
Greater Spotted, Middle Spotted and Black seen.
Both Eurasian Treecreeper and Shorter toed Treecreeper showed well. Other birds seen or heard included Long tailed tits, Wrens, Marsh, Blue and Great tits, Nuthatches, Jays, Common Buzzards and Red Kites. Spring is on its way.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Off in Mallorca..but still watching Switzerland birds

 

[jurek]

Late winter and early spring is best time for Bittern watching at Klingnauer Stausee. Reedbeds are flattened by winter winds, fish are depleted, and wintering Bitterns must show themselves more than normally. Today my personal record - three within 20 m from each other, roosting on reeds, including this male.

Spring is progress: songs of Song Thrushes fill the woods, a roost of white wagtails developed, wintering Greylags and most of Great Egrets disappeared. Yesterday saw Golden Eagles displaying in Jura.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Thanks Jurek
Just Returned from Mallorca - sightings on Mallorca forum
Your blog made me realise I miss my Bitterns.
They are still showing well at the "screen" at Klingnauersee. As you say, there are at least three in the area.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Wet and Windy day - local visit to Grun80.
Despite the weather conditions, some 25 species heard or seen.
Some 12 Goosanders, 2 Egyptian Geese, Little Grebe, Chiffchaffs, 16 Tufted Ducks, 3 Common Pochards, Green Woodpecker and Barnacle Goose were the highlights.
The Cafe provided a happy shelter from the rain.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Latest rareties seen in Switzerland:

• Oystercatcher in Fanel
• Spoonbill in Fanel
• Cetti Warbler in Salavaux
• Jack Snipe in Hindelbank
• Horned Grebe in Arbon
• Golden Plovers in Kerzers
• Pied Avocet in Fanel
• Bar tailed Godwit in Preverenges
• Little Crake in Gwatt
• White tailed Eagle in Fanel
• Pygmy Cormorant in Klingnauersee

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Local walk around nearby wood in lovely weather.
Great time to see and hear woodpeckers.
2 Middle Spotted, Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker seen this morning.
Short toed Tree Creepers, Nuthatches, Wrens, Common Buzzards and Red Kites enjoying the sunshine.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Blimey the weather was as nice as Mallorca..some 18C with Blue Skies.
A short trip to Nuglar (SO) and Seltisberg(BL).
Birds seen or heard included:

• Eagle Owl
• Great Grey Shrike
• Yellow Hammer
• Red Kites
• Kestrels
• Common Buzzard
• Raven
• Middle Spotted and Grey Headed Woodpeckers
• Hawfinch
• Stonechat
• Short toed Treecreeper
• Tree Sparrows.

Such a nice area with its rolling hills.
Other birds reported recently at these sites included Wallcreepers, Cirl Buntings, Sparrowhawks and Goshawks.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Black Winged Kite seen at Predame(JU).
One of my favourite birds.
Other rareties:

• Ring necked Duck at Nilibucht (TG)
• Sardinian Warbler at Guido (TI)
• Common Loon at Cheyres (FR)

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Just had a local walk and overlooked Basel City.
Amazing number of species reported here in the region today including:

• White Storks
• Red Kites
• Common Buzzards
• Black Kites
• Black Stork
• Grey Herons
• Marsh Harrier
• Sparrowhawk
• Common Kestrel
• Redwing
• Cirl Bunting
• Hawfinch
• Reed Bunting
• Serins
• Goldcrest
• Firecrest
• Woodpeckers including Black, lesser and middle spotted, Green and Grey headed